Prison officer in a women's prison?

[Cheeseburger43]

I'm qualified in teaching but seeking a career change.
As I'm getting older I'm also looking for a higher salary, and I've considered a prison officer role.
I would never do it in a male prison.
However I'm wondering if a female prison would be safer?
Nothing is 100% sure but I think that a women's prison might be less violent on the whole, correct me if I'm wrong.
I want to do this job to make a difference to people's lives, but I don't want to do a job where I'm at constant high risk of assault.
The salary proposed is 30k for a 39 hour working week which is something I've never been even close to earning.
I think employee benefits are generally good too.
Has anybody done this role or is doing it currently?

Also considering probation services/probation officer.

DH is prison officer and is not on 30 grand a year. More like 25.

Can't think what benefits he gets either.

Does he enjoy the role? And feel safe?

Who operates the prison you are looking at applying to?

My DB is a prison officer, male prison, and definitely not on £30k... or any benefits.

You should also consider the mental and emotional impact of this kind of work, physical assault is one thing to deal with but you'll also see violence against other people, self harm, suicide etc and need to be able the handle that too.

I’m not frontline but know people who are/have been. The staffing crisis in prisons means officers struggle to do little more than basic ‘regime’ - but that’s precisely why they need more staff to join to give everyone time to make more of a difference! There will always be a risk of physical harm, prisons are volatile places and sadly far too many women prisoners suffer from mental health issues, but it’s not a daily occurrence and generally speaking, if you treat them reasonably and respect the fact they’re human beings, they’ll respond in kind. And the training does cover how to try to de-escalate tense situations before they explode into violence, but you need to go into it with your eyes open, it’s not like being an idealised version of a social worker (and the same goes for probation officer too - they currently are managing the equivalent of 55-60 hour week caseloads as standard with no prospect of this reducing any time soon, so there’s little time to support anyone beyond the absolute basics).

There was a really good “I’ve been in prison” AMA that’s worth a read from the other side.

My friend went from teacher to officer in a male prison and feels protected (by the inmates) they push her out of the way if trouble breaks out etc

its a depressing job - you will witness suicides, have piss theown at you etc...

ECT in their first year are now on 28K. How long have you been teaching for?

Are you a part time teacher? Even an ECT will earn similar (often more) than a prison officer.

I absolutely wouldn't do this, ever. The prison will be full of women woth complex ptsd /pd. It will be beyond draining emotionally, and if you're in the private castor there will be near zero benefits.

Have you considered teaching in prison. A friend of mine switched from teaching at a naice primary school to teaching in a woman prison, which she enjoyed much more.
Don't forget that there are different categories of prisons, which vary a lot.

Thanks for the answers. The prison is in the North West and it definitely said 30k based on 39 hours!
I'm really not sure, but I will also look at teaching jobs in prisons.
I also work with patients with dementia so in a way I'm used to being verbally abused, people screaming through the night, and I've been assaulted before though I guess it's not quite the same.
In prison it would be stuff like having boiling water thrown all over you and the risk of things like this is what scares me.

Here it is!

Would a job in the probation service working with women (or third sector ) be an option that way you’re helping people to achieve positive steps ?

I've been reading books by forensic psychologists this week who worked in women's prisons.

Their books basically said that the vast majority of women in prison are for non-violent offences like shoplifting, drugs offences, etc.

There are significant mental health issues but they're much, much more likely to harm themselves than you.

I was about to say I had seen this very same advert today. Defo £30k! My brother in law is a PO at Strangeways and although we've not discussed exact figures a, I know he is on about £29-30k

Just found this which will be worth reading

www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/Styal-web-2021.pdf

The prison service are due a pay rise at the end of this month which brings it up to about £30k. A lot of people work the 41 hour contract which brings it up more, plus overtime opportunities are pretty rife.

I work with young offenders at times and it can be challenging but for the majority they really see the difference in people who will perservere with them and be steady and look for the good in them and believe in them because generally they haven't met many people who do that in life. If you think you can do that then I see no reason why not to give it a chance. Other options might be looking down a charity route who work with people with a history of offending but you're in a voluntary environment where they are choosing to work with you and be there. Either way you will need to be prepared to be tested thoroughly and you'll need a solid understanding of trauma, attachment disorder and managing challenging behaviours. I'd start reading into that now if you're considering it to give you an idea what you might face in terms of building relationships.

Think of the logistics of the job as well - you mentioned getting older so not sure how old you are, but I know people with young kids who have left the service due to inflexibility or at least dropped down to OSG.

Probation are due a payrise, but still could be better. Not sure what the pay is out of London. In London at the moment it's a shit show, people are working between 160-180% capacity in my office, having to do so much overtime and managing 50+ offenders.

The actual job is good and I'd say go for it if you want a change.

Wow..the report..:(

OP I was a prison officer for a few years, I've worked in the male estate, the female estate and a young offenders (I'm also female like you). I did detached duty for a couple of years so spent 3-6 months at a few different establishments.

It's ok. It depends what type of person you are. I hate confrontation (don't know why I thought a prison officer was the job for me) and would literally start getting shaky legs if someone started arguing with me. I used to be shit scared I was going to get attacked and it makes you a different person, like you'll be in the street looking over your shoulder thinking someone's going to harm you.

When I was there there used to be a lot of 'spice' and prisoners would have fits, be sick all over you and in a few cases die from the effects. I've seen people hanging and as much as you think it won't it effects you. I couldn't sleep once for weeks after I saw one young boy die.

But there's good parts too, you get to make peoples day just by small gestures of kindness and by giving them your time.

I've known officers who have been injured and had shit thrown on them but you'd most probably be ok at a womens prison (although it does only take one person). The officers don't actually do that much, other than unlock doors and lock them again. You don't spend any time with prisoners 'rehabilitating them'. Some shifts are boring as hell like if you're on health care you'll stand at the healthcare all day with a list of appointments and repeat yourself a million times 'you don't have an appointment you need to go sorry'.

You never finish on time and your annual leave requests nearly always get denied but it's not the worst job in the world.

The basic will be £25k - the ad states that the £30k includes 20% for unsocial hours ie nights.

I'm not sure why as a qualified teacher you think you'd never get to £30k - when newly qualifieds are on very nearly that

Styal is high level offenders - there’s a Chanel 5 documentary:

www.channel5.com/show/hmp-styal-women-behind-bars

That report isn’t bad actually. I don’t work in prison but I do work with some young offenders and I’ve read plenty of YOI reports which are much worse than that, sadly. I wouldn’t let that put you off.