We are delighted that you have made the decision to return to the prison officer role through our national returners' scheme.

Next steps

As your pre-employment checks are now complete, the next steps will be for the allocated Probation Region to contact you to discuss the following:

Your work base location.
Internal function and whether you will be based in sentence management, Courts, or Prisons for example.
Working pattern and working hours.
Your start date and who you should report to on your first day.
Contact details for a point of contact, in the event you have any further questions.

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Induction into the organisation

As a returning member of staff an induction back into the organisation provides you with an opportunity to refamiliarise yourself about our organisation, and the different functions and roles within it.

In addition to this, the region/team you are joining will have a local induction which is specific to your role, and they will provide you with further information.

Probation specific Induction

Once you are in role:

You will be able to access an introduction to working in the Probation Service.
You will be given a log in for the EQuiP database which stores all the guidance and policies you will need to do your job.
The guidance on EQUiP will help you understand the structure of the Probation Service and what is expected of you as a civil servant. You will also find details of learning you need to do.

Continuous professional development

You will receive information about further learning you will need to undertake as part of your professional development.
The following activities will be required to completed once you commence your role:

You will be required to complete a specially designed programme of learning for your role.
You will be required to complete mandatory learning that is legally required or required by the Civil Service. All probation staff must complete the mandatory learning required for pay progression as part of the competency-based pay progression framework (CBF).
Complete a workplace assessment to ensure your workspace meets your needs.

You will receive information about further learning you will need to undertake as part of your professional development, some of which is held on our myLearning platform.

Other development opportunities

There are other development opportunities that you can join once in your role:

Professional registration - which recognises and champions the professional status of our qualified probation professionals.
Observational visits - whereby your line manager can arrange short visits which will allow you to see at first hand the work your colleagues undertake, how your role interacts with theirs, and cement the information provided in the online induction package.

We wish you every success in your return to the role. Click here to see the full set of frequently asked questions for the probation returners’ scheme which includes a mailbox address if you have different question.

FAQ's

Will I need to complete my probationary period again?

You will not need to complete your probationary period again.

When should I hand my notice in with my current employer?

We advise not to give notice to your current employers until your pre-employment checks have been completed and you have been contacted to arrange a start date.

What is the annual leave entitlement?

As you have been given a new contract, your leave entitlement will be the same as a new starter i.e., 25 days annual leave per year plus the public holiday entitlement (this is based on a full-time employee).
For employees working reduced hours, you are entitled to the same leave entitlements as full-time employees but calculated on a pro rata basis.

I would like to request a higher starting salary, who do I contact?

All candidates are to start on the minimum starting salary for their role. Higher starting salaries (in line with current policy) can be considered on a case-by-case basis. The allocated region will consider requests on a case-by-case basis which requires approval from the Pay and Reward team.

I am currently employed by MoJ or another government department, do I need to hand in my notice?

No, you must not hand in your notice. You will be transferred across to HMPPS.

Will I be given a new employee number?

Yes, you will be given a new employee number.

Will I need to sign the Official Secrets Act again?

Yes. As a member of staff you are required to protect and exercise care in the use of information acquired during the course of your work. Staff are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act.

What staff benefits will I be entitled to?

On top of your salary and your generous annual leave entitlement, you will have access to a range of Civil Service benefits, including:

discounted gym memberships (if you work in a prison, you'll have access to a free on-site gym)
season ticket loans, a cycle-to-work scheme and bike loans to help manage travel costs to your workplace
reward and recognition vouchers
retail discounts
technology and smartphone discounts

What should I do if I need employee assistance support?

The employee assistance provider (EAP) for HMPPS is PAM Assist. Our EAP offers a wide range of support to staff including confidential advice on personal, social or work-related problems:

PAM Assist helpline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Tel number: 0800 019 8988
access to 6 free counselling sessions per year for all MoJ staff (if clinically appropriate)
access to the EAP website at work or at home, for all staff working in MoJ
free use of the PAM Assist app – an online wellbeing tool that can be accessed via any electronic device
You can get telephone or online advice and support on a wide range of topics from bereavement, moving house and managing money; to stress management and trauma support. You will be able to find more information on the HMPPS Intranet once you are in post.

I have a probation officer or senior probation officer related question that is not included in this FAQ document, what should I do?