Ministry of Justice UK
202608: Prison Officer - HMP Bristol
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Job Description
Prison Officer - HMP Bristol
Location: HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8PS
Starting Salary: £36,816 (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)
City/Town: Bristol
Region: South West
Vacancy Type: Merit
Sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in line with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.
Eligibility:
- Be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment.
- Meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements.
- Pass a medical and fitness assessment.
- Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses).
- Have a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).
- Have tattoos that are not deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
Nationality Requirements:
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 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
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Essential Skills:
- Communication and influencing skills
- Commitment to quality
- Effective decision-making
- Care and understanding
Pay:
- 37 hours a week = £34,928 a year
- 39 hours a week = £36,816 a year
- 41 hours a week = £39,334 a year
Benefits:
- 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
- Paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
- Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
- Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
Assessment Process:
During the recruitment process you will be assessed on the behaviours, strengths and abilities you need to become an effective prison officer. These include:
- Communicating and influencing
- Managing a quality service
- Making effective decisions
- Caring
Application Process:
- Complete the initial application form.
- Complete stage 1 of the online test to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.
- If successful, complete the stage 2 online test (values-based assessment) to understand how well you demonstrate the values needed to be an effective prison officer.
- If you successfully pass the Values Based Assessment (VBA), you'll be eligible to progress to the Online Assessment Centre (OAC), where we'll assess the behaviours, strengths and abilities needed to become a Prison Officer.
Job Offers:
This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score. When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available. You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.
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Medical and Fitness:
Once we identify a vacancy for you, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.
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.
Reasonable Adjustment Support:
As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ is committed to ensuring that everyone can demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities. Offering reasonable adjustment support to candidates when they apply for one of our jobs is just one way we do this.
Contact Information:
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 21263.
Closing Date: 15th October 2026
Supporting Document: Band-3-PO-Safe-Decent-and-Secure-JD048-v8.0 (1).pdf – 150KB
Additional Information:
- Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): 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.
General Information:
- Business Unit: Bristol
- Date Published: 27-Aug-2026
- Working Time: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
- Location: Bristol
- Civil Service Grade: AO
- Job ID: 21263
- Level of Security Checks Required: DBS Enhanced
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