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Prison Officer

  • 02-08-2008 1:05pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14 allyg


    hi all

    is prison officer very dangerous job


«134567124

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭metman


    allyg wrote: »
    hi all

    is prison officer very dangerous job

    Abbreviated form of my answer to your question on the main forum; yes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14 allyg


    hi

    what are prison officers hours/ shifts. waiting on call up to recruit prison officer. are there any warders on boards

    thanks.........


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭DenMan


    Hi OP

    I am not quite sure what the hours are like here in Ireland, but I have a few friends who work in the UK. I would imagine that the hours would be very similar. They operate a three shift rotation and are as follows:

    1. 06:00 - 14:00
    2. 14:00 - 22:00
    3. 22:00 - 06:00

    There were off once every three weekends. Over here the population is much lower so I would hope in your case they are flexible with hours as there are less prisons to be maintained. You may be moved around a bit for a while until you get placed somewhere, very similar to the Gardai. It is a well paid job, but there are hazards and it can get quite rough (as I have been told), you are dealing with the dregs of society. A very good career nonetheless. Good luck.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14 allyg


    thanks denman............


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭DenMan


    No probs, hope you enjoy it. A very secure job by the way as crime is a growth industry, ;).


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭DenMan


    Hi allyg

    Let me know how you get on ok. Good luck with it. Hope it works out for you.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    It can be, i can till you what kept me out of trouble(mostly). It's like a game and most know the rules so the sooner you learn them the better and you do that by listening to the older hands and watching what works and what doesn't, i decided early on what i would allow and what i wouldn't, like drawing a line in the sand, i would be consistent with this and it would mean under pressure i wouldn't be uming and aring so my reactions were faster as the prisoner would dictate my response and what level(i found only the crazy ones really wanted to fight, the rest wanted to look tuff). ultimatums are dangerous as i have seen a few officers lose their credibility after giving a order and not following threw, so if you are under pressure be carefully how you word things. I excepted the worst i could get was a good kicking, so i stopped worrying about it, the worse injury i had in four years was from being stabbed in the head with a afrocombe by a 20 stone social worker who just got sent down for a month for road rage, she had anger issues. I found it to be a great job and i enjoyed most of it and the bits i didn't make great stories. Good luck, Gary.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,626 ✭✭✭timmywex


    The worst injury you had was being stabbed in the head..........love the way you make it sound like nothing! :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14 allyg


    gary71 wrote: »
    It can be, i can till you what kept me out of trouble(mostly). It's like a game and most know the rules so the sooner you learn them the better and you do that by listening to the older hands and watching what works and what doesn't, i decided early on what i would allow and what i wouldn't, like drawing a line in the sand, i would be consistent with this and it would mean under pressure i wouldn't be uming and aring so my reactions were faster as the prisoner would dictate my response and what level(i found only the crazy ones really wanted to fight, the rest wanted to look tuff). ultimatums are dangerous as i have seen a few officers lose their credibility after giving a order and not following threw, so if you are under pressure be carefully how you word things. I excepted the worst i could get was a good kicking, so i stopped worrying about it, the worse injury i had in four years was from being stabbed in the head with a afrocombe by a 20 stone social worker who just got sent down for a month for road rage, she had anger issues. I found it to be a great job and i enjoyed most of it and the bits i didn't make great stories. Good luck, Gary.


    thanks gary71

    which prison do u work in


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Feltham young offenders mainly, which is near Heathrow airport. i left after snapping my ankle when my dog fell on it, so much for worrying about work, it's the bitch at home you have to worry about.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,867 ✭✭✭matchthis


    Hey allyg,

    Where do you apply/enroll for prison officer and what are the requirements? Always wondered about a job like this. Thanks

    Match


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14 allyg


    public jobs. ie
    then aptitude test/ interview/medical/and physical test.
    must be under 35 years


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,867 ✭✭✭matchthis


    Being a public sector job, i'm guessing that leaving cert is needed. Is this the case?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭metman


    From the Publicjobs website:

    ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
    To be eligible for selection as a Recruit Prison Officer, subject to paragraph B below, an applicant must, on the 1st March, 2007:

    Paragraph A.

    (i) Be at least 18 years of age (i.e. must have been born on or before 1st March, 1989)

    (ii)
    (a) be a national of a European Union Member State, or
    (b) a national of a European Economic Area State or the Swiss
    Confederation; or
    (c) is entitled under section 3, 18 or 24 of the Refugee Act, 1996; to the rights and privileges specified in section 3 of that Act, or
    (d) have had a period of one year’s continuous residence in the State immediately before the 1st March, 2007 and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years.

    (iii) Have obtained:
    a) five subjects in the Irish Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Irish Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme or equivalent a grade not lower than C3 at Foundation Level or D3 at Ordinary level one of which much be English and/or Irish
    or

    (b) the Merit Grade in the Applied Leaving Certificate

    Or

    (c) like grades in another examination, which, in the opinion of the Public Appointments Service, is not of a lower standard than the above


    Among the qualifications, which are considered as acceptable alternatives to the Leaving Certificate Examination, are the following:
    Matriculation of a recognised university;
    A General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level);
    NCEA / HETAC National Certificate;
    NCEA / HETAC National Diploma.

    Applicants who do not hold any of the above qualifications are advised to contact the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland to ascertain if the qualification(s) they hold “can be recognised as being broadly equivalent”. They can be contacted at info@nqai.ie The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland also has a fact sheet and an application form available on their website at
    http://www.nqai.ie/en/International/RecognitionofInternationalAwards/

    THE SELECTION PROCESS

    Stage 1
    Stage 1 of the selection process shall consist of 2 tests, a Visual Test and a Procedural Test. These tests will be held in Dublin on week commencing (w/c) 23rd April 2007 and in other locations (as listed on the application form) on week commencing 16th April, 2007. Test Familiarisation Material will be posted on www.publicjobs.ie in advance of the tests. The number to be called to Stage 2 will be determined having regard to the number of vacancies to be filled.

    Stage 2
    Stage 2 will comprise an interview, a Group Exercise and Written Exercise.

    Optional Language Test
    If invited to Stage 2, you may have your ability to communicate effectively in Irish and English assessed. Your ability in the language in which the interview is conducted will be assessed at the interview itself and in the other language by a separate language test. This test will comprise conversation on ordinary topics. Candidates who satisfy the Public Appointments Service that they are proficient in both Irish and English will be awarded marks in respect of such proficiency. Please note that this test is optional and you should not apply unless you propose to undertake the test.

    Stage 3
    Those successfully selected to go forward from Stage 2 will be required to undergo and pass a pre-employment Medical and Physical Assessment (see paras 7 (a) and 7 (b) for further details.).


  • Registered Users Posts: 381 ✭✭480905


    allyg wrote: »
    hi all

    is prison officer very dangerous job

    check out evening herald 26-08-2008 page 8.


  • Registered Users Posts: 680 ✭✭✭Salmon


    Hey There!

    Just to let you know that the hours in ireland are mainly 08:00-20:00 and you will work five days one week and two the next! You will also have to work 360 hours of overtime throughout the year! There are 7 night shifts built into your roster every twenty weeks!

    Best of luck!


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭DenMan


    That's terrific news Salmon, great help to the OP. I worked in Manchester Prison (Stangeways) for two weeks in 2005. General duties and was assigned to the kitchen. A pal of mine was going on holidays and needed someone to cover for him. Just kept the head down and got on with it and the weeks flew by. The UK is different as they are more flexible and encourage more people to join as a Prison Officer. They offer part-time and job sharing opportunities which I am not sure is done in Ireland. Hopefully somebody can help others with that information.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,739 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    As Salmon said, 12 hour shifts. My Dad works around 4 shifts every week at least. His longest run of straight shifts has been 15 shifts in 15 days.

    In some prisons you will have your hours from the start of the year. So you know when you are working. This does get switched around though. But not that much!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,477 ✭✭✭✭Raze_them_all


    does anyone know when they're recruiting next??


  • Registered Users Posts: 995 ✭✭✭PeteK*


    Is it hard to get into this career?

    I've applied but then cancelled cos it was at the same time as the normal gardai.

    They've contacted me a few times asking am I interested.. I've more or less said no.

    But now I've a letter out at my other house waiting on me, it's from the Prision Service..

    I'll go for it this time if I can!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 28 dropsey


    hi all,
    anyone know what it like being prison officer in ireland?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18 Frankdtank


    Does anybody know when the next recruitment campaign for the Prison Service will be?Thanks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 28 dropsey


    the current prison officer recruitment ia actually part of 2007 campaign. cant imagine another campaign for awhile.


  • Registered Users Posts: 381 ✭✭480905


    keep an eye on the Prison Service site

    irishprisons.ie

    Any future campaigns should be announced on the recruitment page.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,954 ✭✭✭tinofapples


    Do they take into consideration family status when placing recruits similarly to what the Gardai apparently do ? i.e would they place a person within an communtable distance drive of their home


  • Registered Users Posts: 680 ✭✭✭Salmon


    hey!

    No there would be no consideration for location when you are placed! Almost everything in the job depends on seniority. Everyone will be placed in dublin and will apply for a transfer. The typical wait for a transfer would be in the region of 7 years (at the moment), but with the large amount of retirements due in the coming years this may be a little quicker!!

    Hope this helps!


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,936 ✭✭✭DenMan


    Salmon is right there

    Flexibility is a huge thing and they want to know if people are avilable and willing to be based anywhere first, then it may be possible to be located near to where you are from. Comes with the territory I am afraid and it can make the difference between making it in or not. Hope it works out for you.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,954 ✭✭✭tinofapples


    Thanks for that folks. Rules it our for me then, my wife and 8 month old daughter wouldn't be happy with me located in Dublin for any length of time.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 349 ✭✭li@mo


    I saw an ad in todays Irish Independent business section.

    Now recruiting

    http://www.publicjobs.ie/cand/JobDetails_eng.asp?JobID=3641&hdnGUID=&hdnJobID=2337&sgDest=JOBLISTING

    Prison_PAS_advert2.jpg


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 90 ✭✭robpurf


    has anyone tried applying for this when i hit the application form all i get is a big java symbol and nothing else??anyone else having these problems


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