Is anyone a prison officer? Can you tell me about it?

[strawberrypickinginsummer]

I’m considering this as my job vanished in covid and opportunities are so limited.

I am really drawn to it. Are there many opportunities for part time? Have a very young baby. Do they offer a reasonable maternity package?

😂😂😂

I think it’s fair to say that you’re not best suited to be a prison officer OP.

I think mn has had its day.

Stop being so mean.

She asked a question and none of us know if it would suit her from a few answers on Mumsnet. Play nicely.

My uncle is a prison officer. He's been attacked a few times and said it's a shit job nowadays but if you go into it with an open mind it's worth applying and seeing what you think.

Hi jackie

I can assure you I’m not trolling but there is a difference between politely enquiring about a possible career and having to justify precisely why you are interested in said career. I really haven’t been rude and I am grateful for the helpful responses. Given none of you know my past experiences and character I don’t think you can make a judgement on my suitability and it is nonsense to decide you do. Therefore I think I won’t bother continuing with the thread but thanks for the helpful replies. I’m sure if I bother to look again there will be another page of how badly suited I am, but since this isn’t rl I can’t say I particularly care.

"They'd eat you alive OP."

Indeed. Listen OP, it's a harsh environment with zero support from management, serious understaffing and overcrowding issues. Drugs and violence are constant.

If you can't handle simply being asked what you anticipate from the job then quite frankly you'll be chewed up and spat straight onto the landing and left to drift into a spice induced haze.

You can flounce from MN but it's not an option when you've got a steroid pumped angry young armed robber in your face threatening to slit your throat. Every day. You can't flounce then....

The "maternity package" will be the least of your worries I promise.

This is RL. All the people answering you are real people, with experience of the thing you are asking about.

Ive a friend who is a prison officer. She was the first person i know personally who caught covid. She has had a fee black eyes in recent years.

Listen OP

No, thanks Not really interested. I’m not going to completely abandon an idea because of one person on a message board.

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

This is RL. All the people answering you are real people, with experience of the thing you are asking about.

Yes, who think I’m a ‘twolly wolly?’

Have a good evening.

OP: I would like to know about a job please
MNers: well this is how it is
OP: no, not those answers, different ones. Ones I’ll like.

You weren't asked to "justify" it. You were simply asked what you'd want from the job.

POELTs turn up fresh out of training (which is substandard these days) thinking they can change the lives of these prisoners. Or thinking they can bring "something new" to the service. If that's what you would want from it then it's not for you.

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

OP: I would like to know about a job please MNers: well this is how it is OP: no, not those answers, different ones. Ones I’ll like.

You asked what it's like and I told you. That's all.

It's not a safe or a nice environment. It's hostile, dangerous and the pay is crap for what you do.

You're in danger every minute and the staff turnover is high, cameraderie amongst staff isn't nearly what it was. Spice is a real issue as is lack of support.

Except that’s not what happened.

OP - please tell me about a job

Posters - tell us exactly why you want it and why you think you’d be any good

OP - no thanks, just info about the job please

Posters - you will be shit at it and should not do it. Oh, and you’re a troll.

You did overreact a little to be fair. And you have to be able to handle tougher questions than that on the landings

Just based on your attitude in your comments.. You don't have what it takes. You need to have mutual respect being a Prison Officer and also not to be as defensive as you've been in your posts.

Yes but david - I’m not on the landing . And that’s not a sarky smile it’s genuine. I just really don’t have time to list my qualifications, personal qualities and experience or motivation. I’m not being rude - I honestly don’t. It was a casual question. I don’t think I did overreact, I responded perfectly politely. Others have been rude, not me.

Maybe you don’t have what it takes if you judge someone so quickly, pebbles

Sweeping statements and judgements are really, really immature and daft. Anyway must leave thread, I should have known the days of actual help on MN are long gone

Posters - tell us exactly why you want it and why you think you’d be any good

No, people were trying to understand you better so they could tailor their responses to be most useful.

And you kicked off.

If you think that was kicking off, you are clearly unsuited to whatever job you do

Silly, isn’t it?

I work in a prison as part of a family services team and I love it :) there are so many roles in a prison other than an officer - loads to look into. Good luck

Thanks winging , early days but I really am interested.

I'm genuinely trying to tell you what it's like. In your OP you say you're drawn to the job.

It might be for you but depending on what it is drawing you to it, it might not be.

That's all Treacle was trying to ascertain

You seem waaay to sensitive for a job like this op. I doubt you’d even survive the daily toils of a council or jcp and those people aren’t there because they’re criminals. They’re there for help in the worst of times