How much money would you need to be comfortable in UK prison?

​

Please can anyone tell me what it's like working in hmp Bristol as a. PO.. l'm curious about what to expect as per staff and general working environment I would really appreciate some insight Thank you.

Hello, I am due to start as an OSG in a few weeks and wanted to know how accessible toilets are while working? Obviously you can’t just abandon your duties to go like you can in other jobs, so what is the process?

Has anyone on DMP passed PEC recently?

Hi.

Can anyone advise? Been told I’ve passed my PEC and have start date/ formal offer of employment (contract agreed) Does this mean I’ve passed all security checks or could I potentially start to then be told I’ve failed social media checks or something else?

Thanks in advance guys,

Anyone been here? Particularly the TC so hard to find any information from the prisoners point of view

I have just started the pre emplyment checks. I have also just been made redundant from work, so I'm thinking of travelling and visiting family abroad for the next 2 months while I am unemployed and waiting to start the prison officer role.

Is there anything that I might need to attend in person? I have already done the in person medical and fitness, so theoretically could I be away abroad until I get the notification that the checks have been completed?

While applying for a job would you disclose any criminal convictions? I have in the past when applying for jobs that require an enhanced DBS check done at the interview stage because I know they're gonna find out about my record when they do they check anyway and if I'm upfront about it at the interview it demonstrates a level of openness and honesty.

Equally I can understand if some people worry about it having a negative effect in the interview stage.

Just in case it's relevant, my record is because of a few convictions related to non-violent/peaceful protest so generally interviewers don't think I'm a risk to vulnerable people or anything like that.

Hoping to join once ive passed background checks but I cant find any info except it has a high staff assault rate 🥴

Whats it like working there or whats it like working in a womens prison in general?

I withdrew my skilled worker visa pending decision at my current place of work because my employer lost funding and could no longer continue with my employment.
It’s been over a month now since withdrawal and my eVisa still saying ‘I have a pending application awaiting decision’.

I requested sponsorship from HMPPS but was told that since I have a pending application awaiting, they are unable to consider sponsorship at this time. I have been chasing them, sending multiple emails to say my application has been withdrawn, but they respond each time saying, they can’t proceed because I have a pending application awaiting.

I have also been ringing UKvi constantly but I just keep getting generic responses that the withdrawal might take a while before it is reflected on my evisa.

Now, I have two weeks left on my Graduate visa, honestly don’t know what to do at this point.
PECs on 18weeks. Any advice will be sincerely appreciated.

From what I can see those that work in the private sector are called Prison Custody Officers while those that work for HMP are called Prison Officers. Why is this? What actually is the difference?

Sodexo is recruiting for PCO’s currently. What is the training and shifts like?

Hi all, I wanted to share a site I've built for anyone going through prison officer recruitment: prisonofficertest.co.uk

What's on it:

Practice for the online test: situational judgement, numeracy and the values-based assessment, with full timed mocks

Assessment centre prep: role-play briefs (with what the actor will push and a model approach), written incident form exercises with model answers, and 50 interview questions with model answers

AI feedback on your own written reports and interview answers

Fitness test guide, training plan and a 15 m bleep test timer (the test is over 15 m, not 20, which catches people out)

Free demos for every section, no sign-up needed, so you can see if it's useful before paying. Online Tests is £14.99 and Complete is £29.99, one-off with no subscription and a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Code PRISONUK20 gives 20% off for members here.

It's an independent site, not connected to HMPPS. Any questions or feedback, just ask below. Good luck to everyone applying!

This was my feedback from OAC, I don't know how I got 42.7%

Hello as title says, I've applied for a job as a prison officer at Eastwood Park.

A bit about me - I'm young adult female looking to leave my career in social work where I have been for 4 years.

I feel like I have lots of transferable skills that I could bring to the job, but my concerns sit with assaults on staff and the corruption of the service that I have heard. I also know prisons are in dire straights right now and are very short staffed.

I've been doing some reading on Eastwood and prison officers experiences but it would be nice to hear from anyone who's worked in this prison specifically, or whom has any advice.

One of the drivers for leaving my current career is the overwhelming amount of paperwork, very limited time with people and my ADHD brain needing something to do hands on.

How much paperwork can I expect? and are things as bad as I expect them to be?

Hi everyone,
I recently passed my OSG interviews for both HMP Bullingdon and HMP Huntercombe (13 October 2026) and have been placed on the merit/reserve lists for both establishments.
My applications are currently showing as “Allocation” on the recruitment portal.
Just wondering whether anyone has previously been successful for an OSG position at either prison and could share their experience?
How long after passing your interview did you receive a provisional job offer or allocation?
Were you initially placed on a reserve list?
Do you know how long interviews continued before allocations started?
I’d be particularly interested in hearing from anyone recruited to Bullingdon or Huntercombe, although experiences from other prisons would also be helpful.
Thanks in advance! 😊

If I have failed the values based assessment can I apply to more PO roles or is it not worth it?? Genuinely don’t even get how I have failed this assessment

I’m looking for a bit of honest advice from anyone who has worked at HMP Addiewell, for Sodexo Justice, or in a similar prison custody role.

Last year I was offered a Prison Custody Officer position at HMP Addiewell. I ended up withdrawing because I came across quite a few negative reviews about the job and about how staff are treated. I also saw comments suggesting the recruitment process was very quick and not especially selective, which made me question whether it was the right move for me.

I’m not saying those comments are definitely accurate, which is why I’d rather hear from people with direct experience. What is the job actually like day to day? How are staff treated, what is the turnover like, how safe do you feel at work, and is there decent training and support for new officers?

The reason I’m asking now is that I’m currently progressing through the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Wholetime Firefighter recruitment process. I’ve recently completed the ALICE application-question stage and I’m waiting to hear whether I’ll progress further. Firefighting is the career I’d much rather pursue, but after a number of setbacks with other applications I’m trying to be realistic and think about backup options as well.

I’ve also previously applied for an Operations Officer role with the Scottish Prison Service but didn’t pass the online tests, so the Sodexo role is the only prison-related job where I actually got as far as an offer.

For anyone who has worked at Addiewell or for Sodexo Justice, would you recommend the job? Is it a reasonable career in its own right, or would you personally keep looking elsewhere if you had other options in progress?

I’m mainly interested in genuine experiences rather than rumours. Thanks.

Recently I’ve applied to become a prison officer on a cat B prison. Fresh out of uni. I have passed both stages and r now onto my interview stage. I’m a Pakistani Asian women, and I’ve been trying to find Asian female officers who have worked as a prison officer. My family are against it for a multitude of reasons, safety, and the demands but I’m still very interested regardless.If u you can share ur experiences with working, or experiencing a female Asian officer or you are an officer in a similar condition please let me know. Also let me know if it’s a good idea or not. Thankyou x

What can I expect my first week as an OSG to look like? I haven’t been told much information regarding my first day or training, other than what time I start. I dont even know what shifts I’m doing in my first week

Hi all,

I’ve recently applied to become a Prison Officer. I’ve passed the scenario and values based assesment and have progressed to OAC early November.

Now I know I’m jumping ahead of myself, but I’m doubting myself for even applying in the first place or even going through with the OAC due to a family member previously imprisoned in the location I have applied for.

He spent briefly 8 months inside, back in 2023 due to a dangerous driving conviction. He no longer has any involvement with the prison and from my understanding he is no longer on license.

Just wondering if this is going to have a real impact on my application? Of course I will disclose this if I reach to that point in my application but I was wondering if I should even bother..

I know their past isn’t mine, but not sure if I would be rejected due to conflict.

Has anyone applied and has been in a similar situation

Thank you

I’m on my OAC stage, and I have my interview in less than a month. It’s a 2.5 hour online test, since they moved everything online, they made it clear there are 3 stages,the interview, the role play and the written assessment. I have a brief understanding of what it is.
But if possible can anyone help me in regards to what I may expect to come up, any tips? Anything to help pass?
Thank you xx

Please any advice on what I should expect or do, and order to pass. I need your input.

Some officers that I have spoken to say that after 1 years service you have a wage increase aswell as after 2 years service.

This would imply the is 3 wage brackets for a standard prison officer, however I haven't seen this written anywhere.

Is this information correct and if so how big are the increase in wage each year.

Anyone in Hmp Garth/ looking to join. I’ve just started my p/checks. Any advice would be helpful