3314 — Prison service officers (below principal officer)

What this occupation covers

Prison service officers (below principal officer) direct, co-ordinate and participate in guarding inmates and maintaining discipline in prisons and other detention centres.

Typical duties

escorts prisoners to and from cells and supervises them during meals, recreation and visiting periods

watches for any infringements of regulations and searches prisoners and cells for weapons, drugs and other contraband items

guards entrances and perimeter walls

investigates disturbances or any other unusual occurrences

escorts prisoners transferred from one institution to another

runs prisoner rehabilitation and support programmes

provides care and support to prisoners in custody including prevention of self-harm

trains and supervises prison staff

reports on prisoners’ conduct as necessary

Entry routes and qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements for entry, but candidates must pass a pre-entry test and full medical examination. Basic training is followed by a 12 month probationary period during which further on-the-job training is provided. Background checks are required for entrants, and there are generally nationality restrictions and a lower age limit of 18 years.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

DBS assessment

No code-wide DBS assessment is assigned. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

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