Prison governors, or operational managers, are responsible for the management and security of prisons, remand centres and young offenders' institutions.

Their work can vary according to the size and type of establishment, which can range from high security prisons holding category A prisoners to open prisons for category D prisoners. Larger prisons can have several governors on different grades.

The duties of a governor are likely to include:

• supervising security
• making inspections
• carrying out disciplinary procedures
• writing reports 
• managing the prison budget and other resources
• overseeing the development of the prison to meet government targets (to do with inmate welfare, for example)
• liaising with other professionals, such as medical staff and social workers.

Other areas of work can include training prison officers and sitting on parole boards. Governors may also chair prisoner admission panels and inmate release boards.

Prison governors can also work in national headquarters, or within prison service colleges training other staff.

Hours and Environment

As a prison governor your hours of work can be long, and include evenings and weekends. There are some opportunities for part-time work.

The work is mainly indoors within the prison. Prison buildings vary from modern to very old and overcrowded, although many older prisons have now been refurbished.

As a governor you are likely to do some travelling to attend meetings, courses and conferences outside the prison.

Skills and Interests

As a prison governor you should:

• be able to work well with a variety of other people
• have good written and spoken communication skills
• care about prisoners’ welfare and be sympathetic to their problems
• be self confident and able to lead both staff and inmates
• be able to cope with pressure and enforce discipline
• be able to handle difficult situations.

Entry

There are separate prison services for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. There are also some private prisons. It is important to check with the service you wish to join about their exact entry requirements because these can vary between prison services.

In general, to apply to the prison service you need:

• to be between age 18 and 62 in England and Wales, and between 20 and 57 in Scotland
• to be a British or Commonwealth citizen, British Protected Person, or EU national (there are exceptions) with indefinite leave to remain - for some posts you need to have lived in the UK for three years  
• to declare any convictions
• to pass medical, eyesight and fitness tests (for details check the prison service website).

If you are selected to join the prison service, checks will also be made on your character, reliability and identity. You need to be prepared to relocate if necessary.

Relevant experience in the armed forces or police is a useful background for this work.

England and Wales
There are two main routes to becoming a prison governor.

The first option is for existing prison employees. As a member of prison staff you may be able to move up through the ranks, going for promotion from prison officer to prison governor; check the Prison Officer profile for details on this role. In the same way, if you hold another management job within a prison you may also have the opportunity to move across from your current management role to prison governor. 

The second route is through the Prison Service Intensive Development Scheme (IDS). This is an option for you if you have a degree, and are able to pass the psychometric and written tests which are part of the selection process. Experienced managers are welcome on the IDS. As part of this scheme, it is possible to reach a senior management position within less than five years rather than the usual 20 years. 

Scotland
There are two ways to become a prison governor in Scotland. 

You can join the prison service as, for example, a prison officer and through promotion work up the ranks to prison governor. 

The second route is to apply directly for a trainee or deputy governor post. For this you are likely to need a degree and substantial management experience. 

Northern Ireland
The prison service in Northern Ireland has been reducing the number of staff over recent years. For more details contact them directly (see Further Information).

Private prison establishments
The companies that run these institutions, each set their own entry requirements and recruitment methods. You should contact them directly for details - institutions are listed on the prison service website (see Further Information).

Training

Training is tailored to individual needs, depending on your previous experience. Across all prison services there is an increasing emphasis on developing staff once they are in the job. This can include on-the-job coaching and involvement in project teams.

England and Wales
During your first few weeks as a graduate on the Prison Service IDS you will go through basic prison officer training, dividing your time between a prison establishment and the Prison Service College. This is followed by:

• up to twelve months as a uniformed prison officer
• working as a senior officer with responsibility for a group of staff
• experience as a trainee operations manager.

During your training you will take up posts in a range of prison establishments, at different senior grades. The speed of your progression is determined by your individual ability, which is assessed at each stage. You will be supported by mentors and a structured training programme, and you will sit exams at an assessment centre.

Scotland
As a direct entrant to a governor or trainee governor position in Scotland, you will follow a management development programme. This involves working in prisons as a unit manager while training.

Opportunities

There are currently 138 operational prisons in England and Wales, 16 in Scotland and three in Northern Ireland.

The number of prison governors has remained stable in recent years in England and Wales. Scotland has seen a slight increase. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has been reducing the number of staff in recent years.

In England and Wales, graduate direct-entry scheme vacancies are advertised each year (usually in the Autumn) in the national press. Opportunities for direct entry in Scotland are advertised in both the Scottish and national press.

As an experienced governor you can work at the national headquarters, in the prison service colleges or training units. You can apply for promotion and progress into the role of senior governor, with responsibility for several prisons.

Prisons are located all over the country in rural and urban areas. As a governor or operational manager you can be posted to any establishment in the country.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Senior officers can earn around £28,000. 
Senior managers/governors can earn between £40,000 and £75,000 a year.

Rates of pay vary depending on the size and type of prison and the experience and responsibility of the post holder. There is an extra living allowance for those working in London.

Further information

9 Riverside Court
Don Road
Sheffield
S9 2TJ Calton House
5 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh
EH12 9HW
Tel: 0131 244 8745 Recruitment Section
Cleland House
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SU
Tel: 028 9052 5065