Any prison officers on here?

[ArwenUndomniel]

I'm looking to undertake a complete career change at the age of 46 and was wondering if there are any prison officers on here who can talk a bit about what it's like as a career?

I'm a civil servant at the moment but I did do a stint as a police officer about 15 years ago, so I have some relevant experience. However, I do know it was a long time ago and I've been doing very different things since then!

I've got an Online Assessment Centre in a month's time so I am actively pursuing it. I would be fine to pass the fitness test etc and I'm comfortable with the idea of shift work and working with offenders. I suppose I just have it at the back of my mind that it's a challenging job and 46 is probably quite old to be starting it. At the same time, I hate my current job and I want to really push myself to do something completely new, and this has always appealed.

Any experiences good or bad welcome!

My neighbour recently retired from the service. He would say it's not what is was as the recruitment is wider than it used be (ex soldiers, police) hence you get the recent cases of staff and imates 'liasing'. He did 30 years in it and enjoyed it but remember you are mixing with in some cases expert manipulators. He did a number of high level prisons eg Parkhurst.
Someone else I know returned to being a Prison Nurse after being on nurse tuition. She enjoyed the work (apart from getting punched occasionally).

That's interesting, thanks. It's a Cat A prison I've applied to and it has some very high-risk prisoners who are unlikely to ever be getting out. I did actually visit a couple of times when I was a police officer for interviewing inmates but obviously you don't get a sense of what it's like on a day to day basis from that.

My husband is a senior prison officer (custodial manager) and loves his job. There are definitely opportunities for career progression but it does take a certain type of person. I guess if you were a policeman you’ll know what I mean!

Well, I wasn't a policeMAN but yes, I get what you mean. I think it's a very different perspective from the other end of the criminal justice process - sort of dealing with the ultimate outcome of what the police do. I'm interested in the whole psychology aspect of it but hope I'm old and cynical enough to recognise manipulation attempts when I see them.

My friend has recently left the prison service as the opportunity arose and she is mid 40s. She said she wanted to get out as couldn't face the night shifts, the violence, the self harming etc into her 50s and 60s. I suppose there are different pathways once you are in but I just thought it worth mentioning as she is leaving at a similar life stage to you where you are thinking of joining.

My only experience - so take this with a pinch of salt - was as a young social worker student who had a criminal justice placement so went in and out several times to write court reports. This was about 15yr ago so not that long ago, but what was striking was the horrible macho male energy. Several of the prison officers who signed me in and did security checks, seemed to enjoy laughing at a young woman who was a bit nervous in that environment, and made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I do hope that wasn’t typical and that things have moved on.

Have you thought about training as a probation officer instead? You can work in the community or some work behind the gate as POMs. If your interest is in the psychology, mindset, risk management you'd be better placed as a probation officer than a prison officer tbh. I think there might even be a current campaign of but it's just closed and there will be another in 6 months.

Fwiw I work in criminal justice in a very challenging area and there is no money on earth that I'd work long term as a prison officer for.

I did think about it but the timings of the latest intake don't work for me. Lots to think about in both your replies though, so thanks.