Job Description (JD)
Band 3
Group Profile - Prison Officer (PO)
Job Description - PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST)
Document Ref.
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0
Document Type
Management
Version
8.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
19 March 2020
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0
Job Description
Job Title
PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST)
Group Profile
Prison Officer
Organisation Level
Delivery 3-4
Band
3
Overview of the job
This is an operational job in an establishment.
Summary
The job holder will supervise and support prisoners, ensuring all services are provided
to a high standard and that security and control are maintained at all times, adhering
to local and national policies.
The specific duty of the jobholder is to undertake searches as required, in order to
maintain the effective security and operational safety of the establishment.
This is an operational job with no line management responsibilities.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
? In accordance with the Local Security Strategy (LSS) undertake searches on cells,
prisoners, staff, visitors and communal open areas as required which includes:
o Cell fabric searches
o Searches for prohibited items in cells and on prisoners
o Searches of staff and visitors and prisoners
o Searches of communal area and grounds
o A and B level searches and full searches
o Targeted searches in response to intelligence received
? Train staff on search techniques and awareness of new methods of concealment.
? Responsible for the control of tools on behalf of the establishment and will also
be required to undertake tool audits.
? Maintain knowledge of drugs use within the establishment and methods of
concealment and update search practice accordingly.
? Collect / bag evidence and record appropriately. Be competent in the
preservation of evidence as per the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and
have knowledge of arrest procedures.
? Conduct searches on other establishments and other government buildings such
as courts and hospitals when required.
? Complete all related administration and paperwork in respect of the searches and
items found.
In addition to the above, the job holder may be required to undertake duties on a
Residential Unit:
? Supervise prisoner activities including exercise and association, maintaining the
general cleanliness of the wing and making sure that meals are served in-line
with establishment policy.
? Lock prisoners securely in their cells at each lock up period, keep account of the
unit roll and make sure that prisoners are accounted for.
? Support vulnerable prisoners and pass any relevant concerns to wing
managers/staff, Healthcare, Safer Custody department and personal officer.
? Share identified prisoner needs with reception staff.
? Unlock prisoners in a timely manner.
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0
? Deal with any instances of self harm in-line with suicide and self harm prevention
strategies.
? Support prisoners in-line with the Personal Officer strategy, completing reports
on prisoners as requested, within time limits set, which contribute to sentence
planning and prisoner progress.
? Encourage responsible and respectful behaviour in prisoners.
? Receive and progress applications and complaints.
? Maintain prisoner records by completing behaviour report entries and data entry
onto the prisoner database.
? Carry out accommodation/fabric checks, including searching prisoners.
? Complete all administration in support of main duties including ordering cleaning
materials and completing regime monitoring.
Undertake other Prison Officer tasks as follows:
? Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, lawfully, safely and securely
whilst carrying out all activities.
? Exercise the powers of a Constable.
? Conduct searches on prisoners, staff and visitors as required.
? Undertake external escorts when required.
? Undertake ‘first on scene’ incident response.
? Maintain and update systems in-line with local agreements.
? Prepare relevant documentation to managers for verification/quality checking
purposes.
? Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required.
? Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.
? Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and
staff.
? Understand apply and comply to national/local policies and legislation.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium
of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
? Communicating and Influencing
? Managing a Quality Service
? Making Effective Decisions
? Working Together
?
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Essential Experience
Technical
Job holders must complete specific training in their specialism once they take up post.
Requirements
All candidates are required to pass an on line application and numeracy assessment,
attend and pass a variety of assessments at Recruitment Assessment centre, these
include a written assessment, role plays, medical assessment and a fitness test.
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0
If successful in your application, your continuation in this role is dependent on
passing all modules within the initial Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT),
which is a pathway to becoming a fully competent Prison Officer. Failure to
successfully complete and pass POELT course could result in your removal from this
role and may result in the termination of your employment. Following completion of
the POELT course you will be subject to a 12 month probationary period.
Ability
? Fitness Standard
? Medical Standard
? Numerical Ability
Minimum Eligibility
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
37 hour working week (standard).
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
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.
Unsocial Hours Working:
This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a 17% 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 include working evenings, nights, weekends
and Bank/Public holidays.
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Communicating and Influencing
Fitness Standard
Job holders must complete specific training in
their specialism once they take up post.
Managing a Quality Service
Medical Standard
All candidates are required to pass an on line
application and numeracy assessment, attend
and pass a variety of assessments at
Recruitment Assessment centre, these
include a written assessment, role plays,
medical assessment and a fitness test.
Making Effective Decisions
Numerical Ability
If successful in your application, your
continuation in this role is dependent on
passing all modules within the initial Prison
Officer Entry Level Training (POELT), which is
a pathway to becoming a fully competent
Prison Officer. Failure to successfully
complete and pass POELT course could result
in your removal from this role and may result
in the termination of your employment.
Following completion of the POELT course
you will be subject to a 12 month
probationary period.
Working Together
Choose an item.
OR-JES-029-JD-B3 : PO : Dedicated Search Team (DST) v8.0