On appointment Prison Officers are expected to complete an 8-week training course (Prison Officer Entry Level Training) and a fitness test to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills and values they need to operate safely and confidently in their first post, overtime they will have opportunity to carry out the full range of Prison Officer duties and to progress to being a Senior Officer with responsibility for a number of staff. Currently the NOMS workforce modernisation programme is reviewing the roles and grades of staff within the Prison service to ensure maximum flexibility and effectiveness of staff resources. A new fast track scheme for governor grades is likely to be launched in Autumn 2009.
With a rising Prison population of 83,300 (MOJ May 2009) and 139 Prisons to manage, there are many employment opportunities within the Prison sector. (Security and diversity training is provided for all newly appointed staff along with an individual induction programme.)