Prison Catering Caterer

Role overview

This opportunity is based at HM Prison Featherstone in Wolverhampton (WV10 7PU). It offers a chance to use catering training in a professional industrial kitchen and contribute to a setting where the work has a wider social impact than a typical restaurant role.

As part of the prison catering team, you will prepare and cook nutritious meals for the whole prison while supervising offenders as they work. The role also supports rehabilitation by helping people build practical skills, gain qualifications, and improve their prospects after release.

Working pattern and pay

The post is for 37 hours per week. Shift coverage includes time outside 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, plus weekends and public holidays. A 20% unsocial hours payment is added to basic pay when those hours are worked.

Part-time and job-share arrangements may be considered if operational needs allow, but the full range of shifts is still required. New starters begin on the minimum salary point.

Band 3 salary, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance, is £34,928 to £36,778 per year.

Qualifications and experience

You should hold a Level 2 certificate in Food Production within Hospitality and Catering, or an equivalent qualification, together with a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate. A Vocational Qualification at Level 3 is also required, or you must be willing to work towards it within an agreed timeframe.

You need to be familiar with current health, safety and hygiene rules for kitchen work, show that you can work competently in an industrial kitchen, and communicate confidently in English.

Food safety refreshers, including HACCP, are expected every three years.

Application process

Applicants must submit an anonymised CV and answer questions about previous experience. You will also need to complete behavioural questions explaining how you would respond in work situations.

Selection criteria

The selection process will assess behaviours, strengths, experience, and technical skills. The main behaviours are developing self and others, managing a quality service, communicating and influencing, making effective decisions, and working together.

Technical assessment will include work experience questions.

Security and eligibility

A criminal record check is required. If you work with government assets, you must also complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

The role is open to UK nationals, Irish nationals, eligible Commonwealth nationals, certain EU/Swiss/Norwegian/Icelandic/Liechtenstein nationals and their family members with settled or pre-settled status or a valid EUSS application, eligible limited or indefinite leave to remain holders, and certain Turkish nationals and family members with the right to work in the Civil Service.

Benefits

In addition to salary, the role includes a Civil Service defined benefit pension contribution from the employer, learning and development opportunities, flexible working options where possible, a culture that supports inclusion and diversity, annual leave, public holidays, season ticket advance, and apprenticeship opportunities through an earn-while-you-learn approach.

The employer contributes 28.97% to the Civil Service pension scheme, and the advertised salary section notes a pension contribution value of £10,118.

Additional information

This vacancy uses Success Profiles and may assess behaviours, strengths, experience, and technical skills. Feedback is only provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

The job falls under Civil Service recruitment principles and the Civil Service Code. The department states that it recruits on merit, offers a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates who meet the minimum criteria, and has a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants at risk of redundancy who meet the requirements.

The post is also linked to the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but all examples must be genuine, accurate, and based on your own experience. Plagiarised or fabricated content may lead to withdrawal of the application and possible disciplinary action for internal candidates.

Contact for applicants: SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team, moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk, 0345 241 5358. Recruitment team email: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk.

Further complaints and recruitment-principles information is provided through the Civil Service Commission process. The advert also notes that once closed, it will no longer be available and should be saved if needed.