Operational Support Grade - HMP Hollesley and Warren Hill; Prison Support

Position

Operational Support Grade (OSG) – Full Time / Part Time / Job Share

Location:

Woodbridge

Available positions: 6

Job

HMP Hollesley now encompasses both HMP Hollesley Bay (open) and HMP Warren Hill (closed), and candidates may be deployed to either site. As part of our prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving. This is an active role where you will be doing a range of physical tasks, such as lifting and carrying, standing and walking, and lone‑working on day and night shifts.

You will not always be in contact with prisoners – that depends on the prison you work in. You will receive full training and a supportive team by your side.

• Ensuring secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles
• Carrying out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicles
• Walking around the prison site to escort vehicles and contractors
• Issuing and collecting staff keys and radios
• Patrolling and searching perimeter fence areas

• Operating the prison radio system
• Monitoring CCTV and reporting suspicious activities

• Welcoming visitors on arrival
• Escorting them as needed
• Monitoring and logging mail arriving at the prison
• Reporting contraband items and preserving evidence
• Ensuring cell doors are locked and prisoners accounted for

• Photographing prisoners
• Processing prisoners’ property and parcels
• Supervising prisoners as required
• Exchanging clothing and property
• Helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison
• Delivering and collecting food trolleys, or using an electric tug vehicle

• Collecting mail from the local sorting office (may involve lifting heavy sacks)
• Monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
• Maintaining log of PIN phone requests from prisoners

• Understanding and adhering to national & local policies, and responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies

No specific qualifications are required. A good judgement, common sense, responsibility and teamwork are essential.

Some prison establishments are located in rural areas with limited public transport. A driving licence and own transport is beneficial but not an essential requirement.

Average: 37 hours per week, including unsocial hours (nights, evenings, weekends, Bank/Public holidays). Salary includes a 20% unsocial hours allowance.

• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after 10 years (pro‑rata)
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
• Paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service
• Civil Service pension scheme
• Season ticket loans, retail discounts, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work scheme

You are entitled to 9 days, or 66 hours 36 minutes, in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes.

Flexible working arrangements are encouraged where operationally feasible.

After two months’ service, you may apply for a season ticket advance.

• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries with right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals and certain family members with right to work in the Civil Service
• Eligible for 20% unsocial working allowance

Band 2 SSO Operational Support Grade General JD010 v10.0.pdf