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Prison Officer

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Prison Officer – HMP Birmingham | HM Prison & Probation Service

Salary: £34,928–£39,334 per year, depending on weekly hours
Location: HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham, B18 4AS
Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
Job type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working or job share
Hours: 37, 39 or 41 hours per week, depending on the arrangement
Number of vacancies: 20
Job reference: 476906
Recruitment reference: 21261
Closing date: 12 November 2026, at 11:55 pm

Visa sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available, but applicants who require sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored in this recruitment campaign. Sponsorship is not guaranteed, and applicants must ensure they meet the relevant immigration and right-to-work requirements.

About the Prison Officer Role

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Birmingham. This permanent opportunity is suited to people who want a challenging and rewarding career protecting the public, maintaining safety and helping prisoners make positive changes.

Prison officers work directly with prisoners, helping to maintain order, prevent incidents and create a safe, secure environment. The role involves building professional relationships, communicating effectively and working closely with colleagues.

You do not need specific academic qualifications to become a prison officer. The employer places considerable importance on personal qualities such as integrity, resilience, empathy, confidence and the ability to make sound decisions.

Salary and Working Hours

Your salary will depend on your agreed weekly working hours:

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

These salary figures include applicable additional allowances for the role and location.

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

Prisons operate around the clock, seven days a week. You should therefore expect a shift pattern that may include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays. Additional paid hours may also be available.

What You Will Do

As a Prison Officer at HMP Birmingham, your responsibilities will include:

  • Maintaining security, order and safety within the prison.
  • Building constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
  • Communicating clearly and responding appropriately to challenging situations.
  • Supporting prisoners and encouraging positive behaviour.
  • Making effective decisions while following prison procedures and security requirements.
  • Working as part of a team to protect prisoners, colleagues and the public.
  • Helping maintain a safe, decent and secure prison environment.

The role can be varied, requiring you to respond to different situations throughout the working day. You will need to remain calm under pressure and treat people professionally.

Essential Skills and Requirements

You do not need formal academic qualifications for this position. However, you must demonstrate the personal qualities and abilities required to work safely and effectively in a prison environment.

The key skills include:

  • Communication and influencing skills.
  • Commitment to providing a quality service.
  • Effective decision-making.
  • Care, understanding and empathy.
  • Integrity, resilience and self-confidence.
  • Teamwork and the ability to maintain professional relationships.

You must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

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  • Be at least 18 years old when you start employment.
  • Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
  • Pass the required medical and fitness assessments.
  • Meet the required eyesight standards, with and without corrective lenses.
  • Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
  • Be able to carry out 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 acceptable, except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

Applicants for work in a Category A high-security prison must have been resident in the UK for the previous three years. This requirement should be distinguished from the general eligibility requirements for the HMP Birmingham vacancy.

Is a Driving Licence Required?

A driving licence and access to personal transport may be beneficial, but they are not essential for this vacancy unless otherwise specified.

You must be able to reach the prison on time for your shifts. Since shift start and finish times are fixed, consider public transport availability and your travel arrangements before applying.

Is Training Provided?

Yes. The recruitment process includes initial training, which is scheduled for 37 hours per week.

Candidates must also complete the required online tests and assessment centre before progressing through the recruitment process. Medical and fitness assessments take place when a suitable vacancy has been identified.

For further information, visit the official Prison Officer Benefits and Training page.

Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work in the UK

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and the immigration rules in force when an application is considered.

However, the employer explicitly warns that candidates who need Skilled Worker sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored under this recruitment campaign, owing to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales.

Sponsorship should therefore not be assumed when considering this vacancy. Applicants must be able to meet the applicable right-to-work and Civil Service eligibility requirements.

The advertised nationality categories include eligible UK and Irish nationals, certain Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, and qualifying applicants under the EU Settlement Scheme, alongside other specified groups.

Read the official UK Skilled Worker visa guidance and Civil Service nationality rules before applying if you are unsure about your eligibility.

Important for applicants outside the UK: Medical and fitness assessments cannot be arranged outside the UK. Candidates must attend a UK-based assessment centre to progress their application. The recruitment advert also warns that sponsorship applicants are unlikely to be sponsored in this campaign.

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.
  • One additional privilege day.
  • Civil Service pension, with an advertised employer contribution of 28.97%.
  • Cycle-to-work scheme.
  • Travel loans and other employee benefits.
  • Opportunities to work additional paid hours, where available.

The Civil Service pension is a defined-benefit pension scheme. The employer’s advertised pension contribution is separate from the stated annual salary.

Recruitment and Assessment Process

The selection process assesses whether applicants have the skills, behaviours and strengths required to become effective prison officers.

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

Candidates who pass the first stage will be invited to complete a second online test designed to assess how well they demonstrate the values required for the role.

Applicants who meet the required pass mark may be invited to the next stage as assessment appointments become available. Candidates with higher scores may receive earlier invitations.

3. Online Assessment Centre

Successful candidates may progress to an Online Assessment Centre, where their behaviours, strengths and abilities are assessed. The process covers areas such as communication, decision-making, caring and managing a quality service.

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

4. Merit list and job offers

This is a merit-based vacancy. Candidates who successfully complete the assessment centre are placed on a merit list according to their scores.

Job offers are made as positions become available, starting with candidates who achieve the highest scores. The merit list may remain valid for up to 12 months.

If you are 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.

5. Medical and fitness checks

When a vacancy is identified for you, you will be invited to complete medical and fitness assessments. These include eyesight and hearing tests and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

Operational Support Grade Alternative

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

If you are unsuccessful in securing a Prison Officer position, you may be offered an OSG role instead, depending on your assessment outcome and the opportunities available.

An alternative appointment is not guaranteed.

Reasonable Adjustments

HM Prison & Probation Service is a Disability Confident employer and offers reasonable adjustment support to help candidates demonstrate their abilities.

If you require adjustments for online tests or the assessment centre, select the relevant option in your application and request support in advance. Adjustments cannot necessarily be arranged on the day of the assessment.

How to Apply

To apply, review the vacancy requirements and complete the application through the employer’s official recruitment website.

Application link: Apply for Prison Officer – HMP Birmingham

Before applying, ensure you meet the age, nationality, right-to-work, medical and fitness requirements. Applicants who need visa sponsorship should carefully consider the employer’s warning that sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

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

Contact for Recruitment Enquiries

For questions about the application or recruitment process, contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

  • Email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
  • Telephone: 0845 241 5358, as listed in the recruitment contact details
  • Job reference: 21261

When contacting the recruitment team, quote the job reference to help them identify the vacancy.

Source

This vacancy is advertised by HM Prison & Probation Service through Civil Service Jobs.

 

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