Operational Support Grade - HMP Highpoint; Prison Support

Job Overview

As part of the prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving. This active role involves a range of physical tasks, including lifting, carrying, long periods of standing and walking, and lone working on day and night shifts.

Your role may or may not involve contact with prisoners depending on the establishment. Full training and a supportive team will be provided.

Travel to work may require a driving licence and personal transport; the role will have fixed shift start and finish times.

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, and vehicles.
• Carry out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, and vehicles.
• Walk around the prison site to escort vehicles, contractors, and pedestrians.
• Issue and collect staff keys and radios.
• Patrol and search perimeter fence areas.
• Operate the prison radio system and monitor CCTV.
• Welcome visitors and escort them if required; monitor and log mail.
• Report contraband items and preserve evidence.
• Ensure cell doors are locked and prisoners are safely accounted for.
• Photograph prisoners and process prisoners’ property and parcels.
• Supervise prisoners and assist officers with escorts and deliveries.
• Collect mail from the local sorting office; monitor PIN phone system and log requests.
• Understand and comply with national and local policies and respond to incidents and emergencies.

No specific qualifications are required. The role requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and teamwork.

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

Average of 37 hours per week, including night shifts, evenings, weekends, and bank/public holidays on a rolling shift pattern. Frequency of night shifts may vary by establishment.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined by the Civil Service Commission. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles, you are able to raise a formal complaint.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities. If you need reasonable adjustment support, please let us know in advance through the application form.

Hybrid working arrangements may be offered where business needs allow. The role is UK only and tattoos that are offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating are not acceptable.