202601: Prison Officer - HMP Stafford
| Posting date: | 28 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 February 2026 |
| Location: | Stafford, Staffordshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 13669 |
Summary
Prison officer – HMP Stafford
HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Rd, Stafford ST16 3AW
Starting salary: £35,875 (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)
City/Town: Stafford
Region: Midlands
Vacancy type: Merit
This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.
An extraordinary job
In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day.
During the recruitment process you will be assessed on:
communicating and influencing
managing a quality service
making effective decisions
caring
To become a prison officer, you will need to:
be at least 18 years old at the commencement of employment
meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements
pass a medical and fitness assessment
meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes
for safety reasons, meet a suitable standard of hearing.
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 where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).
To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
How to apply
Once you have completed your initial application form. You will be invited to complete an online test, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills. If you pass the online test, we will invite you to an online assessment centre (OAC). Once you’ve successfully completed the OAC and you are allocated to a vacancy, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.
Pay
The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.
37 hours a week = £33,746 a year
39 hours a week = £35,875 a year
41 hours a week = £38,003 a year
All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances.
The standard working week of a prison officer is based on a 39 hours per week shift pattern.
Benefits
25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
Read more about prison officer benefits

Job offers: merit vacancy
This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.
When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.
You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.
Operational Support Grade Role
Although a driving licence is not a requirement for the Prison Officer role, driving duties are an essential part of the OSG role. Therefore, candidates who are unsuccessful in their Prison Officer application but offered an OSG role instead, are required to hold a valid UK driving licence.
Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC), will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a prison officer but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a prison officer, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG. Operational support grade - Ministry of Justice
The 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 recruitment principles. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the principles you can raise a complaint by contacting Shared Services Connected Ltd: call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Reasonable adjustment support
Just tick ‘yes’ when it asks if you think you might need a reasonable adjustment.
HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Rd, Stafford ST16 3AW
Starting salary: £35,875 (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)
City/Town: Stafford
Region: Midlands
Vacancy type: Merit
This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.
An extraordinary job
In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day.
During the recruitment process you will be assessed on:
communicating and influencing
managing a quality service
making effective decisions
caring
To become a prison officer, you will need to:
be at least 18 years old at the commencement of employment
meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements
pass a medical and fitness assessment
meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes
for safety reasons, meet a suitable standard of hearing.
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 where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).
To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
How to apply
Once you have completed your initial application form. You will be invited to complete an online test, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills. If you pass the online test, we will invite you to an online assessment centre (OAC). Once you’ve successfully completed the OAC and you are allocated to a vacancy, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.
Pay
The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.
37 hours a week = £33,746 a year
39 hours a week = £35,875 a year
41 hours a week = £38,003 a year
All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances.
The standard working week of a prison officer is based on a 39 hours per week shift pattern.
Benefits
25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
Read more about prison officer benefits

Job offers: merit vacancy
This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.
When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.
You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.
Operational Support Grade Role
Although a driving licence is not a requirement for the Prison Officer role, driving duties are an essential part of the OSG role. Therefore, candidates who are unsuccessful in their Prison Officer application but offered an OSG role instead, are required to hold a valid UK driving licence.
Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC), will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a prison officer but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a prison officer, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG. Operational support grade - Ministry of Justice
The 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 recruitment principles. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the principles you can raise a complaint by contacting Shared Services Connected Ltd: call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Reasonable adjustment support
Just tick ‘yes’ when it asks if you think you might need a reasonable adjustment.