Prison Officer

**HMP Kilmarnock**
**Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, KA1 5AA**
**Permanent, Full-Time, **40 hours per week**
**£19,331 to £25,061 depending on experience**

HMP Kilmarnock is a closed, high security establishment accommodating remand, short term and long-term male adult prisoners and male young offender remand prisoners. One of two private prisons in Scotland, it has been operated by Serco since 1999 under a 25 year contract on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). It has 500 single cells and a maximum capacity of 692 prisoners.

**The role**:
Make no mistake, this is a role where your contribution counts - helping to give offenders structure within their lives, being a role model to encourage positive choices and ensuring that the prisoners are supported during their rehabilitation journey. When you are on duty you will act as mentor and will assure the safety, security and decency of prisoners and perform a pivotal role within the prison and the community it serves.

**Daily duties involve**:

- Supervising prisoners in all aspects of wing-based activity
- Encouraging prisoners to go to work or complete the jobs they have within the prison
- Attending additional education classes
- Serving food and effectively managing prisoners at risk of self-harm
- Operational matters such as prisoner headcounts, searching, supervision and security together with administrative processes must all be effectively delivered.

Every prisoner reacts differently and you will see a full range of emotions from; apathy, anger, remorse or trauma. For the person in prison it can be one of the most stressful situations they will ever encounter, but for you it’s an everyday part of your job.

**What we’re looking for**:
Can you do it? Yes, you can - if you have the resilience, integrity and professionalism to handle an ever-changing day, irrespective of the challenging situation you may face. Your natural patience, understanding and commitment to helping people will stand you in good stead - and give you the authority needed - for this position.

Being a Prison Officer demands the best, and our people come to us from a variety of backgrounds. What they will have in common is an ability to relate to people, exceptional communication skills, a commitment to supporting their colleagues and the knowledge that what they do will have a positive impact on their communities.

As a minimum you will evidence that you hold a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills (or equivalent) including English and Maths as we will test this during the process. It is important that you possess the skills that would allow you to pass a variety of mandatory training courses and have a level of fitness to pass Control and Restraint training.

**Hours & Shifts**:
The service that we provide to our prisoners is available every day of the year across a 24-hour period, meaning you will have to cover various shift patterns; including days, evenings, weekends, nights and bank holidays with an average of 40 hours per week.

**Training**:
Once you have passed the selection and vetting process, you will attend an 8-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the establishment you have been recruited for, and you will be required to have 100% attendance. The ITC will provide high quality training where you will complete a Diploma in Custodial Care and undergo Control and Restraint training. You will also shadow experienced PCO’s on shift to give you a real taste of life on the job.

**Specific Requirements**:
IIQSPON

**About Serco**

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

**Apply**

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.