Prison Officer

Prison Officer Jobs at HMP Belmarsh – £38,840 to £43,739 a Year | 20 Vacancies

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Belmarsh in London, England. This permanent opportunity offers a competitive salary, a Civil Service pension, paid annual leave and opportunities to build a rewarding career in public service.

No formal qualifications are required, but applicants must demonstrate strong communication skills, sound judgement, resilience and the ability to work effectively with others.

Visa sponsorship warning: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available in principle, but the employer states that candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored in this recruitment campaign. Applicants must carefully assess their right to work in the UK before applying.

Job Overview

• Job Title: Prison Officer
• Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
• Location: HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, London, SE28 0EB
• Salary: £38,840–£43,739 per year, depending on weekly working hours
• Standard 39-hour salary: £41,290 per year
• Contract: Permanent
• Job Grade: Administrative Officer
• Job Type: Operational Delivery
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
• Hours: 37, 39 or 41 hours per week after initial training
• Vacancies: 20
• Visa Sponsorship: May be available subject to eligibility, but candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign
• Reference Number: 476900
• Closing Date: 12 November 2026 at 11:55 pm

About the Role

As a Prison Officer at HMP Belmarsh, you will help maintain a safe and secure 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.

This is an active and varied role that requires empathy, integrity, confidence and resilience. You may need to take on different responsibilities throughout your shift, including supporting, guiding and supervising prisoners.

Prisons operate around the clock, so you must be prepared to work shifts that may include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain safety, security and order within the prison.
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Communicate effectively and manage challenging situations.
• Make sound decisions and respond appropriately to incidents.
• Support prisoners and encourage positive behaviour.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain a safe environment.
• Deliver a professional service while following prison procedures and standards.

Essential Requirements

You do not need formal qualifications to become a Prison Officer. The employer places particular importance on personal qualities and practical abilities.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Effective communication and influencing skills.
• A commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Good decision-making and judgement.
• Care, understanding and empathy.
• Resilience, integrity and confidence.
• The ability to work as part of a team.

You must also:

• Be at least 18 years old when you commence employment.
• Meet the applicable Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Meet the required eyesight and hearing standards.
• Pass the required medical and fitness assessments.
• Meet the relevant security and background-check requirements.
• Be able to fulfil the spoken aspects of the role confidently in English.

Visible tattoos may be permitted, provided they are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

Important UK Residency and Security Requirements

Applicants must have been resident in the UK for the three years immediately before applying to satisfy the stated Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) vetting requirement for HMP Belmarsh.

Candidates who do not meet this residency requirement will not be able to take up the post. The employer may consider certain periods spent abroad where UK residency was maintained, subject to vetting requirements.

Successful candidates must also pass the required HMPPS enhanced vetting and other pre-employment checks.

Medical and fitness assessments must be completed at a UK-based assessment centre. The employer cannot arrange these assessments outside the UK.

These requirements are particularly important for applicants currently living outside the UK.

Salary and Working Hours

The advertised salary depends on your agreed weekly working hours:

• 37 hours per week: £38,840 per year.
• 39 hours per week: £41,290 per year.
• 41 hours per week: £43,739 per year.

Initial training is 37 hours per week. After training, you can choose from the available 37-, 39- or 41-hour working arrangements.

The quoted salaries include applicable allowances for the role and location. Additional paid hours may also be available.

Shift patterns vary and may include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Training and Assessment

The recruitment process assesses whether you have the skills, behaviours and personal qualities needed to work effectively as a Prison Officer.

The process includes:

1. Initial application: Complete the application form.
2. Stage 1 online test: Assess basic judgement and numerical skills.
3. Stage 2 online test: Complete a values-based assessment.
4. Online Assessment Centre: Demonstrate the required behaviours, strengths and abilities.
5. Medical and fitness assessment: Complete the required health, eyesight, hearing and fitness checks when a suitable vacancy is identified.
6. Pre-employment checks: Complete the necessary security vetting before appointment.

Assessments cover communication and influencing, managing a quality service, effective decision-making and caring. Numerical, written English and spoken English abilities will also be assessed.

Candidates who meet the required assessment standards may be placed on a merit list for up to 12 months. Offers are made as vacancies become available, prioritising candidates with the highest assessment scores.

The employer may also consider unsuccessful Prison Officer applicants for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) role, depending on their assessment results and suitability.

Salary, Pension and Employee Benefits

Successful candidates can access a range of Civil Service benefits, including:

• 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years of service.
• Paid time off for public holidays and one additional privilege day.
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel loans and other employee benefits.
• Opportunities to work additional paid hours.

Driving Licence and Transport

A driving licence and access to your own transport are not stated as essential requirements for this vacancy. However, applicants are responsible for arranging reliable transport to and from work because shift start and finish times are fixed.

Consider your commuting arrangements carefully before applying.

Visa Sponsorship Information

The advert 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 employer specifically warns that candidates who require sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this recruitment campaign.

Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK and be able to maintain it. Meeting the immigration eligibility criteria alone does not guarantee sponsorship.

In addition, the three-year UK residency requirement for CTC vetting and the requirement to attend medical and fitness assessments in the UK make this vacancy particularly challenging for applicants currently living overseas.

Application and Selection Process

Applications must be submitted through the official HM Prison & Probation Service recruitment portal.

Successful applicants will be assessed on their suitability for the role, including their judgement, communication, decision-making, values and ability to work safely in a prison environment.

If you require reasonable adjustments for online tests or the assessment centre, indicate this on your application so the necessary arrangements can be made in advance.

Closing date: 12 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

How to Apply

To review the full job description, eligibility conditions and application instructions, visit the official recruitment page below.

Job Reference: 476900

Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service

Please read the residency, security vetting and visa sponsorship conditions carefully before submitting your application.