Prison Officer Returners’ Scheme:
Frequently Asked Questions
I left HMPPS shortly after completing my prison officer probationary period.
Can I apply to re-join under the Prison Officer Returners’ Scheme?
Yes, as long as you completed foundation training and your entire probation period,
you will be eligible for the scheme. If you only partially completed your probation
period, you will not be eligible for the scheme and you will need to apply via the
standard external prison officer recruitment process, meaning you will need to
complete the online tests, attend the online assessment centre and repeat
foundation training. If you completed your probation period in another HMPPS role,
you must have worked for more than 12 months in the prison officer role.
I’m currently employed as a prison officer, can I apply for the Prison Officer
Returners’ Scheme to transfer to another prison?
No, this scheme is only available for former prison officers who have left the Prison
Service and are not currently working for HMPPS.
Can I apply to work at the prison I used to work at?
Yes. You will be able to specify this as part of your online application. While we will
aim to place you there, if the prison does not have any immediate vacancies, we will
look to find you a role at one of your other prison choices. You will be able to select
three preferences when you apply with the option to select more if you wish to do so.
What if there isn’t a vacancy in any of the prisons I choose?
You will be offered the choice to join another prison that has immediate vacancies or
you can be placed on the merit list for your chosen prisons until a position becomes
available. If you are placed on the merit list, you will be prioritised into a vacancy
over candidates applying via the external route.
Can I apply to a prison that’s more than an hour away from where I live?
Yes, but you will not be able to reclaim the cost of your travel expenses. We will aim
to place you at a prison that’s within commuting distance (up to one hour) from your
home. It is your responsibility to ensure that you always arrive at work on time.
Can I work part-time or other hours?
You can ask to work part-time or other hours but this will need to be approved by the
prison where you would like to take up post. If you would like to continue with
employment elsewhere alongside your part-time or other hours, this will need to be
agreed by the prison that you will be returning to.
I’m retired, how does this apply to me?
HMPPS is keen to see retired prison officers return to work as your experience is
valued. However, if you have a Civil Service pension you will have to work reduced
(i.e. part-time or flexible) hours to avoid a reduction in your pension. Read more
here.
Am I guaranteed re-employment as a prison officer?
Re-employment is discretionary. You will still be subject to full pre-employment
checks before you start. You will not be re-employed if you were previously
dismissed from the service following a disciplinary procedure. If you were dismissed
on any other grounds you will need to demonstrate that the reasons for your
dismissal would no longer apply.
Will I need to complete the assessment process again?
No (unless you would like to be a prison officer in a women’s prison and have not
been in this role previously or not completed the additional assessment for women’s
prisons previously - see next question). When your eligibility for the scheme has
been confirmed, we will then review your preferences, and you will then be allocated
to the next available vacancy. You will then need to do the medical and fitness
assessment and pre-employment checks will be completed.
I would like to be a prison officer in a women’s prison, will I need to do an
assessment?
If you have not worked in a women’s prison previously or not completed the
additional assessment for women’s prisons previously, there will be a short
assessment which involves written responses to three behaviour-based questions,
each of which requires a 250-word answer. You will need to return to an adult male
prison if you do not pass this assessment.
Will I need to complete probation again?
You will not need to complete probation again.
Will I need to re-do foundation training?
You will not need to re-do foundation training. Instead, a head of function will sit
down with you to complete a training needs analysis and then set up a learning path
to bring you up to date with current working practices.
Will my fitness test, occupational health assessment and pre-employment
checks be fast-tracked?
No, you will need to follow the standard prison officer processes once you are
offered a position. Pre-employment checks typically take up to six weeks to complete
and we will aim to get your health assessment and fitness test completed in the
same time period.
What will I be paid?
You will return as a Band 3 on pay point 2. If you are returning as an OGD transfer, it
might be pay point 3.
When will I be paid?
You will be paid on the last working weekday of each month. If this falls on a public
holiday you will be paid on the previous Friday.
Will I get paid an unsociable work allowance?
Yes, all prison officers have to work unsociable hours as part of their work patterns.
You will get paid a 20% unsocial hours allowance for all unsociable hours that you
work.
Will I have to work nights?
All prison officers are required to work nights, during the evening and at weekends,
though this will vary depending on what shift pattern you are assigned to. You will
have an opportunity to discuss this once you have been offered a position.
What is the annual leave entitlement?
You have been given a new contract so your leave entitlement will be the same as a
new starter i.e. 25 days annual leave per year plus the public holiday entitlement.
Employees who work reduced hours have the same leave entitlement as full-time
employees but calculated on a pro rata basis.
Will I be given a new employee number?
Yes, you will be given a new employee number.
Will I need to sign the Official Secrets Act again?
Yes. As a member of staff you are required to protect and exercise care in the use of
information acquired during the course of your work. Staff are bound by the
provisions of the Official Secrets Act.
When will I be given a start date?
You will be invited to the start date call once your pre-employment checks are
complete and you have passed the medical/fitness assessment. You decide your
start date (which must be on a Monday) but it will usually need to be at least three
weeks after the start date call to give the prison time to prepare for your return.
When should I hand my notice in with my current employer?
We advise not to give notice to your current employer until your pre-employment
checks have been completed and you have been contacted to arrange a start date.
If you are currently a civil servant, you must not resign as you will be transferred
across to HMPPS.
I have been given a full-time contract which says 37 hours, can I increase to 39
or 41?
All new full-time contracts for prison officers are for 37 hours. You can choose to
increase to 39 or 41 once in post.
I have been given a part-time contract but have a question relating to it, who
do I need to contact?
You can email your question to: PrisonsResourcing-Projects@justice.gov.uk
I have a question relating to my starting salary, who do I need to contact?
You can ask about your starting salary once your eligibility for the scheme has been
confirmed.
I have a question relating to the scheme that is not included in this FAQ
document, what should I do?
You can email your question to: PrisonsResourcing-Projects@justice.gov.uk
For the full set of prison officer FAQs, please visit the HMPPS Prison Officer
Application Centre Information Portal.