Prison custodial officer average salary

£29,625

£20,923

£30,512

£31,651

Jobs included

Related professions

Job info

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

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.

Entry requirements

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.