Prison Officer

Prison Officer – HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth

Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
Job reference: 476923
Salary: £40,876 – £46,031 per year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working or job share
Number of vacancies: 20
Location: London
Closing date: 15 October 2026

About the role

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting Prison Officers to work at HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth in London.

This is a permanent position and is open to applicants from a range of professional and personal backgrounds. Previous prison officer or military experience is not required.

Applicants may be allocated to either prison as this is a cluster campaign.

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 visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign because of current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have and can maintain the appropriate right to work in the UK.

Important: This should not be treated as a guaranteed visa sponsorship vacancy.

Who can apply?

The role is not restricted to Armed Forces personnel. The employer welcomes applicants from different backgrounds, including people who have worked in:

• Retail
• Teaching
• The armed forces
• Other people-facing roles

You do not need specific qualifications to become a Prison Officer. Personal qualities, communication skills and the ability to work effectively with others are important.

Key responsibilities

Prison Officers help maintain safety and security within the prison while supporting prisoners and contributing to rehabilitation.

The role includes:

• Building constructive and professional relationships with prisoners
• Protecting the public and maintaining prison security
• Managing challenging situations
• Communicating effectively with prisoners and colleagues
• Making effective decisions
• Providing care and support
• Working as part of a team
• Working a range of shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Essential requirements

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old when employment begins
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements
• Have the legal right to live and work in the UK
• Pass the required medical and fitness assessment
• Meet the required eyesight standards
• Meet the required hearing standard

Applicants must also demonstrate:

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding

No formal qualifications are required for the Prison Officer role.

Salary

The salary depends on the number of hours worked:

• 37 hours per week: £40,876 per year
• 39 hours per week: £43,453 per year
• 41 hours per week: £46,031 per year

The advertised salaries include applicable allowances.

There may also be opportunities to work additional paid hours.

Working hours

The initial training is 37 hours per week.

After training, employees can work 37, 39 or 41 hours per week.

Because prisons operate around the clock, shifts can include:

• Evenings
• Some nights
• Weekends
• Public holidays

Benefits

The role includes:

• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service
• Paid public holidays plus one additional privilege day
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme
• Travel loans
• Other Civil Service benefits

Recruitment process

Candidates will be assessed on the behaviours, strengths and abilities required to become an effective Prison Officer.

The process includes:

1. Initial application
2. Stage 1 online test
3. Stage 2 Values-Based Assessment
4. Online Assessment Centre
5. Further assessment where applicable
6. Medical and fitness assessment

Candidates will be assessed in areas including communication and influencing, managing a quality service, effective decision-making and caring.

Successful candidates will be placed on a merit list based on their assessment results. The merit list can remain valid for up to 12 months.

Medical and fitness assessment

Successful applicants must complete a medical and fitness assessment covering:

• Eyesight
• Hearing
• Basic health screening
• Blood pressure

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

Nationality requirements

The vacancy is broadly open to:

• UK nationals
• Republic of Ireland nationals
• Eligible Commonwealth nationals who have the right to work in the UK
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals
• Certain individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Certain Turkish nationals and 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.

Security checks

Successful candidates will be required to undergo:

• Enhanced or equivalent criminal record checks
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks
• Medical assessment

Application deadline

15 October 2026 at 11:55 pm

How to apply

Applications are made online through the Ministry of Justice recruitment portal.