Prison Officer – HMP Aylesbury: £37,928–£42,334 Salary, 20 Vacancies
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Aylesbury in Aylesbury, South East England.
This is a permanent Civil Service position with flexible, full-time, part-time and job-share working options. The role offers a starting salary of £37,928 for 37 hours per week, rising to £39,816 for 39 hours or £42,334 for 41 hours, with applicable allowances included.
The vacancy is particularly suited to people with strong communication skills, resilience, sound judgement and the ability to build professional relationships. No formal qualifications are required to become a prison officer.
Important for applicants requiring UK visa sponsorship: the advert states that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules. However, because of current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign. Applicants must carefully consider whether they already have the appropriate right to work in the UK.
Job Details
- Job title: Prison Officer – HMP Aylesbury
- Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Location: HMP Aylesbury, Aylesbury, HP20 1EH
- Region: South East England
- Salary: £37,928–£42,334 depending on contracted hours
- Starting salary: £37,928 for 37 hours
- 39-hour salary: £39,816
- 41-hour salary: £42,334
- Contract: Permanent
- Job grade: Administrative Officer
- Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
- Vacancies: 20
- Reference: 479940
- Advertiser job reference: 21987
- Closing date: 11:55 pm, Thursday 1 October 2026
About the Prison Officer Role
Prison officers play an important role in protecting the public while supporting prisoners to make positive changes in their lives.
The role is varied and fast-paced. Depending on the situation, you may need to act as a peacekeeper, teacher, counsellor, communicator or mentor while maintaining safety, security and professional standards.
HMPPS says there is no typical prison officer. People enter the profession from a wide range of backgrounds, including teaching, retail, parenting, the armed forces and other people-focused careers.
What matters is your ability to communicate effectively, demonstrate resilience, exercise good judgement and build constructive relationships.
You will work closely with colleagues and prisoners in a challenging environment where teamwork and professionalism are essential.
Key Responsibilities
As a prison officer, your responsibilities will include helping to maintain a safe, secure and decent prison environment.
The role involves:
- Maintaining safety and security within the prison.
- Building constructive and professional relationships with prisoners.
- Communicating clearly with prisoners and colleagues.
- Using judgement when responding to challenging situations.
- Supporting prisoners and encouraging positive behaviour.
- Working effectively as part of a wider prison team.
- Maintaining professional boundaries at all times.
- Contributing to the safe and effective running of the prison.
- Responding appropriately to incidents and changing circumstances.
- Demonstrating care, understanding and resilience when dealing with prisoners.
The role requires officers to remain calm and professional when dealing with difficult or unpredictable situations.
No Qualifications Required
One of the attractions of this opportunity is that you do not need formal qualifications to become a prison officer.
HMPPS places greater emphasis on personal qualities and the ability to demonstrate the behaviours required for the role.
You should be able to demonstrate:
- Communication and influencing skills.
- Commitment to delivering a quality service.
- Effective decision-making.
- Care and understanding.
- Resilience and strength of character.
- The ability to work effectively with others.
Previous experience in a prison environment is not stated as a requirement.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the relevant eligibility requirements before appointment.
You must:
- Be at least 18 years old when you commence employment.
- Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
- Have the legal right to live and work in the UK and Civil Service.
- Pass the required medical and fitness assessment.
- Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes, with and without corrective lenses.
- Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
- Be able to fulfil the spoken aspects of the role confidently in English.
Tattoos are permitted, including visible tattoos, provided they are not considered offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not accepted except in specified cultural, religious or medical circumstances.
UK Right to Work and Visa Sponsorship
This vacancy requires applicants to have and maintain the appropriate legal right to work in the UK.
The advert specifically states:
Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules. However, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.
Therefore, this should not be treated as a straightforward UK visa sponsorship opportunity.
Applicants already holding an appropriate UK immigration status or other right to work should check that their status allows them to undertake the role.
The vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals with UK work rights, qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and certain other categories covered by Civil Service nationality rules.
Salary and Working Hours
The advertised salary depends on the number of hours worked.
During initial training, the working week is 37 hours.
Following training, prison officers can choose to work:
- 37 hours: £37,928 per year
- 39 hours: £39,816 per year
- 41 hours: £42,334 per year
The advertised figures include applicable allowances for the role and location.
Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so officers must be prepared to work different shift patterns.
This can include:
- Evenings
- Some nights
- Weekends
- Public holidays
Additional paid hours may also be available.
Civil Service Benefits
The position comes with a range of Civil Service benefits.
These include:
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 10 years of service.
- Paid public holidays.
- One additional privilege day.
- Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97%.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Travel loans.
- Other Civil Service and HMPPS benefits.
Based on the advertised salary of £37,928, HMPPS states that its pension contribution is approximately £10,987 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
Training and Career Development
Successful candidates receive initial training before moving into the full prison officer role.
The recruitment process is designed to assess whether applicants have the judgement, behaviours, strengths and abilities needed to work effectively as prison officers.
The role can also provide opportunities to develop experience across different areas of prison operations.
If a candidate is unsuccessful in securing a prison officer appointment after the Online Assessment Centre, they may potentially be considered for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) position, depending on suitability and vacancies.
Recruitment and Assessment Process
Applicants go through several stages before appointment.
The initial application is followed by online testing.
Stage 1 – Online Test
The first online test assesses basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.
Stage 2 – Values-Based Assessment
Candidates who successfully complete Stage 1 can progress to the Values-Based Assessment.
This examines how well candidates demonstrate the values considered important for an effective prison officer.
Online Assessment Centre
Successful candidates may then progress to an Online Assessment Centre.
The assessment considers:
- Behaviours
- Strengths
- Abilities
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Quality service
- Caring
Candidates will also be assessed on numerical ability and written and spoken English.
Because assessment capacity can vary, candidates achieving a higher predetermined score may be invited to the Online Assessment Centre sooner.
Candidates who meet the required pass mark but are not immediately invited can remain under consideration for future assessment places.
Merit List and Job Offers
This is a merit vacancy.
Candidates who successfully complete the Online Assessment Centre are placed on a merit list according to their assessment scores.
When vacancies become available, offers are made to candidates with the highest scores first.
Candidates can remain on the merit list for up to 12 months. After that period, they would need to apply again.
If an application is unsuccessful at the sift or assessment stage, a six-month waiting period applies before another prison officer application can be submitted.
Medical and Fitness Assessment
Once a suitable vacancy is identified, candidates will be invited to complete medical and fitness assessments.
The assessment includes:
- Eyesight testing.
- Hearing testing.
- Basic health screening.
- Blood pressure checks.
- Fitness assessment.
Important: HMPPS states that medical and fitness assessments cannot be facilitated outside the UK.
Applicants will therefore need to attend a UK-based medical and fitness assessment centre to progress their application.
Location and Travel
The position is based at:
HMP Aylesbury
Aylesbury
South East England
HP20 1EH
Applicants should consider their ability to travel to and from the prison reliably.
Prison shift start and finish times are fixed. Public transport availability can also be limited for some prison establishments.
A driving licence and access to a vehicle may therefore be beneficial, although the advert states that this is not an essential requirement unless specifically stated.
Security Checks
Successful candidates will be required to undergo the appropriate security checks.
These include an enhanced or equivalent criminal record check.
Applicants working with government assets must also complete the relevant Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.
A medical assessment is also required.
Application Deadline
The closing date is:
11:55 pm on Thursday 1 October 2026
Applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity could be suitable for people who:
- Want to start a career in the Civil Service.
- Have strong communication skills.
- Can remain calm under pressure.
- Are confident making decisions.
- Enjoy working with people.
- Have resilience and strength of character.
- Want a permanent public-sector career.
- Do not have formal qualifications but can demonstrate the required personal qualities.
- Are comfortable working shifts, including evenings, weekends and some nights.
Previous experience in areas such as retail, teaching, customer service, the armed forces or other people-facing environments may provide useful transferable skills.
Important Information for Migrant Applicants
Migrant applicants should pay particular attention to the right-to-work section before applying.
Although the advert mentions that Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility, HMPPS explicitly warns that candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored in this campaign.
This means applicants outside the UK who would need a new Skilled Worker visa should not assume that this vacancy provides a realistic sponsorship route.
Applicants who already have an immigration status that permits them to work in the UK should check the conditions attached to their status before applying.
How to Apply
Applications are made through the official Ministry of Justice recruitment system.
Candidates should review the eligibility requirements, working pattern, right-to-work position and assessment process carefully before submitting an application.
Full details + Apply:
https://justicejobs.avature.net/careers/JobDetail/21987
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to become a prison officer?
No. The advert states that formal qualifications are not required to become a prison officer. Personal qualities, behaviours, communication skills, judgement, care and understanding are important.
How much does a prison officer at HMP Aylesbury earn?
The advertised salary ranges from £37,928 to £42,334, depending on contracted weekly hours. The 37-hour salary is £37,928, 39 hours is £39,816 and 41 hours is £42,334.
Are there multiple vacancies?
Yes. 20 positions are available.
Is the job permanent?
Yes. The advertised contract type is permanent.
Can I work part-time?
Yes. The vacancy lists full-time, part-time, flexible working and job-share options.
Does this job offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship?
The advert says Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility, but also explicitly states that candidates who require sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign. Applicants should therefore not assume sponsorship will be provided.
Can applicants outside the UK apply?
Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality requirements and have the appropriate legal right to work in the UK. HMPPS also states that medical and fitness assessments cannot be completed outside the UK.
Is previous prison officer experience required?
The advert does not state that previous prison officer experience is required. It focuses on personal qualities such as communication, resilience, decision-making, care and understanding.
Will I have to work nights and weekends?
Prisons operate 24/7. Officers should therefore expect shift work that can include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.
Is there a pension?
Yes. The role includes membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
What happens if I pass the assessment?
Successful candidates are placed on a merit list according to their assessment score. Job offers are made as vacancies become available, with higher-scoring candidates considered first.
When does the vacancy close?
Applications must be submitted by 11:55 pm on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Related UK Jobs
If you are looking for UK public-sector, Civil Service, NHS, healthcare, social care, remote or visa-related employment opportunities, explore the latest vacancies on TRHNP.
New opportunities are added regularly, including jobs for applicants already in the UK and selected roles where employers explicitly indicate sponsorship availability.
Source and Disclaimer
This vacancy is based on information published by HM Prison & Probation Service / Civil Service Jobs.
Job details, salary, eligibility, sponsorship availability, assessment arrangements and closing dates can change. Applicants should always check the official vacancy before applying.