Job Description (JD)
Band 3
Group Profile - Prison Officer (PO)
Job Description - PO: Safe Decent & Secure
Document Ref.
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0
Document Type
Management
Version
8.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
26/02/20
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0
Job Description
Job Title
PO: Safe Decent & Secure
Group Profile
Prison Officer
Organisation Level
Delivery
Band
3
Overview of the job
This is an operational job in an establishment.
Summary
The job holder will supervise and support prisoners, ensuring all services are
provided to a high standard and that security and control are maintained at all times,
adhering to local and national policies.
The specific duty of the jobholder is to supervise, manage and control prisoners on
the Residential Unit and during daily purposeful activity decently, lawfully, safely and
securely whilst carrying out all activities.
This is an operational job with no line management responsibilities.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
? Supervise prisoner activities including exercise and association, maintaining the
general cleanliness of the wing and making sure that meals are served in line
with establishment policy
? Lock prisoners securely in their cells at each lock up period, keep account of the
unit roll and make sure that prisoners are accounted for
? Support vulnerable prisoners and pass any relevant concerns to wing
managers/staff, Healthcare, Safer Custody department and personal officer
? Share identified prisoner needs with reception staff
? Unlock prisoners in a timely manner
? Deal with any instances of self harm in-line with suicide and self harm prevention
strategies
? Support prisoners in-line with the Personal Officer strategy, completing reports
on prisoners as requested, within time limits set, which contribute to sentence
planning and prisoner progress
? Encourage responsible and respectful behaviour in prisoners
? Receive and progress applications and complaints
? Maintain prisoner records by completing behaviour report entries and data entry
onto the prisoner database
? Carry out accommodation / fabric checks, including searching prisoners
? Complete all administration in support of main duties including ordering cleaning
materials and completing regime monitoring
If Residential Unit is used as a First Night/Induction accommodation, in addition to
above the job holder will:
? Deliver an effective induction in line with requirements
? Interview new arrivals ensuring a needs assessment is completed and
appropriate referrals are made for prisoners who require interventions
? Brief all prisoners giving clear guidance and ensuring they are aware of how to
seek help and information
? Deal with any prisoners concerns or issues raised at the induction meeting
? Coordinate and support listeners network ensuring that any advice given is
supportive and accurate
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0
? Share identified prisoner needs with reception staff
If Residential Unit is used as a Care and Separation Unit (CASU) accommodation, in
addition to the job holder will:
? Advise staff on adjudications processes, check all paperwork is correct including
any relevant evidence available. Escort prisoners to the adjudication room,
supervise and on completion of adjudications, update prisoner database
accordingly
? Collate referrals for the Independent Adjudicator
? Enter any adjournments into cells diary with details and place in appropriate
file/tray
? Liaise with relevant department/agencies for Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT)
referrals
? Be aware of any prisoner care plans, history sheets and observation book entries;
hourly observations and recording of all prisoners who are awarded cellular
confinement in compliance with national segregation policies
? Complete and collate all Control and Restraint, mechanical restraints and dirty
protest paperwork for prisoners located within the unit
? Work with healthcare , safeguarding, outgoing care and planning
Undertake other Prison Officer tasks as follows:
? Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, lawfully, safely and securely
whilst carrying out all activities
? Exercise the power of a Constable
? Conduct searches on prisoners, staff and visitors as required
? Undertake external escorts
? Undertakes ‘first on scene’ incident response
? Maintain and update systems in-line with local agreements
? Prepare relevant documentation to managers for verification / quality checking
purposes
? Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required
? Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
? Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and
staff
? Understand and comply with national/local policies and legislation
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium
of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
? Communicating and Influencing
? Managing a Quality Service
? Making Effective Decisions
? Caring
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Essential Experience
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0
Technical
Job holders must complete specific training in their specialism once they take up post.
Requirements
All candidates are required to pass an on line application and numeracy assessment,
attend and pass a variety of assessments at Recruitment Assessment Centre; these
include a written assessment, role plays, medical assessment and a fitness test.
If successful in your application, your continuation in this role is dependent on
passing all modules within the initial Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT),
which is a pathway to becoming a fully competent Prison Officer. Failure to
successfully complete and pass POELT course could result in your removal from this
role and may result in the termination of your employment. Following completion of
the POELT course you will be subject to a 12 month probationary period.
Ability
? Fitness Standard
? Medical Standard
? Numerical Ability
? Successful completion of POELT and probation period
? Must have Custodial Care National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 3
? Must be trained in restraint techniques
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
37 hour working week (standard).
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
Additional Conditioned Hours (ACH)
Band 3 Prison Officers have the option to commit to working between 1 -4 Additional
Committed Hours (ACH) on top of the standard 37 hour week. These hours are non-
pensionable and paid at an enhanced rate.
HMPPS Staff on closed pay structures only
Additional Conditioned Hours Pensionable (ACHP)
Staff moving from a closed 39 hour pay structure will be eligible for the two
protected pensionable additional committed hours (ACHP). They will work a 39 hour
week consisting of the standard 37 hour week and a further 2 additional hours
(ACHP) paid at plain time pensionable rate.
ACHP in the Prison Officer Band 3 role is only available to staff opting in to Fair &
Sustainable from a 39 hour pay structure on level transfer. Staff on promotion or
regrade are eligible for 1 to 4 Additional Committed Hours (ACH) per week.
Unsocial Hours Working
This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a 17% payment will be paid in
addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside
0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evening, nights, weekends and
Bank / Public holidays
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Communicating and Influencing
Fitness Standard
Managing a Quality Service
Medical Standard
Making Effective Decisions
Numerical Ability
Working Together
Successful completion of
POELT and probation
period
Choose an item.
Must have Custodial
Care National Vocational
Qualification (NVQ) 3
Must be trained in
restraint techniques
OR-JES-048-JD-B3 : PO : Safe Decent & Secure v8.0