Skip to content

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £28,122 - £29,611, London salary range is £31,271 - £32,926. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Does this role attract Excess Fares or PIT/Relocation terms
Excess Fares & Relocation / PIT Terms
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Durham, Evesham, London, Manchester, March, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes, Newport (Isle of Wight), Nottingham, Preston, Sheerness, Wakefield, York
Region
East Midlands, East of England, Greater Manchester, Kent, Surrey & Sussex, London, North East, North West, South Central, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
16-Jan-2026
Business Unit
AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
AO
Number of jobs available
20
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
12854

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

This is an opportunity for Band 3 Officers to join one of the 13 the Long-Term and High Security Estate Prisons through a level transfer. A list of prisons located within the Long-Term High Security Estate can be found in the table below. For further information about each of the Prisons please click on the link

Unique opportunities for officers who work in the Long-Term & High Security Estate

Working within the LTHSE offers staff unique opportunities to diversify their skills by applying to work in specialist areas specific to the estate, including:

 
  • Patrol and general purpose dog handlers
  • Dedicated Search Team (DST) officers
  • Local Response Team (LRT) officers
  • Discrete Units (Close Supervision Centre, Separation Centre)

Level Transfer applications are particularly welcome for those staff who would be interested in applying to be part of the Local Response Team (Band 3) once they have started working at their new establishment.

Local Response Team

The new generation of Local Response Teams (LRTs) will be made up of specially trained staff who can respond quickly and effectively to serious incidents trained to standards consistent with National Tactical Response staff. You’ll support fast decision-making and help keep people safe. Sometimes, you’ll be able to resolve an incident yourselves. Other times, you’ll help manage the situation until specialist teams, such as national Operational Response and Resilience Unit (ORRU) staff, or armed police arrive and take a lead. Either way, your role will be vital in keeping control and protecting people during high-risk situations. The Government recently announced the role out of Taser in LTHSE prisons and LRT staff will be central in carrying and using this tactic to manage safety. Further information for Responsibilities & Expectations LRT can be found by clicking the attached link.

Eligibility

Applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period to be eligible to apply.

During the application process you will be asked to identify up to three establishments to be considered for a transfer to though of course you can identify just one.

Long Term & High Security Estate Prisons

HMP Belmarsh London SE29 OEB HMP Lowdham Grange Nottingham NG14 7DA

HMP Frankland, Durham, DH1 5YA

HMP Manchester M60 9AH

HMP Full Sutton, York, YO41 1PS

HMP Swaleside, Isle of Sheppey, ME12 4AX

HMP Garth, Leyland, PR26 8NE

HMP Wakefield, WF2 9AG

HMP Gartree, Market Harborough, LE16 7RP

HMP Whitemoor, March, PE15 OPR

HMP Isle of Wight, Newport, PO30 5RS

HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DA

HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire, WR11 8TZ

Working in some of our prisons - Prison and Probation Jobs

Transfer Terms. The arrangements detailed in NTS 07/2017 – Pay and Terms and Conditions following a voluntary level transfer or promotion from 1 April 2017 will remain in place. Staff will move to F&S only if they will not lose out financially, where this would be the case, they can retain closed grade arrangements.

These transfers are being offered with Public Interest Transfer or Excess Fare terms for successful applicants.

Eligibility to work in the High Security sites, Belmarsh, Frankland, Full Sutton, Manchester, Long Lartin, Wakefield, Woodhill and Whitemoor, require Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC vetting) be undertaken. Proof that you have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years is needed to complete the CTC vetting process. Applicants who do not meet the residency requirement will not be able to take up post at this prison.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Additional Information

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

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 in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:

 

  1. To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
  2. To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);
  3. To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding the LTHSE Level Transfer Scheme, please emal DoSHRFMB@justice.gov.uk

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 12854

Allowance

Additional Conditioned Hours (ACH) Band 3 Prison Officers have the option to commit to working between 1 -4 Additional Committed Hours (ACH) on top of the standard 37 hour week. These hours are non pensionable and paid at an enhanced rate. 

HMPPS Staff on closed pay structures only Additional Conditioned Hours Pensionable (ACHP) Staff moving from a closed 39 hour pay structure will be eligible for the two protected pensionable additional committed hours (ACHP). They will work a 39 hour week consisting of the standard 37 hour week and a further 2 additional hours (ACHP) paid at plain time pensionable rate. ACHP in the Prison Officer Band 3 role is only available to staff opting in to Fair & Sustainable from a 39 hour pay structure on level transfer. Staff on promotion or regrade are eligible for 1 to 4 Additional Committed Hours (ACH) per week. 

Unsocial Hours Working 

This role requires working regular unsocial hours as part of the normal shift commitment and a 20% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 ‐ 1900hrs Monday to Friday and including working evening, nights, weekends and Bank/Public holidays.

This vacancy attracts the following Additional Allowances
Excess Fares & Relocation / PIT Terms

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Seeing the Big Picture
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Specific licence requirements
Must have completed probation period and be a substantive Band 3 Prison Officer.
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide a brief summary of your career to date and any relevant factors that you feel make you a good fit for the LTHSE estate.
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability
Level of security checks required
DBS Enhanced
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.