Becoming a prison officer

Becoming a prison officer is hard and stressful, many good candidates fail it. Our comprehensive online prison officer coaching course will drastically improve your chances of passing your selection process by increasing your knowledge, preparation and confidence.

The Prison Service is very careful about the way in which they process applications for the role of Prison Officer. As you can imagine, it takes a special kind of person to be able to deal effectively with the situations that a Prison Officer will find him/herself in on a daily basis. The selection process is designed to assess whether or not you have the right qualities to carry out the role competently. Below you will see an outline of how the selection process works.

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THE MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PRISON OFFICER

The main duties of a Prison Officer include:

  • Carrying out security checks and searching procedures.
  • Supervising the prisoners that they are responsible for.
  • Maintaining order when required.
  • Accounting for the whereabouts of prisoners.
  • Carrying out relevant restraint procedures whenever necessary.
  • Treating prisoners decently and humanely, respecting their rights when appropriate.
  • Protecting prisoners from harm.
  • Promoting anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies.
  • Taking part in education and rehabilitation schemes for prisoners.
  • Writing reports on prisoners.

You can usually apply to become a prison officer online via the website www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk. From this website you can also search for Prison Officer jobs in your preferred area. The Prison Service will sometimes use the website www.whatsontheinside.co.uk as their main recruitment portal.

If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, your application will be acknowledged by email as soon as you submit it. You will then be invited to sit an online version of the Prison Officer Selection Test, which is more commonly referred to as the POST.

Once your application has been accepted you will be sent a link via email to take an electronic online version of the Prison Officer Selection Test (POST). This stage of the POST consists of numerical tests, comprising of a number of work sample exercises. You won’t, however, require any prior knowledge of prison work in order to undertake the test.

Within a later section of this guide I have provided you with plenty of sample test questions to help you prepare for the POST.

If successful at the online POST stage, you will then be invited to attend the Recruitment Assessment Day (RAD).

The Recruitment Assessment Day has been designed to test several elements that are needed in the Prison Officer role – these include;

  • 4 role-play simulations, each lasting a maximum of ten minutes.

The scenarios that you will encounter during the role-plays are usually non-prison based. However they are similar to situations you could face as a Prison Officer.

As part of the Recruitment Assessment Day you will also be required to complete a shorter paper-based version of the online POST that you previously sat.

The second element of your Recruitment Assessment Day Prison Officer Selection Test is a paper-based language test, which includes some observational skills questions that assess the following key areas:

  • Completing forms and reading information;
  • Checking information for errors and discrepancies;
  • Carrying out written observations of seen information.

Candidates are normally required to take the fitness test during the Recruitment Assessment Day. The test itself is designed to assess some elements of a Prison Officer’s role and consists of the following assessable areas:

  • Grip strength test;
  • Multi-stage fitness test (often called the bleep test);
  • Dynamic strength test;
  • Speed agility run test;
  • Shield test.

During a later section of the guide I have provided you with a free ‘How to get Prison Officer fit’ information guide. The exercises that I have provided you with will go a long way to helping you pass the fitness test element of the Recruitment Assessment Day.

Following the successful completion of all previous elements of the selection process, you will then undertake a medical and vetting checks. The medical will assess your overall health and fitness for becoming a Prison Officer. The vetting checks are standard procedure and include identity checks, nationality and character checks and a criminal record check. These checks can take up to 8 weeks to complete so you will need to be patient.

Once you have passed every element of the selection process you will normally be offered an appointment and starting date. However, in some circumstances, you will be placed on a reserve list, which has a validity of 18 months. As soon as a vacancy becomes available you will be offered a place.

PRISON OFFICER ONLINE TRAINING COURSE

  • Using these online modules you will learn step-by-step how to successfully pass the: Application, Assessment Tests, Group Exercises, Interview and more;
  • Detailed online guides and video training covering every element of the selection process;
  • Step-by-step guide to the prison officer selection process
  • Practice and Master your RAD before you take the real thing!;
  • Ideal for HMPC or SPS applicants;
  • 27 intensive and fully interactive online modules;
  • All course completers will get a certificate of completion;
  • Training that goes where you go; compatible with Windows, Mac, Tablets and Mobile devices.
TOPICS COVERED DURING YOUR ONLINE COURSE

All who enrol are able to benefit from:

  1. Detailed information about the recruitment process and how to apply – including a detailed breakdown of the online HMPS application process, suitable for POs and residential officers.
  2. Current information about NOMS, the core competencies and how you will be assessed during the selection process.
  3. 27 fully interactive online modules of training, including a downloadable version of the bleep test.
  4. Practice all of the RAD assessment tests you will be up against and get feedback.
  5. Extensive coverage of all aspects of the application and interview process.
  6. Practice Mock Interview and Role Play Exercises using our unique exercise plans.
  7. Our fully interactive online Prison Officer course.

Qualities & Skills Required to Become a Prison Officer

To become a prison officer you will need the following skills:

  • Numerical Skills – Addition, Subtractions, Counting, Multiplying, Dividing, Reading and working with Numerical Information (Data Interpretation) in the form of information, graphs and tables.
  • Literacy/Language Skills – The ability to take concise notes, recalling information, completing standard forms, checking for errors and discrepancies in information and reading and understanding written and oral instructions and also report writing.
  • Exploring and Clarifying – For example, you must be able to ask questions to gain and confirm information.
  • Suspend Judgement – For example, by suspending judgement you should be able to not make assumptions and be open and honest.
  • Good Listening Skills
  • Assertiveness – As a prison officer you will be expected to be able to stick to your own opinion whilst being fair and respecting the views of others. You must be able to uphold rules and procedures and resist manipulation.
  • Have an Understanding – You must be able to show empathy and be able to see things from another’s perspective, remaining impartial.
  • Resilience – It is also important that you demonstrate resilience, dealing with pressure, dealing positively with setbacks for example.

As a Prison Officer, you will also need to demonstrate the NOMS values, including:

  • Acting with integrity
  • Treating others with decency and respect
  • Acting as a positive role model

To help develop your career in NOMS, our training course will teach you everything you need to know in order to pass the RAD assessment centre, including the exact competencies you will be assessed on.

Online PRISON OFFICER COURSE

  • 27 intensive and fully interactive online modules;
  • Learn step-by-step how to successfully pass the: application, assessment tests, group exercises, interview and more;
  • Detailed online guides and video training covering every element of the selection process;
  • Step-by-step guide to the prison officer selection process
  • Practice and master your RAD before you take the real thing;
  • Ideal for HMPC or SPS applicants;
  • All candidates that finish the course will get a certificate of completion;
  • Training that goes where you go; compatible with Windows, Mac, Tablets and Mobile devices.
Online Prison Officer Recruitment Training Course - Ultimate Online Resource (UNLIMITED ACCESS)
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Online Prison Officer Recruitment Training Course - £1 FOR 7-DAYS ACCESS - Thereafter £27.00 +vat per month
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Online Prison Officer Recruitment Training Course - Ultimate Online Resource (UNLIMITED ACCESS)

Includes:
✓ Using these online modules you will learn step-by-step how to successfully pass the:
✓ Application, Assessment Tests, Group Exercises, Interview and more;
✓ Detailed online guides and video training covering every element of the selection process;
✓ Step-by-step guide to the prison officer selection process;
✓ Practice and Master your RAD before you take the real thing!;
✓ Ideal for HMPC or SPS applicants;
✓ 27 intensive and fully interactive online modules;
✓ All course completers will get a certificate of completion;
✓ Training that goes where you go; compatible with Windows, Mac, Tablets and Mobile devices.
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PRISON OFFICER RECRUITMENT TRAINING – FAQs

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COURSE COST?

Try our online course for 7-days for just £1. After the 7-day trial period, this course is automatically billed at £27+vat per month, with no minimum term. You may cancel at anytime.

HOW DO I ACCESS THIS ONLINE COURSE?

Once you purchase this online course you will receive an email with your unique instant access instructions. You will then be able to access this training course on any device with an internet connection.

HOW AND WHEN CAN I CANCEL?

You can cancel your membership at anytime (even during the first 7-days), simply contact us on [email protected] and you won’t pay a penny more.