How To Apply For Prison Service (HMPPS) Jobs
Applying for a role in the Offender Management Service (HMPPS Careers) can sometimes be seen as a confusing process, with a lack of available information on the process and the timescales involved with this.
There are a variety of different routes in to HMPPS careers, depending on the role that you are applying for.
Below, HMPJobs explains the 7 steps of how you can start working as a Prison Officer in the sector.
1. Find the right job and apply
Make sure that you find the right opportunity for you.
Research the particular role, location and establishment that you wish to pursue a career in. Careers in the Justice sector vary hugely, so it is important that you learn about the sector as a whole and the different categories of prison you are able to work in before applying for the role.
You will now need to fill out a short online application to confirm your eligibility. This includes declaring whether you are a member of any controversial group or organisation and whether you are eligible to work in the UK.
3. Online test
Once you’ve completed the application form, we will send you a test with two parts to complete as part of your application.
These are:
4. Prison Tour
5. Recruitment Assessment Day (RAD)
If you pass the online tests you will be invited to attend a recruitment assessment day (RAD).
At the recruitment assessment day we will assess your physical fitness and whether you have the qualities and skills we are looking for in a prison officer.
We assess this in a number of ways:
6. Provisional offer and vetting
if you are successful at RAD you will either be:
OR
As soon as it does you will move into the vetting process. Time spent on a waiting list can vary significantly, depending on your circumstances, location and the timing of your application. The vetting process can take a few months to complete, depending on your employment history and where you’ve lived.
Whilst you are waiting you can expect to hear from your prison mentor with details of what to expect once vetting is complete.
6. Placement/ Prison officer entry-level training (POELT) course
Once you have passed the vetting process, you will be invited to attend a Prison Officer Entry-Level Training course, based at your allocated establishment and one of a number of training sites across England and Wales. Once you pass the POELT course, you will begin working at your allocated establishment.
Prison officer training is 12 weeks in duration; 10 weeks of that is the POELT course and weeks 1 and 12 are hosted by the home establishment.
The whole process from application to starting your job as a prison officer will take a minimum of 10 weeks. It can take longer depending on your employment history and references.
For more detailed information about a variety of HMPPS Careers, head to Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service website.