Prison Officer Scheme

HMP Welland Oaks – First-Time Prison Officer Scheme

Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)

Salary: £34,928 – £38,428 per annum, depending on initial prison location and applicable allowances

Location: Multiple prison locations across England, with permanent transfer to HMP Welland Oaks, Market Harborough

Contract: Permanent

Job Type: Operational Delivery

Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share

Vacancies: 20

Reference Number: 489025

Job Grade: Administrative Officer

Closing Date: 19 November 2026 at 11:55 pm

Visa Sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available subject to eligibility and immigration rules. However, HMPPS states that candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this recruitment campaign. Applicants must carefully consider their right to work in the UK before applying.

About the Role

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 candidates for its HMP Welland Oaks First-Time Prison Officer Scheme.

This is an opportunity to begin a career as a prison officer while helping establish the team and operational culture of a new Category B training prison in Market Harborough.

HMP Welland Oaks is currently under construction and is expected to open in early 2029, with capacity for approximately 1,715 prisoners.

Successful applicants will initially work at an established prison for 23 months, gaining practical experience and developing essential prison officer skills before transferring permanently to HMP Welland Oaks ahead of or upon its opening.

You will work alongside experienced prison officers, receive training and gain frontline experience to prepare you for your permanent position.

Initial Prison Locations

Applicants can select three preferred prisons for their initial 23-month deployment. HMPPS will try to accommodate these preferences where possible, depending on operational requirements.

Available prisons include:

• HMP Deerbolt
• HMP Norwich
• HMP Onley
• HMP Portland
• HMP Swinfen Hall
• HMP The Verne
• HMP Wayland
• HMP Highpoint
• HMP Stocken
• HMP The Mount
• HMP Bullingdon
• HMP Elmley

Successful candidates will be allocated to an establishment with the greatest operational need.

Salary and Financial Support

Starting salaries depend on the initial prison location and include unsocial hours allowances, based on a 37-hour working week.

• £34,928: HMP Deerbolt, HMP Norwich, HMP Onley, HMP Portland, HMP Swinfen Hall, HMP The Verne and HMP Wayland.
• £36,428: HMP Highpoint, HMP Stocken and HMP The Mount.
• £38,428: HMP Bullingdon and HMP Elmley.

After completing initial training, employees may choose to increase their working hours to 39 or 41 hours per week.

Additional financial support includes:

• Accommodation costs covered up to £750 per month for up to 23 months.
• Reimbursement of the cost of one monthly return trip from the deployment prison to the prison nearest to your home.
• A £1,500 recruitment and retention bonus after completing the first 12 months and another payment after 23 months, as specified in the advert.

Your salary will change following your permanent transfer to HMP Welland Oaks, in line with the salary applicable at that prison.

Key Responsibilities

As a prison officer, you will:

• Maintain the safety and security of prisoners, staff and visitors.
• Build positive, professional relationships with prisoners.
• Support prisoners in making positive changes to their lives.
• Maintain order and respond appropriately to challenging situations.
• Communicate effectively with prisoners and colleagues.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain a safe prison environment.
• Apply prison rules, procedures and professional standards.
• Demonstrate sound judgement and make effective decisions.
• Help deliver a safe, decent and secure prison environment.

Essential Skills and Qualities

No formal qualifications are required to become a prison officer. HMPPS is particularly interested in applicants who can demonstrate:

• Good communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Effective decision-making.
• Care, empathy and understanding.
• Resilience and self-confidence.
• Integrity and professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Previous experience in the armed forces, teaching, retail or other people-facing roles may provide useful transferable skills.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old when employment begins.
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Pass the required medical and fitness assessments.
• Meet the eyesight standards in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.
• Meet the required hearing standard without hearing aids.
• Be confident communicating in spoken English.

A driving licence and access to personal transport are beneficial but not essential unless specified for a particular establishment.

Applicants should consider travel arrangements carefully, as some prisons are in rural locations with limited public transport and shift start and finish times are fixed.

Working Hours

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You should therefore be prepared to work different shift patterns, including:

• Evening shifts.
• Some night shifts.
• Weekends.
• Public holidays.

Additional paid working hours may also be available.

Training and Assessment Process

The recruitment process includes several stages:

1. Initial Online Application

Complete the application form and provide the required information.

2. Stage One Online Test

Applicants will complete an assessment covering basic judgement and numerical skills.

3. Stage Two Online Test

Successful candidates will complete a values-based assessment to evaluate the qualities required of an effective prison officer.

Candidates who were unsuccessful at the second online test within the previous six months may now reapply.

4. Online Assessment Centre

Candidates who pass the online tests will be invited to an online assessment centre to evaluate their behaviours, strengths and abilities.

The assessment covers:

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

Numerical, written English and spoken English abilities will also be assessed.

5. Medical and Fitness Assessment

Successful candidates at the assessment centre will be invited for medical and fitness checks, including eyesight, hearing and basic health screening.

Successful applicants will be placed on a merit list for up to 12 months, with job offers made according to assessment scores and available vacancies.

Benefits

HM Prison & Probation Service offers a range of employment 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 scheme.
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97%, as stated in the advert.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel loans.
• Accommodation support during the initial deployment.
• Monthly travel support.
• Recruitment and retention bonus.
• Opportunities for career development and progression.

Security and Medical Requirements

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced criminal record check and baseline personnel security standard checks.

A medical assessment is also required before appointment.

Reasonable adjustments are available for candidates who need disability-related support during the recruitment and assessment process.

Application Process

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

Applicants should carefully review the nationality, eligibility and visa sponsorship requirements before applying.

Important: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not guaranteed. HMPPS specifically warns that candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored through this campaign.

Application deadline: 19 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Job reference: 23954 (Reference number: 489025)