Prison Officer

Prison Officer – HMP Highpoint | HM Prison & Probation Service

Salary: £36,928 – £41,334 per year, depending on weekly working hours (including applicable allowances)

Location: HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket, CB8 9YG, East of England

Contract: Permanent

Job Type: Operational Delivery

Working Pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible Working and Job Share

Number of Vacancies: 20

Job Grade: Administrative Officer

Reference Number: 473640

Visa Sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available, subject to eligibility and UK immigration rules. However, applicants requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored in this recruitment campaign. Sponsorship is not guaranteed.

Closing Date: 26 November 2026 at 11:55 pm

Job Overview

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Highpoint in Stradishall, near Newmarket.

Prison Officers play an important role in protecting the public, maintaining safety within prisons and supporting prisoners to make positive changes in their lives.

This is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in the Civil Service, working in a challenging but fulfilling environment where communication, teamwork, resilience and good judgement are essential.

You do not need previous prison officer experience or specific qualifications. The employer is looking for individuals with the right personal qualities, commitment and ability to work effectively with others.

Key Responsibilities

As a Prison Officer, your responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining safety, security and good order within the prison.
• Building constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Supporting prisoners and encouraging positive behavioural changes.
• Communicating effectively with prisoners and colleagues.
• Responding appropriately to challenging situations and making effective decisions.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to maintain a safe prison environment.
• Providing guidance, support and encouragement to prisoners.
• Helping protect the public while contributing to the rehabilitation of prisoners.

Essential Skills and Personal Qualities

You do not need formal qualifications to apply. However, you should demonstrate:

• Good communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Effective decision-making abilities.
• Care, empathy and understanding.
• Integrity and self-confidence.
• Resilience and the ability to manage challenging situations.
• A strong commitment to teamwork and supporting colleagues.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old when they start employment.
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Pass the required medical and fitness assessments.
• Meet the eyesight standards for both eyes, with and without corrective lenses.
• Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
• Have the legal right to live and work in the UK.

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

Important: Working in a high-security Category A prison requires at least three years of UK residency. The advert identifies HMP Highpoint as the location, so applicants should confirm the applicable residency requirements with the recruitment team.

Salary and Working Hours

The available salary options depend on your weekly working hours:

• 37 hours per week: £36,928 per year.
• 39 hours per week: £38,816 per year.
• 41 hours per week: £41,334 per year.

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

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You must therefore be prepared to work different shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Additional paid working hours may also be available.

Benefits

Employees will receive a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years of service.
• Paid public holidays and one additional privilege day.
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel loans.
• Opportunities for career development and progression.
• Additional benefits available through the Civil Service.

Recruitment and Assessment Process

The recruitment process includes several stages designed to assess your suitability for the Prison Officer role.

1. Initial Application and Online Tests

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

2. Values-Based Assessment

Successful applicants will progress to a second online test designed to assess how well they demonstrate the values required to become an effective Prison Officer.

Applicants who achieve the required score may be invited to the Online Assessment Centre.

3. Online Assessment Centre

The assessment centre evaluates your behaviours, strengths and abilities, including:

• Communicating and influencing.
• Managing a quality service.
• Making effective decisions.
• Caring.

Your numerical, written English and spoken English abilities will also be assessed.

4. Medical and Fitness Assessment

Once a suitable vacancy becomes available, successful candidates will be invited to complete medical and fitness assessments, including eyesight, hearing and general health checks.

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

Job Offers and Merit List

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 assessment scores.

Job offers will be made to the highest-scoring candidates as vacancies become available.

Successful candidates can remain on the merit list for up to 12 months.

Candidates who are unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage will be subject to a six-month waiting period before applying again for Prison Officer positions.

Additional Opportunities

The Online Assessment Centre will also assess your suitability for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) position.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a Prison Officer role, you may be considered for an alternative OSG position.

Important Information for Applicants

• A driving licence and access to personal transport may be beneficial because HMP Highpoint is in a rural location with limited public transport.
• Shift start and finish times are fixed, so applicants must be able to arrange reliable transport.
• Successful candidates must undergo enhanced criminal record and security checks.
• Reasonable adjustments are available for eligible applicants who require additional support during the recruitment process.
• Applicants requiring visa sponsorship should carefully consider the advert’s warning that sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications online through the official HM Prison & Probation Service recruitment portal.

Applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements, visa sponsorship conditions and assessment process before applying.

Closing Date: 26 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Recruitment Enquiries:
Email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Telephone: 0345 241 5358

Please quote reference number 20587 when contacting the recruitment team.