Prison Clerical Officer 2024

SineadLB

Just thought I'd set this up for people applying.

I sent off my application etc however have not recieved an automatic email which the information booklet says it would. Anyone else experiencing problems applying?

weadick

I did this job for years during the last recession and honestly wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. You will be doing EO/HEO work for CO money. There are so many negative things about this job I honestly wouldn't have the time to write them all down. Just think very carefully before you accept it.

Turtyturd

While I won’t argue with anything said above your experience will vary depending on a) which prison you end up assigned to and b) who you work with.

You’ll be doing EO level work from day one and you’ll be treated like **** compared to prison officers and any other staff connected to the prison but you’ll get experience you won’t get in any other department and could easily be moving on by the time the EO competition comes around.

natalu

I had the same issue. Reached out to them for confirmation and received it from the recruitment team.

natalu

this is helpful. Thanks for sharing. I previously worked for DFA as CO and absolutely hated it due to the team I landed with… so carefully considering this role atm

SineadLB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122141462#Comment_122141462

Glad I wasn't the only one. Did you recieve written confirmation or was just told over the phone?

natalu

written confirmation.

natalu

Has anyone received an invitation for the interview yet?

SineadLB

I've heard nothing at all since applying. Did you get the assessment?

mettlee

Has anyone had results of their assessment?

natalu

yes. I got an interview date for 28th of June

SineadLB

Got my result on the 14th 🤗

mettlee

Best of luck 🤞

natalu

@SineadLB , @mettlee any news for you guys?

natalu

Has anyone heard back after the interview yet?

mettlee

My interview is on 10th July. How did yours go? Can I ask how long it took and what the general questions were?

nitsyc

What is the pre screening medical ? If offered the job , thanks in advance

mettlee

Hi, I'm not sure what the medical screening entails. Possibly usual blood pressure etc?

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nitsyc

is it possible to advance ?

mettlee

In what context advance? Do you mean go up a level? Is so I'm sure there's prospects to go further. Have you had your interview?

nitsyc

yes ..have you?

mettlee

IHafd it this morning . They finish I tetviews on Friday. Wish you the best of luck in securing a job

nitsyc

thank you ! You also !!

Floopdidoo

I was interviewed in the last week of June and and got a phone call this week asking for my location preferences. I was told I should get the formal offer next week for training in early August.

I've had a CO job before and that was lightning fast compared to what these panels are normally like.

mettlee

Congratulations. are you locating in Dublin?

Floopdidoo

I live in Kildare and commute to Dublin. The man on the phone did say that requesting a location isn't a guarantee that you'll be placed there, but any location except Mountjoy is pretty convenient for me as the rest of them are all close enough to the train stations.

I also just got my Garda vetting invitation.

*Were you asking if I requested a Dublin location? This competition is only for the Dublin prisons.

mettlee

Thanks for replying. Wish you the best of luck in your new role.

gibsondoyle

Congratulations! Do you know if the cost of travel is expensible when commuting to and from the college in Longford for the duration of the training?

Floopdidoo

The training is in Portlaoise I believe, and I haven't gotten any information on that yet.

Turtyturd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122367148#Comment_122367148

The highest you will go is HEO. Unfortunately most staff leave before they get to that level so you’re left with a mix of good staff and some who just hung around long enough to get it by default.

Edit: Just to add, HEO is the highest grade you can go to in a prison. I transferred into the general civil service but stayed within the prison service and have been able to progress further.

nitsyc

is it a uniformed job? And with the medical pre screening do they check fitness level or just blood pressure etc ?
sorry for all the questions 🥴

mettlee

Hi. Just wondering if you have heard anymore and we're given a start date?

Turtyturd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122371365#Comment_122371365

Yes it’s a uniformed job.

Not sure on the medical as that wasn’t a thing when I was there.

Floopdidoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122401034#Comment_122401034

The provisional start date I heard was the 6th of August but I'm still waiting for my garda vetting to come back.

nitsyc

same

mettlee

Ah OK. I've been placed on a panel

natalu

I was placed 6th on the panel but got another job in the meantime, so resigned after all the effort 😉 Best of luck to all

Floopdidoo

I accepted because I need the job but I haven't seen a single good thing said about it by past or current employees. How bad is it really?

mettlee

Like all jobs. Good with the bad. If you can stick it out for 2 years you can go for mobility. Or if there's other CO / EO competitions you can try for those if it's intolerable. Good luck with it ☘️

JKerova1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122437054#Comment_122437054

Probably depends where you end up. I only worked in one jail and wouldn't recommend the job there to my worst enemy.