*Prison Officers.Org.UK

Chears Falkor and look forwards to the next one goodnight

Well said, cheers Andy, I guess that wraps it up for tonight, thank you for your answers, great information there, CHEERS!! and stay safe

I feel all OSG's are a valuble resourse and serve a valuable purpose. Though when they are left to man entire wings alone on a night shift (be it with support the other end of a radio or phone) it does kind of beg the question do they deserve to be better recognised?, I feel they do as we cant opperate without them.

Good to know. so what is your opinion on your OSGs? you must have seen them all by now, are they a great idea? or would the nick be better off with all prison officers?

I guess each establishment is different in that respect. Ive seen some move to DST & dogs. Any option is open to all at mine (dont mean they will get it) and even a band up inside 12 months is allowed application wisr.

So for people who are not interested in Senior Officer, they can go for Dog Handler, what other roles are open as a sideways move?

Hmm, a dog eat dog world that in a rush to the top maybe?. I 100% respect ANYONE who wants to aim higher and go for promotion. But they should get at least 2-3 years under their belt first before even being allowed to apply for promotion. Me, im happy as is for now and feel a good 2 years minimum before i think higher if at all!.

Aaah I get your point. well worded. I see where you're coming from. So moving on, is there room for expansion from Prison Officer as far as you are concerned? can you see promotion opportunities? or Instructor jobs/ Riot Squad, dog handler? any thoughts Andy?

For the best part and in most cases yes. But when you see masses of fresh intake all of a sudden im beginning to understand a certain level of "frustration". But after the recruitment process and training process how much mollycoddled treatment do they get before they have to decide if the job is for them or not?.

I guess you must have seen a fair few brand new Prison Officers coming into your nick Andy, since you joined. do they get treated right? is there enough support for them?

Just had a quick read and slightly sceptical. Not saying she's lying or a moaning minnie as such. But maybe a false "sugar coated" impression of the job that turned out to be anything but in reality. And maybe as a result could magnify her issues as a result. Certainly a thick skin is needed and not for the light hearted. Either that or a random isolated case?.

Did you read about this? what do you reckon? is she a moaning minnie? or does she have a point?

Agreed Andy. wow you have got to feel for former Prison Officer Tess Wale surely https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/h ... 13036.html On 29 May 2017, she drove to HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire for her first shift. The Birmingham resident arrived on her first day to find that nobody was aware it was her start date. She was told to go home. On the 2nd day she was given a brief induction and sent straight to the wing.

Hopefully in the future as the less resilient might seriously struggle with the 10 week no break POELT residential.

Yeah funny you should say that, when I did the MET POLICE initial training at Hendon that is exactly what we got, a mid course week where we spent a week at our nick !! very good idea, should be adopted for sure

Yeah, a mid course break where you spend a week at your nick would sure help the business end of poelt training i feel!. But i do feel 10 weeks is too long and i struggled with the time away without a break.

Sounds like you have had a few successes that way already Andy, so part of the POELT training has come to fruition. looking back was there anything missing from POELT in your view?

On a personal level i'd feel safer with the spray. But more the use of ones mouth and communication before even thinking of the baton is my first choice.

Yeah but this could be a big ace for front line staff, the training had better be good, very good. what's 2nd best? baton?

Not at ours yet, apparently coming some point next year. Not fully comfortable, but maybe a good deterrent if they know its available to all officers. The paperwork is likely to be the biggest pain.

Have you seen any "PAVA" issued to Prison Officers yet? would you be comfortable having it as your routine equipment?

Mixed thoughts myself, i can see both sides and pretty nutral on a personal level. But the research and practicallity tests have been done i guess. And instead of putting the rights issue and threats of abuse on the shoulders of front line officers etc. Maybe just let us get on with the job without fear of abuse claims and threats etc and just let the politicians deal with the rest!.

Did you see the Pepper spray news https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... pper-spray “Making Pava spray available to every prison officer increases the risk that it might be used inappropriately,” Isaac said, adding that the EHRC would be asking the Prison Service again for information about the trial “so that we can assess the adequacy of the restrictions and safeguards for Pava spray’s use”.

Just quarterly poelt mentor chats really in the first year.

Oh blimey you are riding high Andy, yehey, free and clear, congratulations

Well i recall when i started the process near 20 months ago talk about a 12 month worth of course work\text books that needed doing in probation year. None of that now at all. And some 4 1\2 months out of probation.

Used to be a couple of years back, ok that must have gone by the wayside, so are you in a probationery period? monthly exams/ checks/ or none of those?

NVQ, er, never been mentioned mate.

What is the next stage? do you have to get through an NVQ or is all that done?

Think i'll stick at it here, not perfect, but which nick is?, . We have the option of detached duty, maybe in the future but not now.

Crucial, love that, so it sounds like you are doing pretty well, are you staying at your current nick? or looking to move?

Pretty much a random search of a job search site. Each step never taken seriously until i told i passed the RAD

How did you get sucked in to applying as a prison officer in the first place?

Yeah, it kind of made me as a person in a way and made me learn I had to keep my work and private life separate and not allow 1 to affect the other.

Jees nightmare

Oh, the worst, being told a dish of blood was being filled to pot me for no direct reason!.

Sounds good to me, so do you get time for watching telly? if so, what's on TV for you just lately Andy?

Er, never really an easy day as such, as we always have to remain on our toes at all times. But building up common ground communication and rapport wise certainly helps the day go

Yeah pretty tough job , so that was the hardest, which was the Easiest day of the lot so far?

Very much an alien enviroment in realising im interacting with murders, rapists, drug dealers, child offenders etc and learning to treat them all the same regardless of crime.

You are the man Andy!! fantastic stuff, can you say a little more?

Probably the first several, the reality of dealing with, well,, some of the worst in society whilst trying to remain impartial emotionally.

Which was the hardest day so far then?

Not to much, keeping busy with the job and trying not to forget i also have a family. Not always an easy balancing task.

Hehe what have you been doing then? what's occurring?