First Year as a Prison Officer: Day One to Probation Passed

In shortNo official source gives a month-by-month account, so this sequence is assembled from published pieces, with the source of each stage shown.

No official source gives a month-by-month account of the first year, so the table below is a sequence assembled from published pieces. The calendar mapping is ours: it assumes you start on day one of the induction and does not apply to every intake.

Our free recruitment timeline planner lets you drop in your own dates.

In shortThe official description is short: a 10-day induction at the prison where you will work; the practical details come from your joining letter.

Your first day is the first day of the induction at the prison where you will work. That is the whole of the official description.

It does not say what time you arrive, what you carry, how you are issued with keys or radios, what uniform is provided and when, or what you do on each of the ten days.

What is published, and worth acting on, is practical.

The August 2026 advert says shift start and finish times are fixed and that it is your responsibility to get to work on time, and warns that some prisons are rural with limited public transport, so a driving licence and your own transport are beneficial though not essential.

The careers page says some shifts start around 7am.

We do not have an official 'what to bring' list for day one either, and we are not going to invent one. Your joining letter and the establishment's contact are the authority. If you are unsure, ring the recruitment or training contact the week before and ask.

What HMPPS says the induction covers

Meeting your mentor and line manager, a tour of the prison, basic security processes and e-learning on rehabilitative culture, using and managing prison keys and prison security processes.

In shortThe foundation course is continuously assessed, and going live runs through a structured bridge of consolidation and local induction.

The foundation course is the part everyone asks about. HMPPS says it covers how to look after people in custody, search and security procedures, radios and keys, de-escalation and control and restraint, with continuous assessment.

A March 2026 ministerial answer adds communication and interpersonal skills, identifying vulnerable prisoners, defusing conflict, use of force procedures, documentation and searching. An HMPPS letter confirms a full day on suicide and self-harm prevention, including ACCT.

Our week by week guide sets out the evidence topic by topic, and our POELT guide covers location, pay and assessment.

In shortThe Band 3 job description is the best official picture: supervise, keep the roll, support vulnerable prisoners and respond to incidents.

The Band 3 job description sets out what you are accountable for, and it is the best official picture of what you will be asked to do.

• Supervise prisoner activities including exercise and association, keep the wing clean and make sure meals are served.
• Lock prisoners securely in their cells at each lock-up, keep account of the roll and unlock in a timely manner.
• Support vulnerable prisoners and pass concerns to wing managers, healthcare, the safer custody team and the personal officer.
• Deal with self-harm in line with prevention strategies.
• Complete reports for sentence planning, encourage responsible behaviour, receive applications and complaints, and keep records.
• Carry out accommodation and fabric checks including searching.
• Exercise the powers of a constable, conduct searches, undertake external escorts, act as first on scene for incidents and complete a personal emergency evacuation plan.

In shortFull pay and expenses in training on a 37-hour contract, then a choice of 37, 39 or 41 hours; whether and when you reach the next Band 3 pay point is not verified.

• 37 hours£34,928National, August 2026 advert
• 39 hours£36,816National, August 2026 advert
• 41 hours£39,334National, August 2026 advert
• Annual leave25 daysRising to 30 after ten years, plus public holidays and a privilege day

HMPPS says you get full pay and expenses during training and that trainee officers start on a 37-hour contract, after which you can choose 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. The August 2026 HMP Birmingham advert says most prisons work a changing 39-hour pattern, and quotes these figures including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.

These are national figures; inner and outer London are higher, and some prisons carry market supplements, as set out in our pay bands guide and starting salary guide.

The Band 3 job description also describes optional additional committed hours of one to four a week on top of 37, which are non-pensionable and paid at an enhanced rate.

In shortLeavers with 0 to 1 years' service are the largest leaver group, and inspectors, the Pay Review Body and HMPPS research all describe inexperience as a challenge.

• Under 3 years' service (Band 3 to 5)30.2%At 30 June 2026, down from 37.3% a year earlier
• Ten or more years' service24.9%At 30 June 2026
• Assaults on staff, 12 months to March 20269,833113 per 1,000 prisoners, down 7% in rate; 871 serious
• Female estate, assaults on staff311Per 1,000 prisoners

The published evidence is consistent. In the year to September 2025 leavers with 0 to 1 years' service were the largest group of leavers, and the resignation rate for Band 3 and 4 officers was 7.8%.

The Pay Review Body's 2026 report heard from staff about an inexperienced staff group and an increase in violent incidents, and quoted the Chief Inspector as saying that hard-pressed and often inexperienced staff were unable to contain high levels of criminality at some prisons.

In shortUse the post-incident support on offer, report changes of circumstances from day one and keep boundaries simple: if you are unsure, ask.

After any use of force, staff are debriefed and offered support, with time for the effects of adrenaline to reduce before resuming duties, according to the Use of Force Policy Framework.

HMPPS also publishes a Post Incident Care Framework, and the Pay Review Body's report refers to care teams and mental health allies among the roles staff take on.

If something happens that affects you, report it, use the support on offer and tell your mentor or line manager. Our guides to stress and wellbeing and trauma and PTSD go into detail.

In shortCompleting Band 3 probation is the gateway to Band 4; part-time hours may be possible after initial training.

The end of probation is the point at which HMPPS says you can apply for Band 4. Band 5 custodial manager requires an accreditation, and Band 3 officers can use that accreditation to move directly to Band 5. Our custodial manager guide and Band 4 and Band 5 pay guides cover the steps.

If you want part-time hours, HMPPS says part-time and job share may be available after you complete initial training, and you need to discuss it with your line manager. Our guides to flexible and part-time working and childcare and shift work cover the practicalities.

And if it is not working, our guide to leaving the service sets out resignation, notice and what you keep.

Supervising officer (Band 4)

Can include specialisms such as suicide prevention, control and restraint, first aid, hostage negotiation or drug testing.

Prison officer specialist (Band 4)

Includes roles such as dog handler, offender manager, physical education officer or security intelligence work.