531 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Grendon and HMP Springhill (Prison Support Role)

The OSG role does not attract Sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa/Tier 2 (general) work visa.Travel to Work Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options, therefore 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.Accommodation is not provided.**PLEASE NOTE** Driving duties are an essential part of the OSG role at HMP Grendon and therefore candidates are required to hold a valid Driving Licence.An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.As part of our prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving.This is an active role where you will be doing a range of physical tasks. These can include lifting and carrying, plus long periods of standing and walking. There will also be periods of lone working whilst undertaking tasks on both day and night shifts.You will not always be in contact with prisoners, it depends on the prison you work in. You will have full training and a supportive team by your side.Life as an OSGYour job can include:Gate dutiesensuring the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles.carrying out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicleswalking around the prison site to escort vehicles and contractorsissuing and collecting staff keys and radioswalking around the prison site patrolling and searching perimeter fence areasControl roomoperating the prison radio systemmonitoring CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.Visitswelcoming visitors on their arrivalescorting them if neededCorrespondencemonitoring and logging mail coming into the prisonreporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where neededNight dutiesensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.Receptionphotographing prisonersprocessing prisoners property and parcels coming into the prison.Prisoner supervisionsometimes supervising prisonersexchanging clothing and propertyhelping prison officers escort prisoners around the prisonFood deliverywalking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle Driving dutiestransporting prisoners and their escorts to their destinationcollecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks.Phone callsmonitoring the prisons Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone systemmaintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisonerscompleting relevant recordsProcedures and protocolunderstanding and conforming to national and local policies, responding appropriately to incidents and emergenciesYou do not need any qualifications to do this job. Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and, above all teamwork. National - 27,840The salary figures quoted are for a 37-hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evening, and weekend shifts.In addition to your base pay, you will receive:annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years service (calculated on a pro-rata basis)9 days bank, public and privilege holidaysaccess to a paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer serviceaccess to the generous Civil Service pension schemeseason ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme. HoursYou will work an average of 37 hours per week, and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends, and Bank/Public holidays on a rolling shift pattern (these days are added to your holiday allowance) The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview. For an example of the shift times that you could be working please visit our websiteHow to applyStage 1Tell us about yourselfClick apply and fill in your personal details on our application formTake a short online testWhen you apply, you will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to take our online test. This is a behaviour-based assessment that assesses whether you have the right natural strengths and behavioural preferences to become an Operational Support Grade. You will complete a series of mini tasks that are designed to elicit your natural behavioural preferences (e.g., how you naturally tend to make decisions). Whilst the tasks themselves arent set in the context of the role; they are designed to observe the behaviours that are most important for the role. This will take around 40 minutes to complete, but there is no time limit.You dont need to be a gamer to do well on this test. Were just looking for your natural ability to succeed in the role.Stage 2If you pass the test, well invite you for an interview.Before you take the test, you will have the opportunity to practice and prepare for the real test. You will receive information and a link to access this and the actual test once you apply. The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience. It will provide the ideal opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your work history, or personal experiences, so we can get to know you better and assess how you will be suited to prison work. Your Strengths will also be assessed at interview, but these are not shared in advance.For more information please visit our websiteJob offers: merit vacancy.This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the interview, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.When all applicants have completed the assessment, the prison will make job offers to those with the highest scores first when positions become available.You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you will need to apply again.If your application is unsuccessful at the sift/Interview stage, a six-month waiting period will be applied during which time you will not be allowed to submit any further applications for Operational Support Grade positions.The jobholder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following orderTo Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);To Ministry of Justice Resourcing ([email protected]).To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)