202601: Prison Officer

**General Information**:

- Business Unit
- Deerbolt
- Date published
- 28-Jan-2026
- Working time
- Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
- Closing date
- 18-Mar-2026
- Location
- Barnard Castle
- Civil Service Grade
- AO
- Job ID
- 13197

**Descriptions & requirements**:

- Job description

**Prison officer - HMP Deerbolt**

**HMP Bowes Road, Barnard Castle DL12 9BG**

**Starting salary**:£**35,875** (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)

**City/Town**:Barnard Castle**

**Region**:North East**

**Vacancy type**:**Merit**

**This role is**not**eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.**

**From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.**

**The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.**You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria.**

**An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.**

Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.

If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we’re looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career.

**Someone like you**

T’s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you’re a natural people person, you’ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want.

No matter the challenge, you’ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives.

Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you’ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, and everyone who works safe. You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.

**An extraordinary job**

In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day. One minute you’re a peacekeeper, the next you’re a counsellor or a teacher. You’ll work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Find out more about this varied role and day-to-day life as a prison officer.

**Job details**

**Eligibility**

To become a prison officer, you will need to:

- be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
- meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality requirements section below)
- meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
- For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)- Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except w this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

**Travel to Work**

Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options; tfore, a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified). Please note that shift start, and finish times are fixed, and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options before applying.

**Nationality requirements**

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

**Essential skills**

You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

- communication and influencing skills
- commitment to quality
- effective decision-making
- care and understanding

**Pay**

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your a