Operational Support Grade - HMP Exeter; Prison Support

Job Description

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. These can include lifting and carrying, plus long periods of standing and walking. There will also be periods of lone working whilst undertaking tasks on both day and night shifts.

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

Travel to work – Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options, therefore a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified). Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift.

Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options.

Driving duties are an essential part of the OSG role at HMP Exeter and therefore candidates are required to hold a full, valid UK Driving Licence. Accommodation is not provided.

• Ensuring the 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.
• Walking around the prison site patrolling and searching perimeter fence areas.

• Operating the prison radio system.
• Monitoring CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.

• Welcoming visitors on their arrival.
• Escorting them if needed.
• Monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison.
• Reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed.
• Ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.

• Photographing prisoners.
• Processing prisoners’ property and parcels coming into the prison.
• Sometimes supervising prisoners.
• Exchanging clothing and property.
• Helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison.
• Walking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle.

• Transporting prisoners and their escorts to their destination.
• Collecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks.
• Monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system.
• Maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners.

• Understanding and conforming to national and local policies, responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies.

You do not need any qualifications to do this job. Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and, above all, teamwork.

The salary figures quoted are for a 37‑hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evenings, and weekend shifts.

• Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated 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.

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends, and Bank/Public holidays on a rolling shift pattern (these days are added to your holiday allowance). The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s guidelines. The MoJ is committed to reasonable adjustment support for candidates with disabilities; please notify us in advance of the application if you require adjustments.