The Prison Support Role at
The Ministry of Justice
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Often referred to by HMPPS as Operational Support Grade (OSG) or prison support roles, the OSG is a key player on site in contributing to keeping the prisons safe and running smoothly.
You’ll be at the heart of a busy prison and will often be one of the first faces the public and people working in the prisons see when they visit, supporting the day-to-day running of the prisons and working to keep the establishments safe and secure.
Day-to-day responsibilities
As part of the security team you will assist in the safety and security of the prison establishment, escorting visitors and building contractors, and carrying out gate duties within the prison and outside areas to ensure the safety and security of the visitors, staff and prisoners within the prison.
The roles are typically full time on an ongoing temporary basis, although you will have the opportunity to apply for a permanent position as they arise too if you’d like to.
Typical duties include:
- Escorting contractors & vehicles
- Checking & searching visitors
- Radio handling
- Supervision of visitors
- Stores duties
- Patrolling perimeter and grounds
- Contractor tool checks
- Searching buildings
- Radio operation
What you'll need to succeed
No formal qualifications or previous experience is required for this role. The nature of the OSG role requires candidates to be security conscious and able to challenge potential compromises and risks. You will also need to be reliable and consistent, level headed and have excellent interpersonal skills.
People who enjoy and succeed in these roles often have a background in public facing, customer services or security related roles.
You will need to display the following competencies:
- Acting with integrity
- Respecting others
- Building relationships and team working
- Communicating effectively
And so, we are looking for people who are:
- Responsible and trustworthy
- Collaborative and like to work as part of a team
- Confident, warm and welcoming
- Problem solvers, who remain calm under pressure
- Detail-orientated, and able to follow rules and processes closely
Shifts
Most prisons work with a changing shift pattern of an average of 37 hours a week. Sometimes this can include working some nights, weekends and public holidays.
Shifts usually follow regular hours although the start and finish time may vary depending on your prison. The frequency of night shifts also varies depending upon prison. Nights are worked in a seven day block and are followed by a week of rest days.
Prisons in England and Wales
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