Serco Plc
Prison Officer
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Prison Officer
Prison Officer
Location: HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter, ST14 8XR Salary: Up to £33,337 per annum* Type: Permanent. Full time (average 40 per week, with various shifts on rota)
What's in it for you?
- Your starting salary will be £28,187 pa, increasing to £29,271 after 12 months and increasing again to £33,337 when you reach 3 years’ service.
- We are fully committed to progressing you through your PCO Portfolio or PCO Apprenticeship, which would increase your salary to £33,337 as soon as either of these is successfully completed (realistically achievable within 12 to 18 months).
- Opportunity to earn approximately £37,800 including overtime (based on an average of 4 hrs per week).
- Clear career development pathways for progression into operational management positions with salaries ranging from £36,000 to £42,000.
- Flexible shift patterns available.
- Free parking on site.
- Free use of the gym.
- Free food whilst on shift.
- Pension scheme.
- Health & Wellbeing Benefits.
- Reward & Recognition scheme.
- Serco discounts, including cinema, online shopping, leisure centre memberships, and Blue Light discount card eligibility.
Discover lots of information about the Prison Officer role here.
Is this the right career for you?
Our Prison Officers come from diverse work and life backgrounds. Your previous experience is less important than your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. We focus on transferrable skills and behaviours like communication, teamwork, resilience, and patience. The rest you will learn during your 10-week training course and from experienced colleagues.
As a Prison Officer, you will be at the forefront of ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone. This is a role where your contribution counts, as you work to provide prisoners with structure, encourage positive choices, and support their rehabilitation journey. Your day-to-day activities will include:
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- Supervising prisoners in all aspects of prison wing activity.
- Overseeing work and education programmes, encouraging prisoner participation.
- Operational matters such as prisoner headcounts, prison cell searching, security, and administrative processes.
- Managing prisoners at risk of self-harm.
We operate 24/7, all year round, meaning you will cover shifts including days, evenings, weekends, nights, and bank holidays. We value work-life balance, operating on a rota basis that allows flexibility for meaningful time off.
Preparing for your recruitment journey:
- You will be invited to a competency-based interview at the Prison, where you can meet the team.
- Upon passing the assessment and providing security and vetting documentation, you will be invited to a 10-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the Prison, requiring 100% attendance.
- The ITC includes 8 weeks of classroom-based training and 2 weeks of shadowing.
- You will complete a Diploma in Custodial Care, First Aid, and undergo Control and Restraint training.
Upcoming Initial Training Course start dates:
- Monday 13th April 2026
- Monday 11th May 2026
- Monday 8th June 2026
- Monday 7th September 2026
Why Serco?
- Meaningful and vital work: Prison Officers are crucial for ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of prisoners, staff, and visitors, and play a vital role in reducing reoffending rates.
- A world of opportunity: Our prisons offer variety and opportunity, with pathways to progress into Ops Management or specialist services like Psychology, Education, Health, or the Animal unit.
- Great people: Due to investment in safeguarding and rehabilitation, our prisons are calm environments. You will receive all the training and support you need from friendly and supportive colleagues.
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Please note that this position is based at HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter ST14 8XR. Due to the nature of our shift patterns, we strongly encourage applicants to consider their commute time and transportation options before applying. We recommend candidates live within a 30-mile radius of the location to ensure punctuality, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.
What else do I need to know?
- This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria.
- Candidates with existing UK right-to-work through other immigration routes must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least two years remaining on their current visa.
- Have lived in the UK for at least one year.
- For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and satisfactory employment references. You will be required to provide 5 years of employment and education history for these checks. You will also need to obtain Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 Clearance & Enhanced DBS with adult and child barring vetting clearances (requiring 5 years of checkable history).
All Serco employees must inform their current line manager of their application. For confidential enquiries, please contact MyHR. Serco is a Disability Confident Leader employer committed to employing and retaining people with disabilities. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application, please contact j&icareersUK@serco.com.
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