Prison Governor Roles: Governor, Deputy and Head of Function

In shortThe Prison Act 1952 requires every prison to have a governor, and the Prison Rules 1999 and HMPPS policy frameworks set out what the governor must do.

The Prison Act 1952, section 7(1), says: “Every prison shall have a governor, a chaplain and a medical officer and such other officers as may be necessary.” Section 7(3) allows larger prisons to have a deputy governor.

The Act is the statutory root of the governor’s post; the details of what the governor must do are set out in the Prison Rules 1999 and in HMPPS policy frameworks.

Rule 62

As retrieved on legislation.gov.uk on 3 October 2026, rule 62 requires officers to “assist and support the governor” in maintaining the Rules and the regulations of the prison and to obey the governor’s lawful instructions, and to inform the governor promptly of any abuse or impropriety that comes to their knowledge.

Governing Governor

The person in charge of a prison (the term this guide uses).

Deputy Governor

The second tier.

Head of Function

The heads of departments.

In shortThe governor sits at the centre of lawful decision-making in a prison, with named powers over removal from association, disciplinary charges and delegation.

• Removal from associationUp to 72 hoursAt the governor’s discretion (rule 45)
• Written authorityUp to 14 daysRenewable; beyond 42 days total needs the Secretary of State’s written leave
• Charges laidWithin 48 hoursSave in exceptional circumstances (rule 53)

These examples are as retrieved on 3 October 2026. They are not a complete list, and rules are amended over time, so use them as an illustration of accountability rather than as legal advice.

Rule 45: removal from association

The governor may arrange removal for up to 72 hours at their discretion, may authorise it in writing for periods of up to 14 days and renew that authority, and for removals beyond a total of 42 days must obtain the Secretary of State’s written leave. The rule also requires the governor to fully consider any recommendation from a registered medical practitioner or nurse working within the prison that the prisoner resumes association on medical grounds.

Rule 53: disciplinary charges

Charges must be laid as soon as possible and, save in exceptional circumstances, within 48 hours of discovery of the offence, and they are inquired into either by the governor or, in certain cases, by an independent adjudicator.

Rule 81: delegation

Allows a governor, with the leave of the Secretary of State, to delegate any of their powers and duties under the Rules to another officer of the prison, which is why you will meet adjudications and segregation reviews conducted by delegated managers.

In shortA Governing Governor leads the establishment, a Deputy Governor is the senior manager beneath, and Heads of Function lead departments, with exact names varying by prison.

Governing Governor

Leads the establishment. The National Careers Service job profile says governors manage security, standards and budgets, supervise prisoners and make inspections, support vulnerable prisoners and those at risk of self-harm, carry out disciplinary procedures and manage and motivate staff. HMPPS’s own policy frameworks, quoted below, show the governor accountable for how national policy is applied locally.

Deputy Governor

A senior manager reporting to the Governing Governor. HMPPS policy documents refer to Deputy Governor grade posts in specific contexts: for example, the conduct research behind this site notes that Local Counter Corruption Managers are Deputy Governor grade in most prisons, security-cleared to SC level. In the pay tables the Deputy Governor title belongs to Band 9, and Band 8 is shown as Deputy Governor or Head of Function.

Head of Function

Leads departments within a prison. HMPPS career pages group “heads of functions” with deputy governors and governors as senior management in Bands 6 to 8. The Local Security Strategy policy framework refers to functional heads taking responsibility for compliance in their areas and giving assurance to the Governor and the Security Department. Exact department names differ between prisons, so read the advert for the post.

In shortThe band-to-title mapping is useful but not a promise about every advert, and Band 6 has no published pay row.

Our guide to Band 6 and Band 7 prison manager pay explains what is and is not known, and we do not invent a figure.

For the money side, prison governor salary has London zone figures and take-home examples, and the salary calculator covers the published bands.

In shortNational policy frameworks name the governor directly, and external bodies and annual performance ratings test governors’ results.

Governors also answer to external scrutiny: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Independent Monitoring Board and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, described in our HMPPS structure guide.

The government’s annual performance ratings place each prison in one of four ratings, which is one way the system tests governors’ results.

Local Security Strategy policy framework

Issued 31 July 2024, with an implementation date of 31 March 2025. It says the governor must ensure a nominated person or people are responsible for updating the Local Security Strategy, that all staff know where to find it, and that amendments are authorised by the governor using the notification form. Prison Group Directors monitor compliance.

Prison Dogs Policy Framework

Re-issued 1 July 2025. It says governors have discretion to deploy dog teams in support of staff operations, but dogs must always be used alongside appropriate staff and never as a substitute. In establishments holding Category A prisoners it says the governor must agree the deployment of general-purpose dogs on perimeter security with the Prison Group Director through a risk assessment written into the Local Security Strategy.

In shortGovernors have a defined place in staff discipline, and a governor’s instruction is lawful authority under rule 62 of the Prison Rules.

Governors have a defined place in staff discipline. The conduct and discipline research behind our conduct hub records the points above. Outcomes and appeals are covered in the conduct guides rather than repeated here.

The practical point for an officer is that a governor’s instruction is lawful authority under rule 62 of the Prison Rules. If you are facing an investigation, take advice from your union representative and read our disciplinary process guide; this site does not give legal advice.

For a view of how the wider system handles standards, see prison officer misconduct explained.

• The commissioning manager for an investigation is set locally by the Governor or Head of Group and not delegated below Band 7.
• In a 2025 case at HMP Moorland the Governing Governor acted as the disciplinary hearer for a gross misconduct hearing.
• Reporting concerns promptly to the governor is itself a duty in rule 62.

In shortThe traditional route runs through custodial manager to deputy governor and governor, and the Future Prison Leaders Programme is a three-year structured entry route.

HMPPS’s career progression page describes the traditional route: prison officers can complete a custodial manager accreditation and move to Band 5, and after gaining experience as a custodial manager they can advance to deputy governor and governor roles through senior management posts.

The National Careers Service describes the same route as several years’ experience, including line management, then senior roles, then deputy governor and governor.

1. Complete probation as a Band 3 prison officer and build experience across the prison.
2. Complete the custodial manager accreditation and move to Band 5, either directly or via Band 4.
3. Apply for Head of Function or equivalent senior management posts and complete any assessment the advert requires.
4. Move to Deputy Governor, then Governing Governor, through open competition.

In shortThe National Careers Service range of £65,000 to £94,000 is general career guidance and does not match the PSPRB bands, which we use for pay levels.

When figures differ, use the primary pay source for your own band and the advert for any live vacancy. The PSPRB tables are the pay review body’s published pay levels; adverts show what a given post offers, including any zone differential. Our pay bands guide lists the whole ladder.

Hours also matter. The pay research notes that operational managers told the PSPRB their hours worked were well in excess of their 37-hour contract, which is part of why the Required Hours Addition exists. If you are weighing a move, compare the real hours with the money using the job offer comparator.

In short“Governor” is a family of posts, the Prison Rules do not apply identically everywhere, and old job descriptions go out of date.

One mistake is assuming that “governor” is a single grade. It is a family of posts across Bands 8 to 11 in the tables, with Heads of Function below and Prison Group Directors above.

Another is assuming the Prison Rules apply the same way in every institution: young offender institutions have their own rules, and private prisons follow contracts alongside the same legislation.

A third is relying on old job descriptions. HMPPS revises policy frameworks, and the accreditation and application processes can change. Always check the current advert and ask your establishment’s learning and development team.