HM Prison and Probation Service
202607: Prison Officer - HMP Swaleside
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Prison Officer – HMP Swaleside
Location: HMP Swaleside, Brabazon Rd, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, ME12 4AX City/Town: Sittingbourne Region: Kent, Surrey & Sussex Starting Salary: £40,316 (for a 39-hour week, including 20% unsocial hours allowance) Job Type: Merit Vacancy Closing Date: 23 July 2026
About the Role
An extraordinary job, carried out by someone like you. Prison officers protect the public and help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives.
If you have the integrity, skills, and strength of character we’re looking for, this role could be the start of a fulfilling career.
Key Responsibilities
- Diverse & Dynamic Work: Every day is different—minutes can involve acting as a peacekeeper, counsellor, or teacher. Prisons operate 24/7, requiring flexibility to cover shifts, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
- Impactful Work: Work directly with prisoners to drive rehabilitation, rehabilitation programmes, and public safety, ensuring a safer environment for staff, inmates, and the community.
- Team Collaboration: Prisons require ultimate teamwork and vigilance; officers must uphold the safety, dignity, and security of everyone within the facility.
- Build Trust & Be Resilient: Develop professional relationships with offenders, who may be at their lowest point. The role demands empathy, resilience, respect, and judgment.
- Maintain Order: Use authority and restraint as appropriate, adhering to applicant protocols and enforcing Imprisonment Rules.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Age: At least 18 years old upon commencement of employment.
- Physical Standards:
- Fit to carry out the role, passing a medical and fitness assessment (including vision, hearing, and blood pressure checks).
- Must meet eyesight standards (with or without corrective lenses).
- Hearing without a hearing aid must meet requirements.
- Working in High-Security Prisons: If the role is assigned to a Category A prison, applicants must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years.
- Tattoos: Permissible as long as they are not offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating. Visible facial tattoos are generally not acceptable unless for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
- Transport: Meeting shift timings requires personal transport where public transport is limited (not a mandatory requirement for this job unless specified in person specifies notes).
- Right to Work: Sponsorship is not guaranteed. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be offered for this role subject to eligibility, but due to current immigration rules, sponsorship is unlikely.
- Note: Strongly encouraged to verify and maintain the right to work in the UK.
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Nationality & Right to Work
This role is open to:
- UK nationals
- Republic of Ireland nationals
- Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK
- Nationals from EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, with:
- Settled or pre-settled status under EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), or an active application (Check eligibility here)
- Inclusion under other existing rights frameworks (e.g., limited/indefinite leave to remain for EUSS eligibility before 31 December 2020)
- Turkish nationals or their family members with Civil Service eligibility rights
For full details, see the UK Government Nationality Requirements.
Essential Skills & Qualities
No formal qualifications are required. We prioritise personal qualities:
- Strong communication & influence
- Committing to quality training and adherence to applicable protocols
- Effective decision-making
- Authentic care and empathy
- Selected at face value is no: No teaching degree, extent arms, or leadership is re-missed.
Pay & Working Hours
After 37 hours of weekly training (paid), eligible officers will choose between:
- 37 hours: £38,428 per year
- 39 hours: £40,316 per year (with 20% shipping allows, total up to £42,834)
- 41 hours: £42,834 per year
Prisons operate 24/7, creating a structured rotating shift pattern of 39 hours, including evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. Paid additional hours may be available for overtime opportunities.
Benefits
- 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years of service.
- Paid public holidays + 1 privilege day.
- Strong civil service pension (employer contributes 28.97%).
- Cycle to work scheme and travel loans.
- Veteran support: Guaranteed interviews for eligible former members of the Armed Forces.
*[Read more about Prison Officer Benefits](link moest still) *
Assessment Process
Applications are filtered by online tests, interviews and online assessment centres (OAC) to evaluate:
- Prison officer key behaviours (e.g., communicating and influencing, maintaining safety, decision-making).
- Critical-ability placed (numerical, written English, and spokenness assessments).
- Candidates are more likely to progress favoured by avoiding physical risks.
For detailed step-by-step guidance, visit our Candidate Information Centre
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Online Tests (2 phases):
- Judge & Numerical Skills: Initial awareness text.
- Values– (three-month score restrictions).
Operational Support Grade (OSG):
- If candidates are unsuccessful onlyment during prison officer assessment, you’re assessed for an alternative role (Operation Support Grade).
Medical & Fitness Tests
Once invited, candidates must:
- Undergo eyesight, hearing, and blood pressure screening.
- Provide a drink card for piernas.
Note: A minimum criterion (i.e., full-time UK applicants).
Veteran Support
The Civil Service is dedicated to supporting veterans:
- Guaranteed interview scheme for eligible ex-military personnel who meet minimum requirements.
- Further information and eligibility.
Supporting Resources
- [Interactive Activity](insert link here) – for insight into the day-to-day working life of a Prison Officer.
- Contact: SSCL Recruitment Enquiries, 0345 241 5358, or email MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.
- Reference: Job Reference 19498
Reasonable Adjustments
Recognises as Disability Confident Employers, MoJ supports candidates with disabilities, mental health, etc. 早期阐明 any reasonable accommodations needed for:
- Online & assessment centres.
- Yes option flagged.
"While the team will offer appropriate adjustments, it is impossible to satisfy on assessment day let conditions with less resources."
Security Screening
As a government applicant:
- Formal crime checks are conducted.
- Applicants must complete standardized civil service security checks.
Topics addressed include the recent UK National Civil Service Commission Recruitment rules.
Location & Transport Autoalerts
The Islet of Sheppey is a rural area. While a driving licence and transportation is advantageous, it might not always be a mandatory requirement unless inducing at the facility.
**Closing Date: **23 July 2026
"You have the right to further inquiries, disturbed applications are spread across and rewarded only with required tests through application forms electronically received before departure."
Sponsorship Note (Clarification Repeat Breads)
- Is not mandatory guaranteed for sponsorship,
- Skilled visas considered in line with recruitment requirements *only subject-specific eligibility including donor aspirations other applications.
Ask behave please! See full immigration update via gov.uk.
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