Northern Ireland prison service (now recruiting))

I've heard this myself do you know if they're gonna take on more cpos mate, we applied for the role and they only took on pcos even though a lot of us scored high in merit and didn't get a Job out of it because we thought there were legit CPO positions available, the whole process has been dire. We're still waiting on word too.

I tried to contact them today and it says welcome to Cisco extension service? All the numbers say this when I ring, what is going on??

BIGD85 wrote: »

I called today and was told the exact same thing I was told 3 weeks ago....."call back in a few weeks time"

Seriously? They've been saying that from about April, forwarded onto senior management call back in a while, Lmao its a joke don't get me wrong I want the job real bad, but this is really badly ran and organised.

BIGD85 wrote: »

It's been a shambles buddy, but yeah, they told me the whole senior management thing today aswell.

I just don't understand it, I'm assuming they are taking on CPO's as so many have left, and the fact this hasn't been addressed by the powers that be yet, I just think we would've had a letter in the mail saying the list has expired, wishful thinking, with this waiting we should deserve a job out of it lol, total shambles as you say mate.

No haven't heard a thing! It would even be nice (and professional) to receive some correspondence to let us know we have been unsuccessful and that the merit list no longer applies! Until then we can only hold onto hope that they may be extending it!

Weestones wrote: »

For anyone that has applied for the CPO role, they won't be getting employed so I wouldn't hold your breathe folks! They have extended the merit list, but only for 2 months extra, that's the most they can extend it! Prisons are majorly understaffed atm, and in shocking state!
They are looking at more CPO's but they will be looking to transfer PCO's over, and possibly hire another 20 PCO's!

I spoke to a lady in charge of recruitment after a furious email was sent, a good few months ago, who said they would be working down the merit list again as a lot of those who scored in the top percentile only ticked cpo, and they legally have to go down it again, and she said the cpo training is different to pco training as pcos would have to be retrained, she assured me that cpos would be recruited from the list as people who ticked pco position would not be able to transfer over so soon, again this is what I was told, I explained to her my concerns as I scored high in the merit list and was pretty irate at the process with others scoring lower and being in employment, I can't remember what it's called but there's a legal term for what was done and if they did start recruiting and none were taking from the cpo only position and had scored high in the merit then they would be falsifying what was explained. And could face legal action from those that blindly handicapped themselves, and they've reassured me twice that this won't be the case. I don't believe them mind you.

I know you got in stones, and if that is gonna be happening with transfers because what I said above is what I was told and I do take it with a pinch of salt, but when candidates score high, like top 50 and only ticked cpo, but someone 100 or so ticked both and is currently in employment as a pco now has an opportunity at cpo even though they scored lower in merit, that's pretty messed up. They should've notified everyone from the start what the craic was rather than offering 2 jobs for one merit list and have everyone all over the show. it's like those that ticked cpo only have been forgotten about even though most of us are in the top 100 here, and as I said blindly significantly handicapped ourselves. By the way stones not getting at you mate this is me just venting hoping someone from the service sees this lol.

Anyone phoned the recruitment team lately?

On deeper reflection of the situation, even if I was offered the job tomorrow I would decline. From the information ive seen heard lately I think it would be silly to accept. Aside from the fact that the wage is horribly low (no offence to anyone who accepts or has done, it should be much higher. nips clearly took advantage of a weak job market , and from what ive heard it will take longer than expected to make the grade) it appears that the organisation has no particular desire to keep the officers safe. If any one can correct me on that feel free (I hope they can) but I think the organisation is in turmoil and whatever plans they had to remodel have been an absolute failure.

Yeah mate I agree with you, fair play to them, they deserve better though.
PSNI is the better route i my opinion. If im honest, I would be going for the cops even if I had that job so it would never be a long term thing.

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Official-Report/Committee-Minutes-of-Evidence/Session-2014-2015/October-2014/Prisons-Issues--Prison-Officers-Association/

New report saying of the staffing crisis and need for recruitment all I can is wtf? Has anybody heard anything official in terms of a letter in the mail or anything? I'm assuming probably not as nobody has posted anything, hope everyone is doing well.

Well that's that then, merit list is closed. I'd totally forgotten about it tbh.

I dunno if someone could pm me that's in already or even respond on this thread, I'm just wondering I've heard that only 30 or so are transferring over from pco to cpo? Just thinking despite being ran around like a tube, I would probably apply again, but a limited number, if that's 30 recruited then I'm thinking that's not a lot, to which I may just say sod it. Any info would be great.

Didn't bother, the money wasn't much better than my regular job and then there was travel to think of.

is the recruitment still open?

Has anybody been to their test or awaiting to do their test?