Prison Officer

Prison Officer – HMP Downview

Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
Department: Ministry of Justice
Location: HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, London, SM2 5PD
Job Reference: 473504
Advertiser Reference: 20553
Salary: £40,840–£45,379 per year, depending on contracted hours
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
Vacancies: 20
Job Grade: Administrative Officer
Closing Date: 17 October 2026 at 11:55pm
Eligibility: Female applicants only, due to an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010
Visa Sponsorship: May be available subject to eligibility, but candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Downview in Sutton, London.

This is a permanent operational role working in a women’s prison, with opportunities to work different shift patterns and contribute to the safety, security and rehabilitation of people in custody.

No specific qualifications are required to become a prison officer. The recruitment process focuses on qualities such as communication, resilience, sound decision-making, care and understanding, together with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Job Details

About the Role

Prison officers play an important role in maintaining safety and security while supporting people in custody.

At HMP Downview, officers work in a women’s prison environment where individuals may have complex and challenging backgrounds. The role involves developing constructive, professional relationships with prisoners and responding appropriately to a wide range of situations.

The position can involve many different responsibilities during a typical working day. Prison officers may act as peacekeepers, mentors, teachers and sources of support while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and ensuring the prison remains safe and secure.

Teamwork is central to the role. Officers must be prepared to support colleagues, follow procedures and work together to maintain a safe environment.

Working at HMP Downview

HMP Downview is part of the Women’s Prison Group.

Working in a women’s prison can involve circumstances and challenges that differ from those found in men’s prisons. The advert notes that many women in custody have experienced difficult backgrounds, including emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

Prison officers therefore need to demonstrate empathy, resilience and strong communication skills while maintaining professionalism and security.

Key Responsibilities

As a Prison Officer, your responsibilities may include:

• Maintaining the safety and security of the prison.
• Building constructive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Supporting the rehabilitation and positive development of prisoners.
• Responding appropriately to challenging situations.
• Communicating clearly with prisoners and colleagues.
• Working collaboratively as part of a prison team.
• Making effective decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintaining professional standards and following relevant procedures.
• Supporting the day-to-day operation of the prison.
• Helping protect the public while contributing to safer communities.
• Working different shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Requirements / Person Specification

You do not need specific formal qualifications to become a prison officer.

The employer is looking for applicants who can demonstrate qualities and skills including:

• Good communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to make effective decisions.
• Commitment to providing a quality service.
• Care and understanding.
• Empathy and resilience.
• Self-confidence.
• The ability to build constructive professional relationships.
• Teamworking skills.
• The ability to remain professional when dealing with challenging situations.

You must also be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role confidently in English or, where specified in Wales, Welsh.

Prison Officer Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old when they commence employment.
• Meet the applicable Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Pass the required medical and fitness assessment.
• Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes, with and without corrective lenses.
• Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
• Meet the relevant employment and right-to-work requirements.

Tattoos are permitted, including visible tattoos, provided they are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not accepted except where they are for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

For positions in high-security Category A prisons, applicants must normally have been resident in the UK for the previous three years. Applicants should check the requirements applicable to their circumstances and the specific role.

Salary and Working Hours

The Civil Service advert lists a salary of £40,840. The job description provides different salary levels depending on contracted weekly hours:

• 37 hours per week: £40,840 per year
• 39 hours per week: £43,290 per year
• 41 hours per week: £45,379 per year

The stated salary figures include applicable allowances for the role and location.

Initial training is 37 hours per week. Following training, employees may have the option of working 37, 39 or 41 hours per week, subject to the available working arrangements.

Most prisons operate around the clock, 365 days a year. Prison officers may therefore be required to work changing shift patterns involving:

• Evenings
• Some nights
• Weekends
• Public holidays

Additional paid hours may also be available.

Benefits

The role includes access to a range of Civil Service benefits, including:

• 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service.
• Paid time off for public holidays.
• One additional privilege day.
• Civil Service pension.
• Employer pension contribution stated at 28.97%.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel loans.
• Other Civil Service and Ministry of Justice benefits.

The advert states that the employer contribution associated with the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme is approximately £11,831 based on the stated salary.

Visa Sponsorship / Right to Work

Important for applicants requiring UK visa sponsorship:

The employer states that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application.

However, the advert specifically warns that:

Candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.

Sponsorship is therefore not guaranteed, and applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have and can maintain the appropriate right to work in the UK.

Applicants who require sponsorship should carefully consider their immigration and right-to-work position before applying.

The employer will apply the UK Immigration Rules and relevant Civil Service requirements.

Civil Service Nationality Requirements

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

• UK nationals.
• Republic of Ireland nationals.
• Commonwealth nationals who have the right to work in the UK.
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals and qualifying family members with the appropriate EU Settlement Scheme status.
• Certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who met the relevant EUSS eligibility conditions by 31 December 2020.
• Turkish nationals and certain qualifying family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.

Successful applicants must maintain the legal right to live and work in the UK and in the Civil Service.

Travel and Transport

Applicants should carefully consider their travel arrangements before applying.

Prison establishments may have limited public transport options. A driving licence and access to a vehicle can be beneficial, although they are not stated to be essential for this vacancy unless otherwise specified.

Shift start and finish times are fixed, so employees are responsible for arriving at the establishment on time for their shifts.

Assessment and Recruitment Process

The recruitment process assesses the behaviours, strengths and abilities required to become an effective prison officer.

The assessment includes areas such as:

• Communicating and influencing.
• Managing a quality service.
• Making effective decisions.
• Caring.
• Numerical ability.
• Written English.
• Spoken English.

The recruitment campaign includes several stages.

Stage 1 – Initial Application and Online Test

After submitting the initial application, candidates will be invited to complete the first online test.

This assesses basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.

Stage 2 – Values-Based Assessment

Candidates who successfully complete the first stage may be invited to complete a Values-Based Assessment (VBA).

The VBA assesses how applicants demonstrate the values considered important for the prison officer role.

Candidates who pass the required VBA threshold may progress to the Online Assessment Centre.

Online Assessment Centre

The Online Assessment Centre (OAC) assesses the behaviours, strengths and abilities required for the role.

Because assessment capacity can vary, candidates achieving a higher predetermined VBA score may receive an invitation to the OAC sooner.

Candidates who meet the required VBA pass mark but are not initially invited may remain under consideration and could be invited when additional assessment capacity becomes available.

The advert also states that applicants who were unsuccessful at the Stage 2 online test within the previous six months can now reapply.

Written Behaviour-Based Questions

After successfully completing the Online Assessment Centre, candidates will be invited to provide written responses to three behaviour-based questions.

These questions will explore the applicant’s understanding of working as a prison officer in a women’s prison and their reasons for being interested in the role.

Medical and Fitness Assessment

Successful candidates will subsequently be invited to complete a medical and fitness assessment when a suitable vacancy is identified.

The assessment includes:

• Eyesight testing.
• Hearing testing.
• Basic health screening.
• Blood pressure checks.
• Fitness assessment.

Important: Medical and fitness assessments cannot be completed outside the UK. Applicants must attend a UK-based medical and fitness assessment centre to progress their application.

Merit-Based Vacancy

This is a merit vacancy.

Applicants who successfully complete the Online Assessment Centre will be placed on a merit list according to their assessment score.

When positions become available, job offers will be made to candidates according to the merit-list process.

Candidates can remain on the merit list for up to 12 months. After that period, they would need to apply again if they still wish to be considered for a prison officer position.

Applicants who are unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage will normally be subject to a six-month waiting period before they can submit another application for a prison officer position.

Operational Support Grade Opportunity

The Online Assessment Centre also assesses suitability for the Operational Support Grade (OSG) role.

If an applicant is unsuccessful in securing a prison officer appointment following the OAC, they may instead be considered for an alternative OSG position, subject to the relevant circumstances and availability.

Medical, Fitness and Right-to-Work Considerations

Successful candidates must complete the required medical checks and meet the relevant physical standards.

Candidates should also ensure they have the necessary legal right to work in the UK throughout the recruitment and employment process.

The employer will conduct the appropriate security and background checks before appointment.

Security Checks

Successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced or equivalent criminal record check.

Employees working with government assets must also complete the required Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

A medical assessment is also required.

Female Applicants Only

This vacancy is open to female applicants only.

The advert states that this is an occupational requirement exception under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, and that the post is not open to male applicants.

Applicants should ensure they meet this specific eligibility requirement before applying.

Artificial Intelligence and Applications

The employer permits applicants to use artificial intelligence as a tool to support their application, but all information, examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and based on the applicant’s own experience.

Applicants should not present AI-generated material or another person’s experiences as their own.

Applications may be withdrawn where plagiarism or inappropriate use of AI is identified.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Ministry of Justice is a Disability Confident employer and provides reasonable adjustment support for eligible applicants.

Candidates who may require adjustments should indicate this on the application form.

It is particularly important to request adjustments before completing online tests or attending the Online Assessment Centre, as assessors may not be able to accommodate requests made on the day.

Veterans and Redeployment Support

The Civil Service operates a Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, including a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible former members of the Armed Forces who meet the minimum criteria.

The Ministry of Justice also operates a Redeployment Interview Scheme for eligible Civil Service employees who are at risk of redundancy and meet the minimum requirements.

Training and Development

Prison officer training forms part of the recruitment and onboarding process.

The role provides an opportunity to develop experience in areas including:

• Communication.
• Conflict management.
• Decision-making.
• Teamwork.
• Security and safety.
• Working with people from complex backgrounds.
• Professional relationship building.
• Supporting rehabilitation.

Application / Selection Process

Applications should be submitted through the official Ministry of Justice recruitment system.

Candidates should carefully review the eligibility requirements, particularly the female-only occupational requirement, UK right-to-work requirements and the warning concerning Skilled Worker sponsorship.

The application and assessment process includes the initial application, online testing, Values-Based Assessment, Online Assessment Centre, written behaviour-based questions and, for successful candidates, medical and fitness assessments.

Important: Applicants requiring medical or fitness assessment must be able to attend a UK-based assessment centre.

Apply for the Prison Officer – HMP Downview vacancy

The vacancy is advertised by HM Prison & Probation Service / Ministry of Justice.

Closing date: 17 October 2026 at 11:55pm

Job reference: 473504
Advertiser reference: 20553

Applicants can also contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team on 0345 241 5358, Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm, or by email at Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.

Additional Information

The employer advises candidates to review the full prison officer information and supporting documentation before applying.

An interactive activity is also available to help candidates understand some situations that prison officers may encounter during their day-to-day work. The activity does not form part of the application.

Candidates should retain a copy of the vacancy information because the advert may no longer be available after the closing date.

Source: Civil Service Jobs / HM Prison & Probation Service
Job reference: 473504
Closing date: 17 October 2026

Important sponsorship note: Although the advert says Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility, it explicitly states that candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign. Applicants should not treat this vacancy as a guaranteed visa-sponsorship opportunity.