Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
Location: HMP Stocken, Clipsham, East Midlands, LE15 7RD
Salary: £36,928–£41,334 per year, depending on contracted hours
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
Vacancies: 20
Closing date: 29 October 2026 at 11:55pm
Reference: 473667
Sponsorship / Right to Work
Important for applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship: The advert states that sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules, but candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign because of current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they have and can maintain the appropriate right to work in the UK. Consider your immigration and right-to-work position carefully before applying.
The role also requires applicants to attend a UK-based medical and fitness assessment; medical and fitness assessments cannot be facilitated outside the UK.
About the Role
HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Stocken.
Prison Officers work directly with prisoners in a challenging and highly structured environment. The role involves maintaining safety and security while building professional and constructive relationships with prisoners and supporting their rehabilitation.
There is no single background required. The employer highlights communication, empathy, resilience, confidence and the ability to work effectively with others as important qualities.
The role operates within a 24-hour prison environment, so successful applicants must be prepared to work different shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.
Key Responsibilities
As a Prison Officer, you may be required to:
- Maintain the safety and security of the prison.
- Build positive, professional relationships with prisoners.
- Communicate effectively and influence others appropriately.
- Make effective decisions in a demanding environment.
- Support prisoners while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues as part of a team.
- Respond appropriately to different situations and challenges.
- Contribute to a safe and decent prison environment.
The role can involve a wide variety of responsibilities, with officers potentially acting as peacekeepers, mentors, teachers and sources of support during different situations.
Who Can Apply
You do not need specific qualifications to become a Prison Officer. The employer places emphasis on personal qualities and the ability to demonstrate:
- Communication and influencing skills.
- Commitment to quality.
- Effective decision-making.
- Care and understanding.
- Resilience and professionalism.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old when they commence employment and must meet the relevant Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Successful applicants must meet the required physical and eligibility standards, including:
- Passing a medical and fitness assessment.
- Meeting the required eyesight standard in both eyes, with and without corrective lenses.
- Meeting the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
- Meeting applicable nationality and right-to-work requirements.
- Meeting the relevant requirements for working in the prison environment.
Tattoos are permitted, including visible tattoos, provided they are not considered offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not accepted except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
For high-security Category A prison roles, applicants must normally have been resident in the UK for the previous three years.
Working Pattern and Hours
Initial training is 37 hours per week.
Following training, employees can work 37, 39 or 41 hours per week, with salary reflecting the contracted hours:
- 37 hours: £36,928 per year
- 39 hours: £38,816 per year
- 41 hours: £41,334 per year
The advertised salary includes applicable allowances.
HMP Stocken operates around the clock, meaning shifts can include evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. Additional paid hours may also be available.
Because some prisons are located in areas with limited public transport, having a driving licence and access to a vehicle may be beneficial, although it is not an essential requirement unless otherwise specified.
Salary and Benefits
The role offers:
- Salary from £36,928, rising according to contracted weekly hours.
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service.
- Paid public holidays.
- One additional privilege day.
- Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- Travel loans.
- Other Civil Service benefits.
- Potential opportunities to work additional paid hours.
Assessment and Recruitment Process
The recruitment process assesses the behaviours, strengths and abilities considered important for effective Prison Officers.
These include:
- Communicating and influencing.
- Managing a quality service.
- Making effective decisions.
- Caring.
Applicants will also be assessed on numerical ability, written English and spoken English.
The process includes:
- Completion of the initial application.
- Stage 1 online test assessing basic judgement and numerical skills.
- Stage 2 Values-Based Assessment.
- Online Assessment Centre (OAC).
- Medical and fitness assessment once a suitable vacancy is identified.
- Appointment when a position becomes available.
Applicants who pass the required VBA threshold but are not initially invited to the OAC may remain under consideration for a later assessment place.
The employer also states that applicants who were unsuccessful at the Stage 2 online test within the previous six months can now reapply.
Merit Vacancy
This is a merit vacancy.
Candidates who successfully complete the Online Assessment Centre are placed on a merit list according to their assessment score. As vacancies become available, job offers are made to candidates from the merit list.
Candidates can remain on the merit list for up to 12 months.
If an application is unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage, a six-month waiting period applies before another application for a Prison Officer position can be submitted.
Operational Support Grade Opportunity
The Online Assessment Centre also assesses suitability for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) role.
If an applicant is unsuccessful for the Prison Officer position following the OAC, they may instead be offered an alternative OSG position.
Medical and Fitness Assessment
Applicants must complete a medical and fitness assessment before appointment.
This includes:
- Eyesight testing.
- Hearing testing.
- Basic health screening.
- Blood pressure checks.
- Physical and fitness assessment requirements relevant to the role.
Medical and fitness assessments cannot be completed outside the UK. Applicants must attend a UK-based assessment centre to progress their application.
Travel to HMP Stocken
HMP Stocken is located at:
2 Stocken Hall Road, Stretton, Oakham, LE15 7RD
Applicants should carefully consider the location and their transport arrangements. Shift start and finish times are fixed, and employees are responsible for arriving at work on time.
Security and Eligibility
Successful candidates will be required to undergo the relevant security checks, including an enhanced or equivalent criminal record check.
People working with government assets must also complete the required Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.
Successful candidates will be expected to complete a medical assessment.
The role is broadly open to eligible:
- UK nationals.
- Republic of Ireland nationals.
- Commonwealth nationals with 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.
- Individuals with qualifying limited or indefinite leave to remain.
- Certain Turkish nationals and qualifying family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.
Applicants must maintain the legal right to live and work in the UK and the Civil Service.
Reasonable Adjustments and Disability Support
HM Prison & Probation Service is a Disability Confident employer and provides reasonable adjustment support during recruitment.
Applicants who require adjustments should indicate this on the application form. Adjustments should be arranged in advance because assessors may not be able to accommodate requests made on the day of the assessment centre.
Application and Selection Process
Applications must be submitted through the employer’s recruitment system.
The application and assessment process should be completed using the applicant’s own experience. The employer states that examples and statements must be truthful and factually accurate, and applications may be withdrawn where plagiarism is identified.
Closing date: 29 October 2026 at 11:55pm
Job reference: 473667
Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
Number of positions: 20
How to Apply
Apply through the official HM Prison & Probation Service recruitment page:
Source: Civil Service Jobs / HM Prison & Probation Service