Last Topic Sorry Guys - Climbing The Ladder & Pay Rises

[MuayThaiRy]

Ladies and Gentlemen I’m so sorry to post yet another topic but I’m so keen and interested, I could speak to you guys all day long!

So if you’ve seen my recent post I’ve been scaffolding for 5/6 years now, recently a colleague of mine fell and unfortunately passed away from this. This and a few other reasons has completely changed my view on the job, risk for reward is not there and where I am there’s nowhere else I can go, IE supervisor, manager etc. My wage is set at what it is now and that’s that, but that’s not me. I want to progress in life, be the best I can, I have ambitions unlike everyone I work with no offence to anyone. How is it for promotions, pay rises etc within the prison system? I see starting salary is £23,000 which I think is brilliant to start on, could this or will this go up depending if I want it, if I’m a good officer etc?

Again kind regards for anyone that replies!

[Dartsrob2]

I’m you can rise all the way to the top dependent on ability. It does make me cringe to read people on about promotion and specialist roles before hitting the landings though. Yes ambition is great but there is so much to learn. You cannot imagine how much there is to learn. Concentrate on being the best you can be as a POELT then as a landing officer etc. There is so many roles I think your career finds you, even if that means being a good landing officer. A job that appears underestimated in itself.

[MuayThaiRy]

Sorry Dartsrob. I’m just getting way ahead of myself like usual. I completely understand what you mean regarding being the best landing officer possible which is my aim. Everything I’ve started so for example Thai boxing and horse riding I’ve gone in with no swagger like ‘yeah I’m the man’. I started right from the bottom and that’s how I’ve always been, I work my way up slowly so I know the things I do know are perfect. All I basically meant was what are the pay rises/promotions like? I’m taking a cut to do this job which I definitely don’t mind. I just want the best for me and my fiancé which of course means more money, sorry if I came across wrong mate.

[Pauly09]

The one thing I don’t like about this forum is people looking down on others for asking normal questions. In any other job these are normal questions to ask, yet instead of getting an answer, they get a lecture.
It is a reasonable question to ask about pay rises and promotions. People need to get away from this high and mighty attitude; at the end of the day it is a job, people need to earn money, if they want to know that someday they will be able to earn better money and have a better quality of life doing this job then why is that a problem?
If you don’t have an answer to this question, why respond with negativity ?

This forum, for the most part, is full of people helping each other out (which I have seen you do plenty of also), but there is a small part that makes people feel like they can’t ask normal questions.

[Belfast86]

Great question buddy. If it’s to help you work harder by receiving internal promotions then ask away!! There is never a dumb/wrong question to ask.

I took the role as a prison officer on a pay cut. I was earning over 33k year plus quarterly bonuses in my last job.. I now earn 27k year in the prison service. I will work my socks off to prove I am worthy to climb the ranks and in return be rewarded with a better pay package.

[Dartsrob2]

I am sorry if it came across as high and mighty it certainly wasn’t my intention at all. There are number 1 governors that started at officer grade. You can go as far as your capabilities allow you. My meaning was there was so much to learn at officer grade to keep you preoccupied. I’m sure you will go as far as your time and abilities will allow you.

[MuayThaiRy]

Thanks a lot Pauly09, I only ask because I have so much ambition and hard work in me to give and like you said I want a better quality of life. I’m taking a pay cut if I do join so I wanted to know a simple question. I understand what Dartsrob is saying, but I started at the bottom when I began scaffolding, 5 years later I’m on 32k which I’m happy with. I just don’t think it’s the right job for me and like I’ve said risk for reward just isn’t there. I want to change peoples lives, help them to become something instead of just another number in the system.

Belfast86 that’s exactly the same as me mate! Thanks a lot for the boost of confidence, I feel like I’m asking too many questions but it’s not exactly a job you join on a whim. May I ask have you had a promotion to be on 27k a year or is that starting salary where you’re at? Also do you enjoy this job more than your previous where you were earning more?

[Taff86]

Down the line i would like to be a dog handler. But I'm open to anything.

[Belfast86]

Thanks a lot Pauly09, I only ask because I have so much ambition and hard work in me to give and like you said I want a better quality of life. I’m taking a pay cut if I do join so I wanted to know a simple question. I understand what Dartsrob is saying, but I started at the bottom when I began scaffolding, 5 years later I’m on 32k which I’m happy with. I just don’t think it’s the right job for me and like I’ve said risk for reward just isn’t there. I want to change peoples lives, help them to become something instead of just another number in the system.

Belfast86 that’s exactly the same as me mate! Thanks a lot for the boost of confidence, I feel like I’m asking too many questions but it’s not exactly a job you join on a whim. May I ask have you had a promotion to be on 27k a year or is that starting salary where you’re at? Also do you enjoy this job more than your previous where you were earning more?

Hi pal. No that is my baseline salary. Over in N.Ireland we get a risk allowance due to the threat of being in the job over here.

Yes I do enjoy it. Different to what I was at previously but well worth the career change.

[Charlotteisace]

This may not help you due to your location but south east, outer London and inner London all offer higher baseline salaries.

[andiandi]

Hello there,
First of all I think its a great change from scaffolding to a prison officer and making positive changes into their rehabilitation program. I would say that being promoted within the prison service its very easy after the probationary period of a year. I believe listening is the key to progress thus, I think if you have the abilities and want to make change in inmate's life then i dont see why you cant be a governer. With promotion comes better sallary of course. Lets hope we all will do our best.

Regards,
Andi

[MuayThaiRy]

Thank you so much for that comment Andi! Exactly what I wanted to hear, a lot of people are trying to put me off but I’ll say it again I can’t think of a better job for me! Put a right smile on my face that has.

And yeah I don’t expect a pay rise within a year or even 3 but I would like to be a somebody within the prison (just not a prisoner) haha. All I do is listen, learn, ask and take everything in. I want to be the best officer I can before thinking of anything else

[andiandi]

I was social worker in the prison system back in my country. It took me a year to get promoted into Head of Social Care. I did everything with compassion and in the end it was rewarding. Was it difficult ? Every job is difficult, but it all depends what you want to achieve and not just like a job that gives you a salary and thats all. You can achieve everything if you want to. It all depends on your limits.
I hope to meet you guys in March. I got training at Newbold.

Peace to all of you and keep safe and healthy!