Prison Support - HMP Bullingdon

Role overview

This position is for an Operational Support Grade at HMP Bullingdon, part of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. The role is central to the smooth day-to-day running of a busy prison and involves a mix of security-related, administrative and practical duties within a team environment.

What the job involves

In this post, you may be stationed at the gate carrying out searches and security checks, dealing with incoming deliveries, overseeing visitors, and keeping an eye on phone calls and CCTV activity. The work is active and varied, combining desk-based tasks with hands-on duties such as lifting, carrying, and walking escorts across the prison grounds.

Travel and attendance requirements

Some prison sites are in rural areas with limited public transport, so having a driving licence and access to your own transport can be helpful, although this is not mandatory unless specifically stated for the location. Shift start and finish times are fixed, so you must be able to reach the workplace on time for every scheduled shift. For this vacancy, applicants must hold a full, valid UK driving licence including D1 entitlement, which permits driving vehicles with up to 16 passenger seats, a maximum length of 8 metres, and a trailer up to 750kg.

Candidate profile

No formal qualifications are required for this role. The employer is looking for someone who communicates clearly, stays composed in pressured situations, uses sound judgment and common sense, and works well as part of a team. The post is suited to someone who can handle a busy, fast-moving environment.

Working pattern and development

You will work across a range of shifts, including nights and weekends. Although prisoner contact is usually limited compared with prison officers, some occasional interaction may occur depending on the establishment. The role offers a strong introduction to prison operations and may open the door to other prison service careers, including the OSG to Prison Officer conversion route. Training and development opportunities are provided to support progression.

Pay and benefits

The salary for this role is £29,432. Alongside base pay, the package includes 25 days of annual leave on joining, rising to 30 days after 10 years of service on a pro-rata basis, plus 9 days of bank, public and privilege holidays. Additional benefits include access to a paid Level 2 customer service apprenticeship, the Civil Service pension scheme, season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme.

Additional notes

This is described as an extraordinary job with the chance to contribute to public safety by supporting the essential work carried out in prisons.