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General Information

Salary
£35,182
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Feltham
Region
London
Closing Date
28-May-2025
Business Unit
Feltham B
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
EO
Number of jobs available
4
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5938

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

This is an operational job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will provide day-to-day supervision and support for Prison Officers and Operational Support Grades (OSG), co-ordinating the delivery of the regime and activities within a Residential Unit in an establishment.   

The job holder will co-ordinate initial staff response until a Custodial Manager is in attendance.   

The job holder will undertake Regime Officer duties via the establishment's rota and may be required on a rotational basis to be responsible for the establishment during the night period. This requirement will be based upon local risk assessment and establishment complexity.  

This is an operational job with no line management responsibilities; however they will have supervisory responsibilities for staff.  

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
  • Supervise and support staff during prisoner activities; including exercise and association.
  • Supervise the locking and unlocking of prisoners.
  • Supervise the Personal Officer strategy, ensuring completion of reports on prisoners as requested, within time limits set, which contribute to sentence planning and prisoner progress.
  • Encourage staff to promote responsible and respectful behaviour in prisoners.
  • Receive and progress applications and complaints.
  • Supervise the updating and maintenance of prisoner records.
  • Supervise the completion of accommodation fabric checks.
  • Supervise the completion of all administration in support of main duties including ordering cleaning materials and completing regime monitoring.
If Residential Unit is used as First Night/Induction accommodation the following will also be part of this job:
  • Supervise and co-ordinate all staff that work within the First Night Centre/ Induction ensuring all procedures are adhered to.
  • Supervise and check that all prisoners receive the First Night initial needs assessment.
  • Supervise and check all prisoners located on the wing/unit and received from Reception are provided with their basic entitlements.
  • Supervise and coordinate the local systems which are in place for all prisoners to speak to a Listener and Peer Support prisoner.
  • Supervise and check all paperwork has been completed e.g. initial assessments of prisoners from Reception are logged on the prisoner database and approved Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA).
  • Supervise delivery of the induction programme so that no prisoner is moved before they have completed all elements.
If Residential Unit is used as Care and Separation Unit (CASU) accommodation the following will also be part of this job:  
  • Supervise officers to ensure that Care and Separation Unit is cleaned and maintained to a high standard and that checks are completed.
  • Support and assist adjudications and the processes involved.
  • Supervise, co-ordinate and check that adjudication results have been recorded.
  • Support the Fast track appeals for adjudications.
  • Supervise and advise staff on the adjudications process and check all adjudication paperwork is correct including any relevant evidence available.
  • Supervise and monitor the content of any Care Plans, Case Notes and Observation book entries and Rule 45.
  • Supervise and co-ordinate the escorting of prisoners to the adjudication room and supervise during the hearing.
  • Supervise and co-ordinate completed adjudication paperwork forwarding to relevant departments for information and updating the prisoner database.
  • Supervise and co-ordinate referrals for the Independent Adjudicator.
  • Supervise and co-ordinate staff to deal with prisoners on dirty protest as and when applicable.
  • Supervise and ensure correct observation levels and records of hourly checks of all prisoners awarded cellular confinement is undertaken by unit staff.
  • Co-ordinate Control and Restraint paperwork after incident, including supporting staff and attending any necessary de-briefs.
  • Coordinate and ensure completion of all observation paperwork regarding special accommodation mechanical restraints and dirty protests.
  • Co-ordinate mandatory Drug Test referrals with the relevant department/ agencies.
Undertake other Supervisory tasks including:  
  • Supervise all staff within their area of responsibility ensuring they are briefed on the work for the day.
  • Prepare and deliver team briefings and handovers as appropriate.
  • Supervise and prioritise activities in-line with local procedures ensuring workload/regime is delivered escalating issues to Custodial Manager when required.
  • Promotes Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours by promoting diversity, decency, safety and reducing re-offending agendas.
  • Supervise and support Prison Officers and other staff when dealing with prisoner applications and other issues raised by prisoners.
  • Supervise and support Prison Officers with actions arising from Standard Audit, Her Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans, Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys including local self-audit action plan.
  • Co-ordinate any paperwork for the Incentive and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme, completing relevant documentation for submission to Custodial Manager.
  • Support and create a safe working environment for staff, prisoners and visitors by adhering to Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) and Risk Assessments are followed reporting incidents to Custodial Manager
  • Coach and mentor staff including new recruits and arrange for other staff to provide mentoring support as required Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELTs) and new graduates.
  • Co-ordinate and collate data concerning their area of work.
  • Co-ordinate initial staff response at the scene of an incident until a Custodial Manager is present.
  • Contribute to the development and application of local policy, procedures and practice.
  • Contribute to staff appraisals by providing relevant performance information to line managers.
  • Allocate daily staff resources to activity within their Unit where appropriate.
  • Manage a caseload of Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) within their work area.
  • Discharging prisoners subject to local Risk Assessment.
  • Carry out checks as required e.g. Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA), Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP).
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

  • Delivering at Pace
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
Essential Experience
  • Must be competent in custodial procedures, including dynamic risk assessments. 

Technical Requirements

  • Successful completion of POELT and probation period.
  • Must have Custodial Care National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 3.
  • Must be trained in restraint techniques.
  • When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week (standard).   

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.  
Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

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 the HMPPS considers to be racist

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

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information
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: 5938

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: 5938

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBA
Behaviours
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
DBS Enhanced