Senior prison officer

Senior prison officer - overview

As a senior prison officer, you’ll use your excellent organisational skills to manage a team and plan and deliver operational activities. Learn more about a career in a senior position in the prison service, find out what it involves and what you’ll need to study and do to get a role.

Learn what the role involves below.

What does a senior prison officer do?

This managerial role will involve using your knowledge and experience to ensure prison services run efficiently and your team of staff are motivated and well trained.

You’ll make sure specific tasks like security checks, prisoner arrivals and departures and disciplinary procedures are carried out and you’ll organise any additional services or staff training.

A senior officer role usually involves shift work to ensure the service is provided 24 hours a day. Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you’ll need to be robust while empathetic to staff, prisoner and visitor needs.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

Advising on the recruitment, training and monitoring of staff
Liaising with other senior officials and/or government departments to determine staffing, financial and other short- and long-term needs
Preparing reports for government organisations
Interviewing prisoners on arrival and departure
Receiving reports on disciplinary problems and deciding on appropriate action
Making periodic checks on internal and external security
Providing care and support to prisoners in custody