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Prison Officer

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Prison Officer Jobs at HMP Holme House and HMP Kirklevington Grange – 20 Vacancies

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Holme House and HMP Kirklevington Grange in North East England. The permanent roles offer salaries of up to £39,334 per year, depending on weekly working hours, alongside a Civil Service pension and paid annual leave.

No formal qualifications are required, making this an opportunity for applicants who can demonstrate strong communication skills, sound judgement, resilience and the ability to work with people.

Job Overview

  • Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
  • Job title: Prison Officer
  • Locations: HMP Holme House, Stockton-on-Tees, and HMP Kirklevington Grange, Yarm
  • Salary: £34,928–£39,334 per year, depending on weekly hours
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
  • Hours: 37, 39 or 41 hours per week after initial training
  • Number of vacancies: 20
  • Job grade: Administrative Officer
  • Reference number: 477109
  • Closing date: 29 October 2026
  • Visa sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility, but applicants requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored in this recruitment campaign.

About the Role

As a Prison Officer, you will help maintain a safe, secure and decent prison environment while supporting prisoners to make positive changes in their lives.

The role involves building professional relationships with prisoners, maintaining order, responding to challenging situations and working closely with colleagues to protect the public.

You will need to demonstrate empathy, confidence, integrity and resilience. Prison officers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and previous experience in a prison environment is not stated as a requirement in the advert.

This is a shift-based role because prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You should be prepared to work evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Please note that this is a cluster recruitment campaign. Successful applicants may be allocated to either HMP Holme House or HMP Kirklevington Grange.

Salary and Working Hours

Your salary will depend on the number of hours you work each week:

  • 37 hours per week: £34,928 per year
  • 39 hours per week: £36,816 per year
  • 41 hours per week: £39,334 per year

Initial training is 37 hours per week. After completing training, you may be able to work 37, 39 or 41 hours per week, depending on the available working arrangements.

The advertised salary figures include applicable allowances for the role and location. Additional paid hours may also be available.

Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, HM Prison & Probation Service explicitly warns that candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored through this campaign because of current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.

Sponsorship is not guaranteed. Applicants must ensure they have and can maintain the legal right to work in the UK and meet the relevant Civil Service nationality requirements.

Applicants who need sponsorship should carefully consider this warning before applying. Read the official Skilled Worker visa guidance for eligibility information.

Requirements and Eligibility

You do not need formal qualifications to apply. The employer places greater emphasis on personal qualities and the ability to perform the role effectively.

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Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years old when they start employment.
  • Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and influencing skills.
  • Make sound decisions and maintain appropriate standards of service.
  • Show care, understanding, empathy and resilience.
  • Pass the required medical and fitness assessments.
  • Meet the required eyesight standards in both eyes, with and without corrective lenses.
  • Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids for prison officer training.
  • Ensure any tattoos comply with the employer’s rules. Offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating tattoos are not permitted. Facial tattoos are generally unacceptable except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

Applicants seeking work in a high-security Category A prison must have been resident in the UK for the previous three years. The advert identifies the two establishments in this campaign as HMP Holme House and HMP Kirklevington Grange.

Essential Skills

The recruitment process assesses four key areas:

  • Communication and influencing: Communicating clearly and building constructive professional relationships.
  • Commitment to quality: Following standards and helping maintain a safe, decent and secure environment.
  • Effective decision-making: Using sound judgement when dealing with different situations.
  • Care and understanding: Treating people appropriately while maintaining professional boundaries.

You will also be assessed on your numerical skills, written English and spoken English.

Driving Licence and Transport

A driving licence and access to your own transport are beneficial but are not essential for the Prison Officer role unless specifically stated otherwise.

However, shift start and finish times are fixed, so you must be able to travel to work reliably. Consider public transport availability and your travel arrangements before applying.

If you are offered an alternative Operational Support Grade (OSG) role following the assessment process, a valid UK driving licence is required because driving duties are an essential part of that position.

Training and Assessment Process

The recruitment process includes online tests, an online assessment centre and medical and fitness checks.

1. Initial application and online test

After submitting your application, you will be invited to complete the first online test, which assesses basic judgement and numerical skills.

2. Values-Based Assessment

Successful candidates will be invited to complete a second online test designed to assess how well they demonstrate the values required of an effective Prison Officer.

Candidates who meet the required pass mark may be invited to the next stage according to assessment capacity and the campaign’s selection arrangements.

3. Online Assessment Centre

Candidates who progress will attend an online assessment centre. This evaluates the behaviours, strengths and abilities needed for the role, including communication, decision-making, quality of service and care.

If you were unsuccessful in the Stage 2 online test during the previous six months, the advert states that you may now reapply.

4. Medical and fitness assessment

Once a vacancy has been identified for you, you will be invited to complete a medical and fitness assessment. This includes eyesight and hearing tests and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

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

For further guidance, visit the official Prison Officer application information centre.

Merit List and Job Offers

This is a merit-based recruitment campaign. Candidates who successfully complete the online assessment centre will be placed on a merit list according to their scores.

Job offers will be made to candidates with the highest scores first as vacancies become available. Applicants may remain on the merit list for up to 12 months, after which they will need to apply again.

If your application is unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage, a six-month waiting period will apply before you can submit another application for a Prison Officer position.

The assessment centre may also determine your suitability for an Operational Support Grade role. If you are unsuccessful for the Prison Officer position, you may be offered an alternative OSG role, subject to the relevant requirements and vacancies.

Benefits

The role includes the following benefits:

  • Annual leave: 25 days, increasing to 30 days after 10 years of service.
  • Public holidays: Paid time off for public holidays and one additional privilege day.
  • Civil Service pension: Employer contributions of 28.97%.
  • Travel support: Travel loans and a cycle-to-work scheme.
  • Additional opportunities: Potential to work extra paid hours.

The advertised pension contribution is an employer contribution and is not an additional amount paid directly as salary.

Read more about Prison Officer benefits and training.

Security and Medical Checks

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced or equivalent criminal record check, relevant baseline personnel security checks and a medical assessment.

Applicants should also ensure they meet the nationality requirements for employment in the Civil Service.

Application and Selection Process

To apply, complete the official online application and follow the instructions for the online tests and subsequent assessment stages.

Closing date: 29 October 2026 at 11:55 pm.

For recruitment assistance, contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team using the contact details provided in the official advert. Quote reference number 21318 when making an enquiry.

 

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