Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT)
As you'd expect, there is a lot of basic training you'll need to do before you can begin your career as a Prison Officer. You'll start with an eight-week training course designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills and values needed to become a confident Prison Officer.
POELT is shared between home establishments and a training venue. This could be the Prison Service College (PSC) at Newbold Revel, Rugby, or one of the local POELT training centres.
Here's how you'll spend those 8 weeks...
Week 1 - Establishment induction
You will complete a formal induction programme at your allocated establishment. The purpose of this week is workplace familiarisation, to meet your line manager and colleagues.
Weeks 2 to 7 - PSC Newbold Revel or local training centre
This is an intensive combination of classroom-based learning, Control & Restraint (C & R), team building exercises and realistic scenario based learning. Throughout the course, your knowledge, skills and attitude are continuously assessed through a range of techniques. This will help to identify your progress and development needs. There are a number of practical assessments, including C & R and two written exams. An end of course event is usually held on the last Friday morning.
Week 8 - Establishment-based
This is an important element for you as a new officer and for your continuous professional development. This is the first real opportunity for you to reflect on and contextualise your learning in the workplace, whilst getting to know your work colleagues. This consolidation period allows you to test, develop and understand the skills you learnt during the POELT course before going into an "operational life".
Custodial Care NVQ (CCNVQ) Level 3
All newly recruited Prison Officers will also be required to satisfactorily complete CCNVQ within their probationary period. This will give you the satisfaction of a formal qualification as well as increasing your confidence to carry out your role effectively
