All the information you need about our graduate and senior prison manager programmes is on this site. However, there are certain questions that people tend to ask us. You'll find our answers below.
Q. When is the closing date for each programme?
A. Applications for both schemes are now closed. We are likely to re-open for applications in Autumn 2010.
Q. How many places are there on each programme?
A. We will be offering around 15 places on our graduate programme and around 10 places on our senior prison manager programme.
Q. What experience are you looking for?
A. Those applying for our graduate programme will need to be a graduate with a 2:1 degree, or a student in your final year expecting to achieve that grade. If you want to secure a place on our senior prison manager programme, you'll need people and budget management experience. More information about the exact qualities and experience we're after can be found here.
Q. Do you need to be physically fit?
A. You don't need to be an Olympic athlete but it's important that you have a decent level of fitness, as you will be required to pass a fitness test before we offer you a place.
Q. Will there be a lot of face-to-face work with prisoners?
A. Yes. Your initial role on the programme (whether that's the graduate or senior prison manager programme) will be a Prison Officer, which will involve managing and supporting prisoners on a daily basis. When you move up to a Head of Function role, you'll lead a team of people responsible for managing prisoners but you will still have daily contact with the prison population.
Q. What training will I receive?
A. The Senior Prison Manager Programme begins with a four-week Prison Officer Training Programme and then you'll spend eight weeks in uniform as a Prison Officer. The Graduate programme starts with an eight-week Prison Officer Entry Level Training course (POELT) and then you will move into your first placement as a Prison Officer, where you should expect to spend between 9 and 12 months. From there you'll start to develop your prison leaderships skills, both on-the-job and through various workshops, until you're ready to take on your first operational management role. Some of this training may require you to stay away from home. More information about the support we offer can be found here.
Q. Will I need to move around a lot?
A. If you secure a place on either of our leadership programmes we'll do our best to find you a role in your preferred region – e.g. South East or West Midlands. We'll then try to keep you in that region throughout your time on the programme. That said; if you want to make the most of all the career opportunities NOMS has to offer – especially as you progress – you will need to demonstrate a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to location.
Q. If I'm successful when will I start?
A. Starting dates for the next campaigns are likely to be Autumn 2012.
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