Wrexham's HMP Berwyn is recruiting prison officers and has put a call out to veterans and armed forces leavers.

Prison officers at HMP Berwyn help to maintain safety standards on the inside, while also giving prisoners the skills and support they need to live crime-free lives on the outside.

This involves encouraging participation in education and substance recovery programmes, as well as helping prisoners to maintain vital family ties.

The Government launched 'Advance into Justice', a bespoke fast-track veteran recruitment scheme for the prison service, as part of the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan published last week.

Many Armed Forces veterans already are amongst the current prison officer workforce. Veterans have a range of transferable skills which meet the requirements of the prison officer role: good communication and influencing skills, commitment to quality, effective decision-making, care and understanding.

Custodial Manager Jon, an Armed Forces veteran and prison officer at HMP Berwyn said: "I served in the Royal Airforce regiment for 9 years, including tours of Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. I was inspired to join up as my uncle – who was my hero – was a paratrooper. I loved my time in the Forces, but it came to the point where I was looking for a career with more stability.

"I've now been in the prison service for 16 years. Going into a job that was so similar to the Forces really helped to make my resettlement easier. If you enjoy being in the military then this really is the job for you, the camaraderie is the same. There's also good benefits, including the pension and so much opportunity to progress with promotions.

"I truly believe prison officers help to change lives, and that is really rewarding, but we do it, really, by talking to people. Veterans are used to dealing with people all the time, they know how to communicate and have real life experience. That's what you need to do well in this role."

One career, many roles

The recruitment scheme aims to provide a stable career for service leavers and is open to those who have left the Armed Forces within the last 5 years and are not in full-time employment. The scheme looks to significantly reduce the length of the standard prison officer application process.

You don't need qualifications to become a prison officer, HMPPS (Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service) believes that personal qualities are more important.

Training is available throughout a prison officer's career. Officers can choose to specialise in working with vulnerable prisoners, become a dog handler or train as a physical education instructor.

The offer includes home to work travel costs of up to £8,000 for the first 2 years or a relocation package of up to £12,000, depending on the applicant's location.

The prison officer role at HMP Berwyn offers a starting salary of £ £24,427 (39 hours a week) and a Civil Service pension. Applications close on Thursday 17th February.

To find out more, click here: https://advance-into-justice.service.justice.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=vap_ber_jan22&utm_medium=media&utm_source=pr