Prison Officer

Prison Officer – HMP Berwyn

HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, Wales, offering permanent Civil Service positions with salaries of up to £39,334 per year, depending on working hours.

This opportunity is open to applicants with different backgrounds, and no formal qualifications are required. Successful candidates will receive training and work directly with prisoners to maintain safety, support rehabilitation and protect the public.

Job Overview

• Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
• Job Title: Prison Officer
• Location: HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, Wales, LL13 9QE
• Salary: £34,928 – £39,334 per year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
• Working Hours: 37, 39 or 41 hours per week after initial training
• Vacancies: 20
• Job Grade: Administrative Officer
• Reference: 473868
• Closing Date: 26 November 2026
• Visa Sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may technically be available, subject to eligibility. However, HMPPS states that applicants requiring sponsorship are unlikely to receive it during this recruitment campaign.

About the Role

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

The role involves working directly with prisoners, building constructive professional relationships and ensuring that everyone within the prison environment remains safe.

You will undertake different responsibilities throughout your working day, including maintaining order, supporting prisoners, communicating effectively and working closely with colleagues.

HMPPS welcomes applicants from different professional backgrounds, including retail, teaching, the armed forces and other people-facing roles.

You will need empathy, confidence, resilience, strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

The role involves shift work, including evenings, overnight duties, weekends and occasional public holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain safety, security and order within the prison.
• Build positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Support prisoners and encourage positive behaviour.
• Communicate effectively with prisoners and colleagues.
• Make appropriate decisions when dealing with challenging situations.
• Work collaboratively with other prison staff.
• Help protect the public and contribute to prisoners’ rehabilitation.
• Maintain professional standards and follow prison procedures.

Essential Skills and Requirements

No formal qualifications are required to apply. However, candidates should demonstrate:

• Good communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Effective decision-making abilities.
• Care, empathy and understanding.
• Confidence and resilience when dealing with challenging situations.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Applicants must also:

• Be at least 18 years old when starting employment.
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
• 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.

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

Applicants for Category A high-security prisons must have lived in the UK for the previous three years. This additional requirement should not be confused with the location of this vacancy.

A driving licence and personal transport may be beneficial because of the location and shift patterns, but they are not essential requirements for this role.

Salary and Working Hours

The salary depends on the number of weekly hours worked:

• 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 will be 37 hours per week. After training, successful candidates may choose from the available working-hour arrangements.

The advertised salaries include applicable additional allowances.

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

Additional paid overtime opportunities may also be available.

Training and Career Opportunities

Successful candidates will undertake initial training to prepare them for the responsibilities of a Prison Officer.

The recruitment assessment process may also identify candidates suitable for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) position.

Applicants who are unsuccessful in securing a Prison Officer position following the online assessment centre may be considered for an alternative Operational Support Officer role.

Benefits

Employees will receive access to a range of Civil Service benefits, including:

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

Assessment and Recruitment Process

The recruitment process includes several assessment stages to evaluate candidates’ suitability for the role.

1. Online Tests

After submitting the initial application, candidates will be invited to complete the first online assessment, covering basic judgement and numerical reasoning skills.

2. Values-Based Assessment

Candidates who pass the first stage will proceed to a Values-Based Assessment (VBA), which evaluates the values and behaviours required of an effective Prison Officer.

3. Online Assessment Centre

Successful candidates will be invited to an Online Assessment Centre (OAC), where their behaviours, strengths and abilities will be assessed.

Assessments will cover communication and influencing, delivering a quality service, effective decision-making and caring for others.

Candidates will also be assessed on numerical ability, written English and spoken English.

4. Medical and Fitness Assessment

Once a suitable vacancy is identified, candidates will be invited to complete medical and fitness assessments, including eyesight, hearing and basic health checks such as blood pressure screening.

Important: HMPPS cannot arrange medical and fitness assessments outside the UK. Applicants must be able to attend an assessment centre in the UK to progress their application.

Successful candidates will be placed on a merit list, with job offers made according to assessment scores and available vacancies.

Visa Sponsorship Information

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this position, subject to eligibility and the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application.

However, HMPPS explicitly warns that due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timelines, applicants who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to receive sponsorship through this recruitment campaign.

Applicants should carefully consider their right to work in the UK before applying.

This is not a guaranteed visa sponsorship opportunity.

Important Information for Applicants

• Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Successful candidates must undergo enhanced criminal record checks.
• A medical assessment is required.
• Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK.
• Medical and fitness assessments cannot be completed outside the UK.
• Candidates must be able to communicate confidently in English or Welsh, where specified.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete the online application through the official HM Prison & Probation Service recruitment portal.

Application Deadline: 26 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Job Reference: 473868

Official Application Link: https://justicejobs.avature.net/careers/JobDetail/20663

For recruitment enquiries, contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team:

• Telephone: 0845 241 5358
• Email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please quote job reference 20663 when making an enquiry.