Working for HM Prison Service can be a rewarding career. There are a number of roles including Prison Officer, Prison Instructor and Prison Governor/ Manager.
Role: Prison Officer
A Prison Officer keeps inmates secure in prisons, remand centres and young offenders' institutions through supervision and inmate assessments.
Source Prospects
Skills Required:
- Patience and commitment
- Ability to stay calm under pressure
- Confidence with ability to act with authority
- Firm but fair attitude
Things to Consider:
It can be rewarding to see the differences that can be made to the prisoners' lives. A Prison Officer will improve their communication skills as they will have to deal with a great number of people from all different social backgrounds. Furthermore, the role will develop interviewing and interpersonal skills.
The ability to work under stressful situations is needed and to act correctly if a prisoner is violent. Training prior to working within the prison is given. However, you will have to have a strong sense of character to cope with difficult and dangerous situations that can occur.
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Role: Prison Instructor
A Prison Instructor helps inmates gain skills that could enable them to find employment after release. This can be through providing support for inmates to gain qualifications such as vocational NVQs for a variety of subjects.
Source Prospects
Skills Required:
- A teaching qualification, including a specialist subject knowledge
- Strong communication skills
- Patience
- Ability to build relationships and trust with inmates
- Ability to cope with difficult situations
Things to Consider:
A Prison Instructor has the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life and improve an inmate’s ability to gain employed work once released.
A positive mindset is needed in order to show the inmates the benefits of education and ensure they cooperation. Also, a Prison Instructor needs the ability to work under stressful or dangerous situations, for example you must be able to act correctly if a prisoner acts in a violent way.
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Role: Prison Governor/ Manager
A Prison Service Governor is responsible for the management and security of prisons. The role includes inspecting the safety and security of the prison, overseeing the development of the prison and the inmates, and managing prison budgets.
Source Prospects
Skills Required:
- Communication skills
- 2:1 degree (If applying through National Offender Service (NOM) Graduation Scheme
- Genuine interest in thewelfare of the prison inmates and justice system
- Leadership and management skills
- ;Ability to cope in stressful situations
- bility to make tough decisions
Things to Consider:
A Prison Governor has the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life and improve an inmate’s ability to gain employed work once released.
A positive mindset is needed in order to show the inmates the benefits of education and ensure they cooperation. Also, a Prison Governor needs the ability to work under stressful or dangerous situations, for example you must be able to act correctly if a prisoner acts in a violent way.
Useful Links:
The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites
National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Graduate Programme
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