Clerical Officer in Prison Service

Sweetpea90 · 06-10-2019 8:19am #1

Just wondering if anyone here is working as a clerical officer in the Irish Prison Service and could give me an idea of what it is like? Also, does flexi time apply?

Sweetpea90 · 06-10-2019 11:39am

Which prison? No flexi but some offer VOT that you can build up and use in place of AL

See below, and if you've any other questions post them here.

Thanks so much. If I were to apply it would be the Midlands prison as it would be the closest to me.

Sweetpea90 · 06-10-2019 2:28pm

Snip

Ah I see. On the list there was Midlands and also Portlaoise prison. I live in Tipp so it would have to be either of those. It wouldn't pay me to commute to Dublin.
You mentioned VOT can I ask what that stands for?

Gmcrnm · 08-10-2019 7:42am

<snip> is the working roster Monday to Friday or is it the same as the prison officers?
With regards to OT or VOT is that always time owed or is it your choice.
Realistically in year one what would be the average weekly out come be.

Aglomerado · 08-10-2019 12:25pm

New campaign up:

https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/index.php?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=109009&campaignId=19223702

sineads80 · 09-10-2019 10:33am

Any info on cork prison?! Are they taking on? Whats staff culture there?!

blackro12345 · 09-10-2019 12:42pm

Thanks Kate for the info. Very informative. I work in AGS and it's similar I would guess.

Sweetpea90 · 14-10-2019 12:05pm

Just having a look through the application form it seems quite different from the 2018 clerical officer one. There is a personal statement question at the end.

job seeker · 15-10-2019 4:48am

<snip>

Castlera is the prison I would be hoping to get into as I am living in Sligo! But as you say, Dublin might be a better option. As there might be a lot applying for Castlera?

beautyqueen · 25-10-2019 12:28am

Hello I've applied for this. Has anyone downloaded the information booklet by any chance?

Freshvibes · 25-10-2019 2:12pm

I'm a PCO and you will be offered Dublin regardless of your preference. There are transfer lists in place for PCO's to get down to the country jails, so when new PCO's come in they take the spots in Dublin to allow for those on the transfer list to be transferred.
They probably should have mentioned it on the application form but there is no chance of nay new entrants getting Midlands, Portlaoise, Castlerea, Wicklow etc.

claregal1 · 25-10-2019 2:22pm

Freshvibes wrote: »

I'm a PCO and you will be offered Dublin regardless of your preference. There are transfer lists in place for PCO's to get down to the country jails, so when new PCO's come in they take the spots in Dublin to allow for those on the transfer list to be transferred.
They probably should have mentioned it on the application form but there is no chance of nay new entrants getting Midlands, Portlaoise, Castlerea, Wicklow etc.

Hi ..Can you post the circular where it states that please , my understanding is that only a certain percentage of positions will be filled through the mobility panel with remaining positions through the panel once it's up and running .

Freshvibes · 25-10-2019 2:28pm

It doesn't say it on the circular, but that's the way it works. It is not people on the mobility scheme, it's people who already work in the prisons as PCOs. They start in Dublin and when there are people to replace them and a spot because available in the country prisons, they get transferred down there. It works the same with prison officers.

The prison service is not the same as the civil service.

claregal1 · 25-10-2019 2:31pm

Freshvibes wrote: »

It doesn't say it on the circular, but that's the way it works. It is not people on the mobility scheme, it's people who already work in the prisons as PCOs. They start in Dublin and when there are people to replace them and a spot because available in the country prisons, they get transferred down there. It works the same with prison officers.

The prison service is not the same as the civil service.

Thanks for the reply . I'm a CO already in the Mid West and was looking for a change . I rang PAS to make sure I would be able to carry my increments over if I was successful in this campaign and they said I could . I just presumed that the mobility list would be the same .
Anyone any info on Limerick ?

Freshvibes · 25-10-2019 2:38pm

Im pretty sure Limerick are fully staffed at the minute. Its quiet enough down there, it has a male and female prison there but its not very busy.
You will carry your service with you so youll enter on whatever point of the sale you're currently on

claregal1 · 25-10-2019 2:41pm

Freshvibes wrote: »

Im pretty sure Limerick are fully staffed at the minute. Its quiet enough down there, it has a male and female prison there but its not very busy.
You will carry your service with you so youll enter on whatever point of the sale you're currently

Okay , thanks for the replies, if this competition is anything like the other completions for CO it will probably be months before it moves ðŸ˜‚

Freshvibes · 25-10-2019 2:50pm

Yeah it can be very slow!
It's usually the security clearance that holds everything up here, but hopefully it won't be too long for you guys

job seeker · 27-10-2019 3:05am

Freshvibes wrote: »

I'm a PCO and you will be offered Dublin regardless of your preference. There are transfer lists in place for PCO's to get down to the country jails, so when new PCO's come in they take the spots in Dublin to allow for those on the transfer list to be transferred.
They probably should have mentioned it on the application form but there is no chance of nay new entrants getting Midlands, Portlaoise, Castlerea, Wicklow etc.

Thanks for the post! If you got selected, would you expect to be transfered after 1 year???

Freshvibes · 27-10-2019 7:41am

job seeker wrote: »

Thanks for the post! If you got selected, would you expect to be transfered after 1 year???

You literally wouldn’t know. I’ve worked with people who waited five years for their transfer and I’ve worked with people that waited one year for their transfer. To get your transfer, a position would have to become available in your preferred jail, so you can’t really tell when you’d get your transfer.

job seeker · 27-10-2019 12:50pm

Freshvibes wrote: »

You literally wouldn’t know. I’ve worked with people who waited five years for their transfer and I’ve worked with people that waited one year for their transfer. To get your transfer, a position would have to become available in your preferred jail, so you can’t really tell when you’d get your transfer.

Ah perfect, thanks a million!

lego.andi · 14-11-2019 5:46pm

Hi,
Got my result and got invitation for interview. Has anyone got any tips for interview? Is it different from CO in public service?
Thanks

18-11-2019 11:07pm

lego.andi wrote:

Hi, Got my result and got invitation for interview. Has anyone got any tips for interview? Is it different from CO in public service? Thanks

I also got an interview! Best of luck

LauraG321 · 20-11-2019 3:13pm

Hey,
I've also been invited to an interview. Best of luck to yous!
I have never done a CO role before so feeling nervous about it, any tips?

lego.andi · 21-11-2019 1:59pm

Hi

Check all the competencies in the job description, have a few examples and use STAR method. Good luck

Royal87 · 22-11-2019 2:28pm

Hi can anyone tell me is this a uniformed position?

Without any previous public sector experience what is starting salary?

lego.andi · 24-11-2019 10:41pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

Hey,
I've also been invited to an interview. Best of luck to yous!
I have never done a CO role before so feeling nervous about it, any tips?

2006 wrote: »

I also got an interview! Best of luck

When is yours?

Royal87 · 24-11-2019 10:57pm

lego.andi wrote: »

When is yours?

Me too presume we need to show examples to all qualities required in the booklet

job seeker · 24-11-2019 11:07pm

Royal87 wrote: »

Me too presume we need to show examples to all qualities required in the booklet

Was there not anything to help you prepare for the interview, in the email you were sent about the interview? I don’t know about the civil service, but that’s the way it’s done in the AGS...

Royal87 · 24-11-2019 11:10pm

job seeker wrote: »

Was there not anything to help you prepare for the interview, in the email you were sent about the interview? I don’t know about the civil service, but that’s the way it’s done in the AGS...

No not that i could see? Anyone know is the training is residential down in portlaoise.

25-11-2019 12:56am

lego.andi wrote:

When is yours?

I booked for first Tuesday in December

Kimbot · 25-11-2019 1:00am

Royal87 wrote: »

Hi can anyone tell me is this a uniformed position?

Without any previous public sector experience what is starting salary?

Yes it's a uniformed position.

lego.andi · 25-11-2019 1:38pm

2006 wrote: »

I booked for first Tuesday in December

Good luck to you.

job seeker · 25-11-2019 3:33pm

Royal87 wrote: »

No not that i could see? Anyone know is the training is residential down in portlaoise.

Ah that’s pure speculation from me! I didn’t get an email for an interview myself. I just thought it would have been done the same way as the AGS..

LauraG321 · 26-11-2019 1:17pm

I have booked in for tomorrow!

Royal87 · 26-11-2019 1:21pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

I have booked in for tomorrow!

Best of luck hope you can give us some feedback

26-11-2019 2:08pm

LauraG321 wrote:

I have booked in for tomorrow!

Best of luck!

lego.andi · 26-11-2019 3:41pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

I have booked in for tomorrow!

Good luck☘️

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2019 3:57pm

Royal87 wrote: »

Without any previous public sector experience what is starting salary?

23,984 (459.65) weekly in brackets. Unless there is a shift allowance.

Royal87 · 26-11-2019 3:59pm

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

23,984 (459.65) weekly in brackets. Unless there is a shift allowance.

Is this negotiable? Shocking low

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2019 4:01pm

Royal87 wrote: »

Is this negotiable? Shocking low

Nope you start on point 1 of the scale. Unless the Prison Service have a different pay scale itll be that.

NiamhP123 · 27-11-2019 1:53am

Have interview next week. Any one any tips or what questions you were asked?

LauraG321 · 27-11-2019 12:52pm

Just finished the interview!
Pretty straight forward, just asked the 4 competencies stated in the applications and to discuss examples of them

Royal87 · 27-11-2019 12:59pm

lego.andi wrote: »

Hi

Check all the competencies in the job description, have a few examples and use STAR method. Good luck

What is the STAR method??

lego.andi · 27-11-2019 1:33pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

Just finished the interview!
Pretty straight forward, just asked the 4 competencies stated in the applications and to discuss examples of them

Great job!

Did they say when will you get the results?

Royal87 · 27-11-2019 1:37pm

lego.andi wrote: »

Great job!

Did they say when will you get the results?

Do they discuss salary?

lego.andi · 27-11-2019 1:43pm

Royal87 wrote: »

What is the STAR method??

Situation
Task
Action
Results

Google it for more information

LauraG321 · 27-11-2019 1:56pm

Royal87 wrote: »

Do they discuss salary?

Didn't discuss salary but open to ask questions at the end. Said might hear back before Christmas too

job seeker · 27-11-2019 9:34pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

Just finished the interview!
Pretty straight forward, just asked the 4 competencies stated in the applications and to discuss examples of them

Is that all? I’m a bit surprised..

LauraG321 · 02-12-2019 12:31pm

job seeker wrote: »

Is that all? I’m a bit surprised..

Yeah I was too. Two interviewers, one asked the first two competencies and the other asked the next. There was a few short questions asked at the start about my education history but other than that pretty much asks what is in the application.
I assumed maybe its because there is training for the actual job and they just want to know what you did in previous jobs.

job seeker · 02-12-2019 9:53pm

LauraG321 wrote: »

Yeah I was too. Two interviewers, one asked the first two competencies and the other asked the next. There was a few short questions asked at the start about my education history but other than that pretty much asks what is in the application.
I assumed maybe its because there is training for the actual job and they just want to know what you did in previous jobs.

Ah I see, I assumed that they would have asked more about the education and work history, given the amount of detailed information on the application form!

lego.andi · 04-12-2019 12:49am

LauraG321 wrote: »

Yeah I was too. Two interviewers, one asked the first two competencies and the other asked the next. There was a few short questions asked at the start about my education history but other than that pretty much asks what is in the application.
I assumed maybe its because there is training for the actual job and they just want to know what you did in previous jobs.

Hi
Did they say anything about the location? I know it will be a training in Portlaoise.
Thanks

Clerical Officer in Prison Service

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