Prison service officers (below principal officer)

£34,414

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

39 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

1.24%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

Definition: Prison service officers (below principal officer)

*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 3314

Prison service officers (below Principal Officer) direct, co-ordinate and participate in guarding inmates and maintaining discipline in prisons and other detention centres.

Common tasks include:

escorts prisoners to and from cells and supervises them during meals, recreation and visiting periods;
watches for any infringements of regulations and searches prisoners and cells for weapons, drugs and other contraband items;
guards entrances and perimeter walls;
investigates disturbances or any other unusual occurrences;
escorts prisoners transferred from one institution to another;
runs prisoner rehabilitation and support programmes;
provides care and support to prisoners in custody including prevention of self harm;
trains and supervises prison staff;
reports on prisoners’ conduct as necessary.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements for entry but candidates must pass a pre-entry test and full medical examination. Basic training is followed by a 12 month probationary period during which further on-the-job training is provided. Background checks are required for entrants, and there are generally nationality restrictions and a lower age limit of 18 years.

*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.

Employment status: Prison service officers (below principal officer)

Regional employment: Prison service officers (below principal officer)

Future employment: Prison service officers (below principal officer)

Top 12 industries: Prison service officers (below principal officer)

Alternative & related job titles:

Equality focus:

Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.