Prison Officer – HMP Norwich
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Norwich in Norwich, East of England. This is a permanent Civil Service position offering a starting salary of £34,928, with opportunities to work 37, 39 or 41 hours per week after initial training.
The role involves working directly with prisoners, maintaining a safe and secure environment, building professional relationships and supporting rehabilitation.
Important for applicants requiring visa sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, the employer states that candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign because of current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.
Job Details
- Job title: Prison Officer – HMP Norwich
- Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Location: HMP Norwich, Knox Road, Norwich, NR1 4LU
- Region: East of England
- Salary: £34,928 for 37 hours per week
- 39-hour salary: £36,816 per year
- 41-hour salary: £39,334 per year
- Contract: Permanent
- Grade: Administrative Officer
- Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
- Vacancies: 20
- Reference: 473639
- Advertiser job reference: 20590
- Closing date: 1 October 2026 at 11:55pm
- Vacancy type: Merit
About the Role
Prison Officers play an important role in protecting the public and supporting prisoners during their time in custody.
The role is varied and involves working directly with prisoners in a challenging environment. Officers are expected to build constructive, positive and professional relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries and helping to keep prisoners, colleagues and the wider prison secure.
You will work as part of a team and may take on different responsibilities during the course of a working day. The role requires resilience, confidence, empathy, communication skills and the ability to respond appropriately to changing situations.
You should be prepared to work shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.
Key Responsibilities
As a Prison Officer, you will be expected to:
- Maintain a safe and secure prison environment.
- Work directly with prisoners and build professional relationships.
- Communicate effectively with prisoners and colleagues.
- Support the delivery of a safe, decent and secure prison.
- Make effective decisions when dealing with different situations.
- Provide care and support while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues as part of a prison team.
- Contribute to maintaining quality services.
- Demonstrate resilience when dealing with challenging situations.
- Follow Civil Service and prison procedures and standards.
Requirements / Person Specification
You do not need specific formal qualifications to become a Prison Officer. The recruitment process focuses significantly on personal qualities, behaviours, strengths and abilities.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
- Effective communication and influencing skills.
- Commitment to delivering a quality service.
- Effective decision-making.
- Care and understanding.
- Confidence and resilience.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to communicate in spoken English with confidence.
Applicants must also:
- Be at least 18 years old when employment begins.
- Meet the applicable Civil Service nationality requirements.
- Pass the required medical and fitness assessment.
- Meet the required eyesight standards.
- Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
- Meet the relevant security and criminal record checking 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 related to cultural, religious or medical reasons.
High-Security Prison Requirement
For work in a Category A high-security prison, applicants must have been resident in the UK for the previous three years.
This requirement is stated separately by the employer and should be considered by applicants when assessing their eligibility.
Visa Sponsorship / Right to Work
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not guaranteed.
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, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are specifically advised that they are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.
Applicants should therefore carefully check their existing right to work in the UK before applying.
The role 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 EUSS status.
- Certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who met the relevant EUSS eligibility requirements.
- Eligible Turkish nationals and certain family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.
Salary & Benefits
The role offers:
- £34,928 per year for 37 hours per week.
- £36,816 per year for 39 hours per week.
- £39,334 per year for 41 hours per week.
- Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service.
- Paid time off for public holidays.
- One additional privilege day.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Travel loans.
- Opportunities to work additional paid hours.
The advertised salary figures include applicable additional allowances for the role and location.
Working Pattern
Initial training is 37 hours per week.
After training, officers can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours per week, subject to the available working arrangements.
Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so officers must be prepared for changing shift patterns that can include:
- Evenings.
- Some nights.
- Weekends.
- Public holidays.
Shift start and finish times are fixed, so applicants are responsible for ensuring they can travel to and from HMP Norwich reliably.
A driving licence and access to a vehicle may be beneficial, particularly where public transport options are limited, but this is not stated as an essential requirement for this vacancy.
Medical and Fitness Requirements
Successful candidates will be required to complete a medical and fitness assessment.
The assessment includes:
- Eyesight testing.
- Hearing testing.
- Basic health screening.
- Blood pressure checks.
- Other relevant medical and fitness requirements.
Medical and fitness assessments cannot be facilitated outside the UK. Applicants will need to attend a UK-based assessment centre to progress their application.
Recruitment and Assessment Process
Applicants will be assessed against the behaviours, strengths and abilities required for the Prison Officer role.
The assessment includes areas such as:
- Communicating and influencing.
- Managing a quality service.
- Making effective decisions.
- Caring.
- Numerical ability.
- Written English.
- Spoken English.
Online Tests
After completing the initial application form, candidates who progress will be invited to complete the first online test.
This assesses basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a Prison Officer.
Candidates who pass Stage 1 may progress to the Stage 2 Values Based Assessment (VBA).
The VBA assesses how candidates demonstrate the values considered important for the role.
Successful candidates can then progress to the Online Assessment Centre (OAC), where behaviours, strengths and abilities relevant to the Prison Officer role are assessed.
Assessment places may vary according to demand. Candidates achieving a higher predetermined VBA score may receive an earlier OAC invitation. Candidates who achieve the required VBA pass mark but are not initially invited may remain under consideration for later assessment places.
Candidates who were unsuccessful at Stage 2 within the previous six months can reapply.
Merit-Based Appointment
This is a merit vacancy.
Candidates who successfully complete the Online Assessment Centre will be placed on a merit list according to their assessment score.
As vacancies become available, job offers will be made to candidates with the highest scores first.
Successful candidates can remain on the merit list for up to 12 months. After that period, they would need to apply again.
Applicants unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage will 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 may also assess candidates for suitability for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) role.
If a candidate is unsuccessful in securing a Prison Officer position following the assessment centre, they may instead be offered an alternative OSG position, subject to the relevant requirements and vacancies.
Application / Selection Process
Applications should be submitted through the official Ministry of Justice recruitment system.
Closing date: 1 October 2026 at 11:55pm.
Candidates should ensure that all information included in their application is truthful and based on their own experience.
The employer states that artificial intelligence tools may be used to support an application, but examples and statements must remain truthful, factually accurate and based on the applicant’s own experience. Plagiarism or presenting AI-generated material as personal experience may result in an application being withdrawn.
Applicants requiring reasonable adjustments should request support during the application process. Candidates are encouraged to arrange adjustments before completing online tests or attending the Online Assessment Centre.
Security and Other Checks
Successful applicants will be required to undergo the appropriate security checks, including an enhanced or equivalent criminal record check.
Candidates working with government assets must also complete the required baseline personnel security standard checks.
A medical assessment is also required.
Additional Information
For assistance with the recruitment process, applicants can contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Telephone: 0345 241 5358
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm
Email: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Please quote job reference 20590 when contacting the recruitment team.
Veterans and Civil Service Schemes
The Ministry of Justice supports the Civil Service initiative designed to help eligible former members of the Armed Forces access employment opportunities, including a guaranteed interview scheme where the relevant minimum criteria are met.
The Civil Service also operates a Redeployment Interview Scheme for eligible employees who are at risk of redundancy and meet the minimum requirements for the relevant vacancy.
Closing Date
Applications close: 1 October 2026 at 11:55pm.
Applicants should allow sufficient time to complete the application and any required online assessments.
Important: This vacancy is subject to the employer’s stated eligibility, assessment, right-to-work, security, medical and immigration requirements. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not guaranteed, and the employer specifically states that applicants requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign.