Prison Custody Officer

Role overview

G4S is hiring Prison Custody Officers for HMP Oakwood in Wolverhampton (WV10 7QD). This is a permanent, full-time position offering 40 hours per week across a variety of shifts. The post pays £32,153.14 per year, with a lower training rate of £28,133.99 during the 9-week induction course, based on 35 hours per week.

What the role is about

This role suits someone who wants a stable career and can communicate clearly, listen well, and stay composed under pressure. Prison Custody Officers in residential house blocks are central to the day-to-day running of the prison. The role is open to people from different backgrounds, and no prior qualifications or relevant experience are needed.

The prison’s approach focuses on rehabilitation and helping offenders prepare to return to the wider community. The work environment aims to mirror normal community life as closely as possible while maintaining safety, structure, and security for staff and prisoners alike.

You will support people in custody by treating them with dignity and respect and helping them adjust to a structured routine. This includes ensuring prisoners get to work in the morning, take part in education and the prison regime, and are safely secured in their cells in the evening.

Training and development

When you join, you will receive support, encouragement, and professional development through the Operational Development Pathway (ODP). This pathway is designed to strengthen your skills, help you realise your potential, and give you a clear route for career progression if you want to take the next step.

Initial training runs for 9 weeks and covers Control & Restraint, First Aid, interpersonal skills, and Health & Safety.

Benefits

Employee benefits include a company pension, free on-site parking, a staff canteen, a free uniform, a Blue Light card with wide-ranging discounts, and extensive training and development opportunities.

Equality, safeguarding and vetting

G4S Care and Rehabilitation Services is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments can be discussed for the role or recruitment process where needed.

The organisation is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and every employee is expected to support this responsibility.

All staff are expected to work in a way that treats prisoners with dignity and respect and helps build positive, supportive relationships. The organisation also encourages employees to suggest improvements and help develop safer and better ways of working.

This vacancy is subject to a 5-year checkable history and the strict vetting standards of G4S and HMPPS. The role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. You must be eligible to work in the UK and provide full employment and education history for the last 5 years as part of the security screening process.

If you already have a live application in progress, you do not need to apply again.

Employer background

G4S is part of Allied Universal, a major global security and facility services provider operating in more than 100 countries and territories. In the UK, the business has a wide office network and more than 31,000 employees.