r/PrisonUK

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone here has recently gone through the HMPPS Prison Officer recruitment process on a visa and can share their timeline.
I’ve been given a provisional start date for the end of November 2026 and have been told that they are ready to begin the sponsorship process, but I’m still waiting for my Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and haven’t been contacted by a caseworker yet.
For anyone who was in a similar situation, how long did it take you to receive your CoS after being given a provisional start date and being told sponsorship was being progressed? Did you have to chase anyone, or were you contacted automatically?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently been through the same process. Thanks!

Just got sent the uniform sheet ready for training starting mid September but it’s still shirt and tie, I was under the impression they switched to polos?

Hello, I have my OAC this Friday and I’m naturally worrying myself about it. Does anyone have advice about it? Like dress code, or anything to do with the questions or role plays? Any advice or guidance would be appreciated!

I have applied to become a prison officer, what is it like to be a female working in male prisons for reference I am 21 and around 5’1.

I am kinda lost. I don't know what comes next and would love to plan my immediate future but don't know how to work around the prison stuff at the moment?

I got 59%, feeling like there's no hope in getting a job with such a low score

I was wondering if there is anyone who currently works as an OSG at HMP Full Sutton who could share some information about the shift pattern or rota. I’m due to start there next month and would really appreciate knowing what the typical shifts and rota are like.

Do anyone know how much more time to wait more after UKSV checks completed to get final pec check completion email.

Just looking for some advice/answers really, my partners grandad was viciously attacked outside a pub completely unprovoked he's in he's late 80s, the 22 year old scum who did this bottled him multiple time but after being arrested he's been let out and back in the area ( the pub is bang opposite grandads house) how has he been let out already the next day? I'm not really sure how it works but the 22yo was heard saying " thats where the cunt lives who got me arrested " 🤦‍♂️ will he be on watch? Is he likely on bail for now? I've no clue but bit worrying how he's in the area already and clearly very violent.

Anyone declared offender connections on their form and still passed

I need a clarification from those already in the system. Can I request for day-shift only for a secondary child'scare reasons ? Will my request be accepted?

Just wondering if anyone has any insight into the national emergency alert system showing up phones unexpectedly in prisons!

Hi all hope all is well. When I went for my interview I said to them that I’d want to do perm nights which they said they can sort out for me and that the contract will be the same, it’ll just be when I start I’ll ask and go to nights as there is plenty of room, well after 8 months of checks, everything was good and I started, after day 1 they said do your first set of nights so you know if it’s really what you want and then ask again, it’s been two months and I’ve just had my first set of nights and I loved it, much nicer for me due to past jobs and I’m much happier when left to my own so that I can crack on with what needs doing. I asked detail in the morning over email and within 5 mins I got an email saying there’s no room for nights, what’s my best course of action as I only took this job as I was told during interview that yes they could put me on perm nights. To add to this other perm staff are saying that the one unit I worked doesn’t have a perm night staff and the cm also says that there isn’t a perm night staff for that unit. div 2 has a perm night staff for each unit but div 1 doesn’t. Do I need to go over the person head to someone above her as I’ve heard from others she’s not good at her job and will always say no as it means less work for her to do.

Many thanks in advance

Ansreen and mahek bukhari.

What would their typical day /week or month look like?

Submitted my Annex A form 6 weeks ago and still haven’t heard a single thing back. My visa is about to expire and I’m getting nowhere with any updates, it’s honestly beyond stressful at this point.

Genuinely at the point where I’m considering just withdrawing my application, the waiting with zero communication is too much.

Has anyone gotten a start date recently? Trying to figure out if things are actually moving for anyone or if this is just how it is for everyone right now.