whats the difference in private prisons and the government ones?

[michaelb30]

Hello all. got some questions , I'm applying to become a Prison Officer okay so the questions are

whats the difference in private prisons and the government ones like how differently are they run?
what dose band 3 mean?

what the shift patterns like? like how many hours you do in one shift?

[JayStar1993]

Hello Michael.

I'll answer the questions I can answer & I hope they help. I'm talking from experience as I was a prison officer for 4 months previously & am now returning.

Band 3 are prison officers. They wear 1 stripe on their epaulets & are predominately wing based although you may work in other areas of the prison if necessary to accommodate staff numbers. I was a wing based officer, but was sent to health care, escorts, visits. There was a wide variety then just wing based duties, but that was my main job.

Standard shift pattern I believe is 37 hours a week, but this will involve different shifts. Late shifts, early shifts, nights & very unsociable hours. I would finish late & have to start early the next day. I don't want to give away too much about the inner workings of a prison as your not yet a fully fledged officer, so I hope you understand that I may be vague, but I'm giving you as much detail as I feel I can. Shortest shift for me was about 6 hours which was an early & nights were the longest as you can imagine. The A shift is probably the worst cause it's from morning to night. That's the most detail I feel I can offer you.

Any other questions? I'll try answer as best I can, but I hope what I've already said helps

[liammostyn]

I will give you my take on the questions you have asked....

Band 3 - Thats your Job, A Band 3 Prison Officer (Before NOMS decided to go it alone with there banding, Band 3's were Civil Servant A/O's which is an administrative officer.

Hours: Standard hours are 37 per week, including Early's Mains, A shift and Lates. You will be required to work sets of Nights every now and again.

Difference between private and state prisons: They are both SHIT, no real difference, none of us can actually do the job. You will not be supported by the management, the hours are long, stressful and just an altogether bad job.

[NeedToKnowBasis]

Quoted from another thread:

And the question to always ask in reply to the above is... if it's so bad, why are you still here?

NTKB

Shifts can vary from 4 hours long to 14 hours (inclusive of breaks)... over the period of your shift pattern, they will average out to whatever your contracted hours per week should be.

NTKB

[freak]

Does a band 3 officer spend all day on the landing I assumed there would be loads of other stuff going on to keep busy sounds boring and long. Is there a band4 how do you get to be one. The information about the job given by rad centre is nil if wasn't for this site I wouldn't have a clue what I was going into

[hrcuk]

Band 4 is a senior officer. You won't be bored other that at weekends when it's death by association as once all the darlings are where they need to be you'll have other tasks to do like apps or cleaners etc

[Lancs]

The job is what you make it, I wouldn't call it boring, although every prison is different. I personally enjoy it and if I had my time again knowing what I know now... I'd still join the job. There are negative people in life (and on this forum) who either don't like or can't hack Prison environment. It's not easy and can be stressful and this forum is a useful tool for any new starter but can't make the decision for you.

Good luck.

[liammostyn]

Lancs, Face up to it, Its a load of crap.

Im not actually a negative person in the slightest, yet the Prison Service takes the piss!

[NeedToKnowBasis]

[Lancs]

I take it you've handed your notice in then Liam?

[freak]

Thank for answering my Q and advice hrcuk an lancs appreciated. Nothing will put me ofjust trying to get picture of what's it will be like

[michaelb30]

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions the best that they could, i didnt pass the online test... gutted but will be keeping an eye on the job for more job openings.

Thanks
Michael.

[freak]

Sorry to hear that you don't get much time compared to the amount of questions you get I thought the test on rad day was easyer on that we were given 20 min to answer 18 questions have a another go at it