Job market information
Finding out about custodial care
Custodial care is part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: police and law enforcement; prosecution service; courts and tribunals; forensic science; community justice; plus fire and rescue services. The UK justice sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re‐offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.
The main functions of the custodial care strand within the UK justice sector are:
- holding adult and young prisoners securely
- reducing the risk of prisoners re‐offending providing custody and escort services
- monitoring offenders in the community (e.g. via electronic tagging)
The majority of prisons in the UK are operated by public sector Prison Services (Her Majesty’s, Scottish, and Northern Ireland Prison Services). Public sector custodial care organisations include: HM Prison Service; Military Corrective Training Centre; Scottish Prison Service; Northern Ireland Prison Service.
Key facts:
- There are 77,595 people working in custodial care.
- 84% of the workforce is located in England.
- Public sector organisations make up the majority of custodial care employers, employing over 86% of the workforce.
- 73% of custodial care establishments are in the public sector.
- Women across the justice sector as a whole tend to be concentrated in support roles.
Jobs in the industry range from: Prison Officer, Instructional Officer, Senior Officer, Operational staff, Psychologist.
Entry and progression
Prison officer, specialist support staff and operational support staff are three types of job roles available in the custodial setting.
There are basic eligibility requirements to become a Prison Officer, such as minimum age and citizenship requirements. Experience of working in the police or armed forces, or as a security officer or probation officer is advantageous. A Prison Officer can progress to a senior position with around two years' experience (this is decided by application, examination and interview). There are then opportunities to gain promotion through the governor grades. In the HM Prison Service there is an Intensive Development Scheme for graduates (NOMS Graduate programme), which offers early progression to senior grades.
For both specialist and operation staff, there are pathways to enter into trainee roles and progress to more senior and managerial roles. Again, there are basic eligibility requirements, such as minimum age and citizenship requirements. Qualifications and entry requirements differ for each role. Specialist prison service staff roles include: instructional officers; health care roles; chaplaincy roles; psychologists and psychological assistants; construction and technical training; and administration. For entry into these roles, applicants are required to have a qualification and/or training in the vocational area before entering the prison service. Operational support roles include: patrolling; ground staff; store duties; drivers and navigators; switchboard staff; and canteen staff.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, vocational qualifications and training schemes.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
77,595 |
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| Number of UK employers: |
248 prison establishments |
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| Gender: |
63% male |
37% female |
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| Ethnicity: |
94% of the workforce is white. |
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| Age profile of the Justice sector as a whole: |
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| 8% of people are aged 16‐24 years |
| 25% are aged 25‐34 years |
| 30% are aged 35‐44 years |
| 25% are aged 45‐54 years |
| 11% are aged 55‐64 years |
| 1% are 65 years plus |
| Certain roles in the justice sector, such as police and prison officers, have a minimum age requirement of 18 years and 30 year retirement schemes. |
| Employment: |
87% of the justice sector workforce is employed full‐time. |
|---|
[N.B. Data for Justice sector does not include fire service activities. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2007‐2008.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Across the justice sector as a whole, there is a forecasted need for 136,000 people between 2007‐2017. In the longer term, government spending on Public Administration and Defence is expected to increase at a lower rate than the economy as a whole. Pressures to restrain government expenditure and cut costs mean increased productivity and efficiency will be essential to the sector. A key element of the government’s strategy to increase efficiency and to direct more staff to front‐line delivery of services is the efficient and effective use of technology.
The introduction of the National Offender Management System (NOMS) will be challenging for prison establishments. This system was introduced to bridge the gap between custody and community in terms of the management of offenders, and also to move towards a model of commissioning of services to provide the highest quality correctional services and interventions in order to protect the public and reduce re‐offending.
The prison population has increased over the past decade to more than 84,000 prisoners. Predicted growth in the sector, in terms of more prisons, will have an impact on the workforce. This is also likely to impact on private custodial providers. One proposal is to provide 7,500 prison places through the building of five 1,500 place prisons.
Skill requirements and shortages
The following skills shortages have been identified:
- leadership and management – such as skills around managing contracts and competitive tendering
- ICT – such as skills needed with the introduction of bespoke packages (i.e. OASys and NOMIS) to communicate information on individuals
- communication skills and case preparation skills – essential as the quality of information presented needs to be considered
Occupational trends
Due to the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, growth in the public administration (this includes the judicial activities and police and fire services) is likely to be around 1% per year to 2017. Declines are expected to be in administrative, clerical and secretarial roles, but increases in management and professional roles.
Justice sector occupational distribution
| Managers and Senior Officials |
9% |
|---|
| Professional Occupations |
8% |
|---|
| Associate Professional and Technical |
54% |
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| Administrative and Secretarial |
18% |
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| Skilled Trades Occupations |
1% |
|---|
| Personal Service Occupations |
1% |
|---|
| Sales and Customer Service Occupations |
* |
|---|
| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives |
* |
|---|
| Elementary Occupations |
7% |
|---|
[N.B. Data does not include fire service activities. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2007‐2008.]
National and regional data
The East Midlands has 15 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 4,730 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there is one private prison.
The East of England has 13 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 4,440 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there are 3 privately operated prisons.
London has 7 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 6,040 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there are 3 privately operated prisons.
The North East has 8 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 3,490 full‐time equivalent staff. There is also 1 privately operated prison.
The North West has 14 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 5,920 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there is one privately operated prison.
The South East has 28 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 7,600 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there is one private prison.
The South West has 14 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 3,500 full‐time equivalent staff. In addition, there is one private prison.
The West Midlands has 13 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 5,260 full‐time equivalent staff.
Yorkshire and Humberside has 13 prisons operated by HM Prison Service, which employ approximately 5,520 full‐time equivalent staff.
In Northern Ireland, 2,145 staff are employed in the Northern Ireland Prison Service across three prisons. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has introduced two new grades: Prison Custody Officers; and Officer Support Grades. It is expected there will be an expected 200 people entering these new grades. The Sentencing Framework Review could have major skills needs implications, depending upon its outcomes. Basic skills gaps identified in the workforce include: literacy; numeracy; and ICT skills.
In Scotland, 4,869 staff are employed across both the private and public sector. All of the prisons in Scotland, with the exception of two that are privately run, are operated by the Scottish Prison Service. Future workforce development needs include: increased partnership working and partnership working skills; keeping up with legislative change; and ICT and soft skills relating to communications.
The HM Prison Service employs 1,230 staff in Wales. The majority of prisons in Wales are operated by HM Prison Service, although the Office of Contracted Prisons (within the Home Office) contracts with the private sector for the design, build, management and finance of private prisons.
Salary levels
Salary ranges:
- Administrative roles – between £10,000 and £20,000
- Operational manager roles – between £20,000 and £30,000
- Nurses – between £20,000 and £30,000
- Psychologist – between £20,000 and £30,000
- Prison Officers – from £18,135 to £28,136 (Local pay allowances may also apply, ranging from £4,250 in central London to £1,100 in surrounding areas)
- At higher levels include:
- Senior officer – around £29,371
- Principal officer– between £30,926 and £31,913
- Manager (G‐E) – between £23,434 and £43,927
- Senior manager (D‐A) – between £44,589 and £78,732
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skills for Justice AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
