Prison Officer

Prison Officer – HMP The Mount

Employer: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS)
Location: HMP The Mount, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0NZ
Salary: £36,928 – £41,334 per year, depending on weekly working hours
Starting salary: £38,816 for a 39-hour working week, including 20% unsocial hours allowance
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
Vacancies: 20
Job grade: Administrative Officer
Reference number: 473747
Closing date: 10 December 2026 at 11:55 pm

Visa Sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available, subject to eligibility and current UK Immigration Rules. However, HMPPS states that candidates requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this recruitment campaign. Applicants must have and maintain the appropriate right to work in the UK.

Job Overview

HM Prison & Probation Service is recruiting 20 Prison Officers at HMP The Mount in Bovingdon, near Hemel Hempstead.

This is an opportunity to build a career in the prison service while helping protect the public, maintain safety and support prisoners in making positive changes to their lives.

Prison Officers work directly with prisoners, building professional relationships, managing challenging situations and ensuring the secure and effective operation of the prison.

You do not need previous prison service experience or formal qualifications to apply. The employer is looking for individuals with strong communication skills, resilience, empathy, integrity and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Key Responsibilities

As a Prison Officer, your responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining security, safety and order within the prison.
• Building constructive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Supporting prisoners through challenging situations.
• Helping prisoners make positive changes and prepare for life beyond prison.
• Communicating effectively with prisoners, colleagues and other professionals.
• Responding appropriately to incidents and challenging behaviour.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to maintain a safe environment.
• Following prison procedures, security requirements and professional standards.

Essential Skills and Qualities

You do not need specific academic qualifications to become a Prison Officer. However, you should demonstrate:

• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to make effective decisions.
• Commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Care, empathy and understanding.
• Resilience and self-confidence.
• Integrity and professionalism.
• The ability to work effectively within a team.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

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

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

A driving licence and access to personal transport may be beneficial because of the prison’s location and limited public transport options, but they are not essential unless specified.

Salary and Working Hours

The salary depends on the number of hours worked each week:

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

Initial training is 37 hours per week. Following training, employees can choose between 37, 39 or 41 hours, subject to the available arrangements.

The prison operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employees must therefore be prepared to work different shift patterns, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Additional paid working hours may also be available.

Training and Career Development

Successful applicants will undertake initial training to prepare them for the responsibilities of the Prison Officer role.

The recruitment process also assesses candidates for potential appointment as an Operational Support Grade (OSG).

Candidates who are unsuccessful in securing a Prison Officer position following the Online Assessment Centre may be considered for an alternative OSG role.

Employee 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.
• One additional privilege day.
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel loans.
• Opportunities for additional paid hours.

Recruitment and Assessment Process

The recruitment process includes several stages designed to assess the skills and qualities required for the role.

1. Initial Application and Online Tests

After submitting the initial application, candidates will be invited to complete the first online test, which assesses basic judgement and numerical skills.

2. Values-Based Assessment

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

Candidates who meet the required pass mark may be invited to the Online Assessment Centre.

3. Online Assessment Centre

The assessment centre evaluates candidates’ behaviours, strengths and abilities, including:

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

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

4. Merit List and Job Offers

Successful candidates will be placed on a merit list according to their assessment scores.

Job offers will be made as vacancies become available, starting with candidates who achieve the highest scores.

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

5. 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.

Medical and fitness assessments must be completed at a UK-based assessment centre. They cannot be arranged outside the UK.

Important Information for Applicants

Candidates requiring Skilled Worker visa sponsorship should carefully consider the sponsorship restrictions before applying. Although sponsorship may be available under certain circumstances, the employer states that applicants requiring sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored for this campaign.

Applicants must also meet the Civil Service nationality requirements and maintain the legal right to work in the UK.

An enhanced criminal record check and relevant security checks will be required for successful applicants.

How to Apply

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

Closing date: 10 December 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Job reference: 473747

Further Information:
For recruitment enquiries, contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team:

Telephone: 0345 241 5358
Email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please quote job reference 20618 when making enquiries.