Anyone working in a prison?

[sunnyside257]

We are TTC number 2 at the moment. I will be starting a new job in a prison seeing prisoners face to face and helping with job support and benefits.

Worried about becoming pregnant. I don't mind working there while pregnant but I have a feeling they might advice me to step down.

Any experience with this? Can you work with prisoners when pregnant?

I'm not but a friend who works in probation had a risk assessment while pregnant and I should think your work would necessitate one too.
The prison should have a policy and although it doesn't sound like you're a prison officer it might be helpful to look at it.
It sounds like a lower category prison if the inmates are in a position to be thinking about seeking work soon but always put yourself first.

@Arecklessmanor - thanks for your reply. It's a young offenders prison with sentences ranging from 6 months to life but of course I'll be dealing with the ones who are soon to be released. Plus it's a voluntary service so anyone I speak to has asked to meet with me to get help.

I'm not pregnant yet but just thinking ahead as I really wants this job but I'm just worried I won't be allowed to do it anymore if pregnant. There is no option to go on light duties or anything. I actually work for a third party organisation so I'm hoping I don't have to just go back to the office and give up my prison role

It sounds like you’ll essentially be doing an office job in a prison, working with prisoners, is that right? As PP have said, as with any job you’ll have a risk assessment, but it’s absolutely normal to have pregnant women working in prisons (case workers etc) and I think it’s incredibly unlikely you’ll feel or be unsafe. It’s a very different dynamic to being a prison officer - the lads recognise you’re there to help them and not responsible for the deprivation of their liberty.

I previously in my 2nd pregnancy worked in a prison within the offices, but I would see prisoners face to face as I arranged their day release licenses.

I had a risk assessment carried out and all was fine. I worked up until i was 36 weeks no problem.

Policy in the prisons near me is that anyone who's pregnant needs to have closed visits rather than open contact, so that may apply where you are too. There may also be options for virtual appointments as some prisons still use these.

Level of security, etc, may factor in too.