Any tips of how I go about wearing magnums are they as good as some people say or whatever footwear I could wear instead that the prison would be fine with in the terms of anything happens and if I put a claim in sorry new officer and the boots are rubbing my feet.

Hello everyone. I’m really interested in becoming a prison officer and I’m wanting some advice on where to begin in that process and what to expect in the training and also the day to day work I’ll be doing. I would likely work at Wakefield prison so if anyone has relevant knowledge of that prison I’d really appreciate it.
If anyone has any advice or can tell me anything about where to start, training and day to day life that would be great!
Thanks

Hi everyone, I’m currently going through recruitment for a Prison Officer role in England. I’ve completed my pre-employment checks and received my CTC clearance, but my start date has been pushed back to January 2027 due to training availability.

I’m currently on a Graduate visa and need Skilled Worker sponsorship. I was previously told in writing that the role was eligible for sponsorship, but I’m worried about the 31 December 2026 deadline.

Does anyone know if a CoS can be issued before the deadline even if the actual start date is in January? Has anyone been in a similar situation with HMPPS? I’d really appreciate any advice.

Hello everyone!

I’ve recently found out that I’m pregnant and just wondering if anyone could help with what forms I’d need to fill out and what the process is?
Also what the risk assessment will be like and as an OSG what duties would I be restricted on?
Thanks!

Just want to hear other people's opinions on this matter....

If your partner was serving years in prison and you sent him/her money every week, spent money on email a prisoner, travel, etc etc

Would you expect to be paid back.

My partner has been on remand 6 months and he's looking at years, he's in a prison in London and I'm in leeds, he's on remand for trying to smuggle green from thailand and he got caught at Heathrow.

Bear in mind he messaged 13 women and men behind my back when he was over there and never told me he was planning to go.

What's your opinion x

6 weeks after I sent all the forms and completed the medical/physical, just received this today.

Does it mean that they've just started it and could take another 6-26 weeks?!

Hello.
I just wanted to know if this is within the normal range anymore.
21+ weeks still going through pecs.
Have sent my share code more than 3 times as they have requested 3 different times.

Anyone in this or has been in this position before?

I have started a new job at a detention centre and will be required to buy my own boots. I am aware of Blue Light Card discounts, etc. I am ex-military, so realise there is a difference between cheap and good. No steel toe caps, obviously.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Hi does anyone know why someone would be transferred from HMP EASTWOOD PARC to HMP BRONZEFIELD.

Anyone else got a start date on 23rd November and will have their foundation training in newbold???

Also how true is it that while on the scheme, after your first 2 weeks in the hotel and you manage to find accommodation and attend your training at newbold, you can only start the claim accommodation expenses after your foundation training????

I’d appreciate answers please thanks 🙏🏽

Hi everyone. I’d really appreciate any feedback or help on this. I just found out that my girlfriend who is currently having to serve some time in prison has come down with a stomach bug (or possibly food poisoning - no one is sure which yet).

I’m feeling pretty powerless to do anything and I’ve not even spoken to her for a few days, but I was wondering if there is anything I can do right now to help her out while she’s feeling sick?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hi all,

I'm considering taking a position at HMP Millsike and was hoping to get some honest opinions from anyone currently working there or who has worked there recently.

I've been doing a bit of research, and unfortunately, most of what I've read about working conditions, management and staff morale seems to be quite negative.

Just wondering whether things have improved recently or if the same issues are still ongoing.

What's staffing like? Is management supportive? What's morale like amongst officers? And would you genuinely recommend working there?

I'm keen to make the right decision before committing, so any honest feedback, particularly from current staff, would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

Hi everyone, I have a provisional Prison Officer offer and am currently going through PECs.

My passport does not have a chip, so I was told I need a manual face-to-face ID check. I also have now received my DBS clearance email.

Does anyone know whether the face-to-face ID check normally takes place during the medical/fitness appointment, or is it arranged as a separate appointment?

Thank you.

Hi all got my OAC on monday and was wondering if there’s a certain dress attire should i dress smart or just what i would normally wear day to day?

My best friend is being held on remand for a serious crime, i have filed a "find a prisoner" request which i know takes time, I'm just wondering if anyone can inform me if their is quicker route to establishing contact. I'd like to either visit him or call him if possible as 4 weeks is a long wait and this is obviously stressful times.

I apologise if this post doesn't fit in the thread as this is my first time. Id just to hear from ppl who are experienced in process on the off chance im missing something. Thank you

Hello!

What did everyone think of the new Time series?

I loved the first one but is the third series similar to what it is like in a young offenders? Is there really a ‘keep apart’ thing?

Also, am I right in thinking the cm was promoted to no 2? Surely not!!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice from anyone familiar with Skilled Worker sponsorship for prison officers.
Let’s say a prison officer working 37 hours per week on a salary of around £33,700, which includes the 20% unsocial hours allowance, would the full salary count towards the relevant sponsorship salary threshold, or would the allowance be excluded?
Has anyone successfully received Skilled Worker sponsorship as a prison officer on a similar salary, particularly when switching from a Graduate visa?
I’d appreciate hearing from anyone with direct experience or reliable information about how the salary requirements are assessed.
Thanks in advance!

Advice needed – Private vs Public Prison Service

Hi everyone,

I'm currently serving in the Armed Forces and will be leaving next year after a long military career.

I've been fortunate enough to receive two provisional job offers as a Prison Custody Officer / Prison Officer. One is with a privately operated Category C prison, and the other is with a public sector Category A establishment.

I'm genuinely torn between the two and would appreciate some honest advice from serving or former prison officers.

I'm particularly interested in:

Private versus public sector working conditions

Staff morale and management

Shift patterns and work-life balance

Career progression and promotion opportunities

Opportunities to move into training, mentoring or management roles

Job security, pensions and long-term benefits

I have extensive experience in leadership, training and mentoring, and would ideally like to put those skills to good use in my next career.

I'm not afraid of hard work or challenging environments, but after a long military career I'd like to make an informed decision about where I'll be happiest long-term.

Would anyone who has worked in both sectors recommend one over the other, and why?

Any honest advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Firstly, thank you to the mod for allowing me to share prisoncheck with the community. It's been a blast of a month.

I was ten years old when I first went on a prison visit, so I know exactly what that early point of anxiety feels like for a family navigating the system for the first time.

Last month, I started PrisonCheck to support families dealing with that exact stress when trying to stay connected with loved ones inside. It's a live website, up-to-date info where families meet halfway.

Recently, there has been a severe trend of visit wait delays, sudden communication system changes, and shifting policies that leave families entirely in the dark. It has even reached the point where HMIP has actively mentioned the deteriorating conditions surrounding family contact and the friction families face just trying to book a visit or get a PIN approved.

HMPPS's own policy states that keeping prisoners in touch with family helps keep them safe inside and makes it less likely they come back. According to the Strengthening Prisoners' Family Ties Policy Framework, 40% of newly sentenced prisoners said support from their family would help them stop reoffending, and 36% said seeing their children would. The framework explicitly acknowledges that "The visitor experience is very much determined by their first experience of attempting to book a visit," noting that booking rules must be accurate and easy to find. Prisons are told to give families clear information about the early days in an easy-to-understand format.

Yet, the reality on the ground rarely matches this framework. That is why Prisoncheck exists, and the response from the community has been massive. In just a short time, we have reached:

• 5,000 weekly visitors using the platform to check facility statuses.
• 1,500 published family reports logging real-time issues, wait times, and blackouts.
• Coverage for 106 out of 123 UK prisons, giving families a realistic picture of what to expect before they travel.

The community has proven how much we need an independent tool to track these changes when official channels lag behind. I would love to hear your thoughts on the recent redesign, and what other features would make your lives easier when navigating these ongoing delays

Disclosure: I made prisoncheck and I also run a paid landline product for prison calls

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Hi there

I’m looking to understand a bit more about the realities of working as a Prison Programme Facilitator.

I am 33 (f) and have experience working in education, teaching pshe and delivering to young people/ adult students in college who display challenging behaviours. I also studied sociology and criminology and have completed counselling courses, so I am skilled at building relationships, listening, guiding etc.

I love the idea of the interventions facilitator role in the community but unfortunately, the pay isn’t as much.

I’m hoping to understand more about what’s good and what are also the challenges about the role so I can decide whether a men’s prison environment is right for me!

Any insights would be greatly appreciated ☺️

Left the prison service two months ago, Been sent a letter to say I owe £800+ all pay slips add up apart from one where I worked a full month and should’ve had that wage anyway. Anyone been in the similar position? Has gone to investigation now

Could a prisoner use a email a prisoner reply sheet to reply to someone else?

With the new uniform expected to come in soon. What does everyone think about the change from white shirts to black polo's?