Approved Premises Residential Worker - Burdett Lodge

Role overview

This role is based at NPS Burdett Lodge in Derby (DE22 3BR) and sits within HM Prison and Probation Service. The post is for 37 hours per week and is available in both full-time and peripatetic working arrangements. In the peripatetic version, the successful applicant may need to travel reasonably within the cluster area to cover shifts across Approved Premises sites. In the fixed-site version, the worker is assigned to one Approved Premises and follows that site’s shift pattern.

A merit list may also be used to fill other working patterns and sites referred to in the advert. Applicants should only apply if they can be flexible to work at any of the Approved Premises mentioned and across any of the working patterns described, as this will be discussed during interview.

There is also a note that Residential Worker staff cannot transfer across to another Band 3 role such as PSO, because the job descriptions are different.

What the job involves

The post holder works as part of a team delivering 24-hour cover in an Approved Premises, with responsibility for security, monitoring, and direct work with people on probation living there. The role supports risk management, sentence plan objectives, and enforcement procedures, while helping to keep residents and the building safe and secure throughout each shift.

The job also includes helping to supervise residents, maintain discipline, support adherence to Approved Premises rules, licence conditions, sentence plan objectives, and court orders, and contribute to the management of resident risk. The post includes significant out-of-hours duties, including waking nights and weekend work, and may involve covering other Approved Premises during staff shortages.

The work must be carried out in line with Prison Service policies and procedures, with a strong commitment to equality, inclusion, and the handling of confidential and sensitive information.

Key duties

• Work closely with the team to maintain consistent practice and a positive working environment.
• Share important risk information with colleagues during handovers and throughout shifts, and communicate where required with Offender Managers, Stand-by Managers, Police, health professionals, and drug and alcohol services.
• Carry out regular building inspections, including cellars and grounds, record damage or defects, and monitor CCTV.
• Maintain an active presence across the premises, build professional relationships with residents, and help protect them through observation and monitoring of risk plans and general wellbeing.
• Monitor high-risk residents, encourage compliance, and manage or challenge abusive and aggressive behaviour appropriately.
• Support resident risk management by reporting relevant changes, escalation risks, or breaches using agreed enforcement processes.
• Help deliver sentence plan objectives through purposeful activities agreed with the AP Manager and Offender Manager.
• Ensure the premises is locked and secure during curfew periods and confirm resident presence and welfare overnight.
• Act as an out-of-hours first contact point for emergencies.
• Provide accurate observations, analysis, and risk information to Offender Managers or escalate to the Out of Hours Manager where enforcement or action on court orders, licences, or AP rules may be required.
• Promote a safe environment by following health and safety requirements, safe systems of work, and risk assessments, and by reporting incidents to management.
• Complete health and safety, fire alarm, curfew, and room curfew checks according to procedure.
• Carry out room searches when risk concerns require them.
• Pack and handle resident belongings when instructed.
• Set up or run purposeful activities connected to residents’ sentence plan objectives.
• Supervise mealtimes.
• Complete resident induction.
• Follow medication processes, including issuing medication and completing weekly and nightly checks of medication records.
• Perform drug and alcohol tests in line with risk management requirements, including when a resident may appear under the influence and present increased risk.
• Provide first aid if a resident is injured or self-harms.
• Maintain records and files, complete data entry, and contribute to incident reporting.
• Carry out safeguarding duties for children in line with statutory responsibilities and agency policy.
• Handle visitors and telephone calls, and oversee contractors in line with health and safety rules.
• Model pro-social behaviour consistently and challenge anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
• Work in accordance with the aims and values of the Prison Service and HMPPS.

Working pattern and hours

This campaign covers full-time 37-hour posts and peripatetic 37-hour posts. Other possible arrangements mentioned include annualised hours patterns of either 625 or 1250 hours per year, which are described as the equivalent of one or two 12-hour shifts each week, combining standard and unsocial hours. There may also be full-time or part-time residential worker vacancies allocated to one Approved Premises.

The role attracts additional payment for working unsocial hours.

Skills, experience and qualifications

Applicants are expected to show experience of working with a wide range of people who have faced social or personal difficulties. The role also requires at least five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Maths, or an equivalent qualification, or relevant work experience supported by strong numeracy and literacy. This is needed to understand and interpret policies and to produce reports and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders.

IT capability is also needed, particularly with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Candidates must be able to express themselves confidently in spoken English, or Welsh where specified in Wales.

Behaviours assessed

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace

Selection process

The recruitment process uses Success Profiles and assesses behaviours, strengths, and experience. Feedback is only provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security and checks

Successful candidates must pass a criminal record check. Anyone working with government assets must also complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.

Nationality requirements

This role is broadly open to UK nationals, Irish nationals, Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, certain EU/Swiss/Norway/Iceland/Liechtenstein nationals and their eligible family members with settled or pre-settled status or a valid EUSS application, people with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and certain family members who have gained the right to work in the Civil Service.

Artificial intelligence guidance

AI may be used as support when preparing an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate, and based on the applicant’s own experience. Applications may be withdrawn if plagiarism or misuse of AI is identified.

Benefits

• Access to learning and development
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• An inclusive working culture
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Season ticket advance

Additional notes

The job holder must be willing to accept reasonable changes and additional duties of a similar level where required. Any significant changes may be reviewed under the Job Evaluation Scheme and discussed with the job holder.

The advert also notes that the Civil Service recruits on merit through fair and open competition, and that equality, diversity, and disability confidence are part of the Civil Service approach.