Prison Support Role

Operational Support Grade – HMP Highpoint Prison Support Role

UK Government Prison Support Job – Cambridge

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is recruiting 10 Operational Support Grade (OSG) staff at HMP Highpoint in Stradishall, near Newmarket/Cambridge.

This is a Civil Service prison support role involving operational, security and administrative duties that help keep the prison running safely and efficiently.

No formal qualifications are required, and full training is provided.

Job Overview

Job Title: Operational Support Grade – HMP Highpoint
Employer: Ministry of Justice / HM Prison and Probation Service
Job Reference: 19338
Civil Service Grade: AA
Location: HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket, CB8 9YG
Town/City: Cambridge
Region: East of England
Salary: £30,491 per year
Vacancies: 10
Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time and part-time/job share
Hours: Average 37 hours per week
Closing Date: 10 September 2026 at 23:55
Security Check: DBS Enhanced
Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

About the Role

The Operational Support Grade is an active prison support position within HM Prison and Probation Service.

You will help keep the prison operating safely and smoothly by carrying out a range of duties across different areas of the establishment.

The role can involve physical activity, including lifting and carrying, as well as extended periods of standing and walking. Some duties may also involve lone working.

Depending on your assigned duties, you may have contact with prisoners, visitors, contractors and other staff.

Full training will be provided.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Gate Duties

• Managing secure entry and exit of staff, visitors and vehicles.
• Searching staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicles.
• Escorting vehicles and contractors around the prison site.
• Issuing and collecting staff keys and radios.
• Patrolling the prison site.
• Searching perimeter fence areas.

Control Room Duties

• Operating the prison radio system.
• Monitoring CCTV.
• Identifying and reporting suspicious activity.
• Supporting prison security through effective communication and monitoring.

Visits Duties

• Welcoming visitors.
• Escorting visitors when required.
• Ensuring visits are conducted safely and according to procedures.

Correspondence and Mail

• Monitoring incoming mail.
• Logging correspondence.
• Identifying and reporting contraband.
• Preserving evidence where necessary.
• Following security procedures.

Night Duties

• Ensuring cell doors are properly secured.
• Helping ensure prisoners are safely accounted for.
• Following night-time security procedures.

Reception Duties

• Photographing prisoners.
• Processing prisoner property.
• Processing incoming parcels.
• Following identification and security procedures.

Prisoner Supervision

• Supervising prisoners where required.
• Exchanging clothing and property.
• Assisting prison officers with prisoner escorts.

Food Delivery

• Delivering and collecting food trollies.
• Using an electric tug vehicle where required.
• Carrying out duties safely.

Driving Duties

• Collecting mail from the local sorting office.
• Transporting mail to the prison.
• Handling and lifting heavy mail sacks.

Prison Telephone System

• Monitoring the Personal Identification Number (PIN) telephone system.
• Maintaining records of PIN phone requests.
• Completing relevant documentation.

Procedures and Emergencies

• Following national and local policies.
• Following prison procedures and protocols.
• Responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies.
• Using good judgement and common sense.
• Working effectively as part of a team.

Qualifications and Experience

No formal qualifications are required for this position.

The role requires:

• Good judgement.
• Common sense.
• Responsibility.
• Teamwork.
• Reliability.
• Ability to follow procedures.
• Confidence communicating in English.
• Ability to work in an active environment.
• Ability to respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies.

Full training is provided.

Salary

£30,491 Per Year

The salary is based on a 37-hour working week and includes a 20% unsocial hours working allowance.

The allowance reflects the requirement to work nights, evenings and weekends.

Working Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week on a rolling shift pattern.

This may include:

• Day shifts.
• Night shifts.
• Evening shifts.
• Weekend shifts.
• Bank/Public holiday shifts.

Part-time, flexible and job-sharing arrangements may be considered where operational requirements allow.

Benefits

Successful candidates can receive:

• 25 days annual leave on appointment.
• Up to 30 days annual leave after 10 years’ service.
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays.
• Civil Service pension scheme.
• Paid Level 2 customer service apprenticeship.
• Season ticket loans/advances.
• Retail discounts.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Promotion opportunities.
• Flexible working options where operationally possible.
• Employee networks.
• Individual induction.
• Security and diversity training.

Location and Transport

HMP Highpoint
Stradishall
Newmarket
CB8 9YG

The prison is situated in a rural location where public transport options may be limited.

A driving licence and access to your own vehicle can be beneficial, although this is not an essential requirement unless specifically stated.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring they can arrive at the establishment on time for fixed shift start and finish times.

Accommodation is not provided.

Is Visa Sponsorship Available?

The vacancy does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is available.

Applicants requiring new UK visa sponsorship should not assume sponsorship is available for this position.

The vacancy states that it is broadly open to candidates who meet the relevant Civil Service nationality and UK right-to-work requirements.

Who Can Apply?

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

• UK nationals.
• Republic of Ireland nationals.
• Eligible Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK.
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals with settled or pre-settled status.
• Certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain.
• Eligible Turkish nationals and certain family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.

Applicants must satisfy the applicable Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.

Application Process

Stage 1 – Application Form

Click the application link and complete the required personal and application information.

All information submitted must be accurate and based on your own experience.

Stage 2 – Online Values-Based Assessment

Applicants will receive instructions by email for completing the online test.

The Values-Based Assessment is designed to assess whether candidates demonstrate the values required for an effective Operational Support Grade.

The assessment can take around 20 minutes if completed in one sitting, although there is no time limit.

Stage 3 – Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to an interview.

The interview will assess:

• Behaviours.
• Experience.
• Strengths.

Interview Behaviours

The following behaviours will be assessed:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Caring

Strengths will also be assessed but are not shared in advance.

Merit Vacancy

This is a merit vacancy.

Successful candidates will be placed on a merit list according to their interview score.

When positions become available, job offers will be made to candidates with the highest scores first.

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

Security Checks

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks before taking up the role.

Security requirement: DBS Enhanced

External candidates are subject to a six-month probationary period.

Artificial Intelligence and Applications

The Ministry of Justice states that AI can be used as a support tool, but all application evidence must be:

• Truthful.
• Factually accurate.
• Based on your own experience.

Candidates must not present AI-generated content or another person’s experience as their own.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Ministry of Justice is a Disability Confident employer.

Candidates who require reasonable adjustments for online tests or interviews should indicate this during the application process and arrange support in advance.

Veterans

Eligible former members of the Armed Forces may benefit from the Civil Service’s Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, including a guaranteed interview scheme where the relevant criteria are met.

Key Job Details

Why Consider This Job?

This role may be suitable for candidates looking to begin or develop a career within the Civil Service and prison service.

Key benefits include:

• £30,491 salary.
• 10 vacancies.
• No formal qualifications required.
• Full training provided.
• Civil Service pension.
• Annual leave from 25 days.
• Paid Level 2 customer service apprenticeship opportunity.
• Career development and training.
• Part-time and job-sharing options where available.

Before You Apply

Applicants should carefully consider the nature of this role.

The position can involve:

• Long periods of standing.
• Walking.
• Lifting and carrying.
• Security-related duties.
• Lone working.
• Contact with prisoners.
• Night shifts.
• Evening shifts.
• Weekend work.
• Bank/Public holiday work.
• Fixed shift start and finish times.

You should also consider your ability to travel reliably to HMP Highpoint.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the official Ministry of Justice careers website.

Job Reference: 19338
Closing Date: 10 September 2026 at 23:55

Applicants should read the official vacancy information and confirm all eligibility requirements before applying.

Official Job Summary

Employer: Ministry of Justice
Role: Operational Support Grade – HMP Highpoint
Reference: 19338
Salary: £30,491
Location: HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket CB8 9YG
Closing Date: 10 September 2026
Vacancies: 10
Qualifications: No formal qualifications required
Training: Full training provided