Use your experience of catering for large numbers of people to work alongside prisoners, helping them learn new skills to make positive changes in their lives
This is not your average catering job. It is a great chance to put your catering skills into practice while
gaining a qualification; working with the team to prepare meals for the entire prison. Make an impact far
beyond the kitchen by managing offenders and helping them learn new skills which can increase their chances of
future employment and their likelihood of reoffending.
The quality of food has a real impact on prison morale and you will use your skills to create quality,
nutritional meals every day. Join a professional environment and get flexibility, a good salary, pension and
Civil Service benefits.
Working as a prison caterer/chef
As a prison caterer/chef, you will work with offenders to prepare, cook and serve food under the supervision
of a chef/kitchen supervisor. You will also help to select and train offenders for kitchen duties. Your
responsibilities can involve keeping training records up to date, monitoring work, and helping to maintain
safety and security of the prison.
Responsibilities include:
preparing and cooking food using ingredients with minimal waste
supporting offenders to work safely and efficiently
co-ordinating supplies of food and ingredients
catering for diets on grounds of religious beliefs and medical issues
serving food from the kitchen or hotplate, and deliver food by trolley
checking hygiene and contribute to the review of catering standards
For Band 3 catering roles there are no entry requirements other than a requirement to complete a
catering vocational Qualification at Level 3 within an agreed timescale and have completed a food
hygiene qualification ahead of your first day of employment. If you’re a service leaver this can be
provided through the CTP, if a Veteran or Spouse we can direct you to suitable providers to help you
undertake this ahead of your first day.
For Band 4 Catering roles you require:
a level 2 certificate in food production within hospitality and catering or equivalent
working towards a relevant Vocational Qualification at Level 3 or already hold formal
qualifications in catering e.g. City and Guilds 7061/7062 or NVQ Level 3
Pay
You will work a 37 hour week. Pay depends on where you work in England and Wales. Shift patterns are
in place which will include:
hours outside of 07:00 -19:00 Monday to Friday
Weekends
Bank holidays
You will therefore receive a 20% unsocial hours payment in addition to your basic pay, subject to
working these hours. All roles can be open to part-time and job share arrangements subject to the
business need/operational requirement, however you will still be required to undertake the full range
of shifts. New recruits joining HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will be brought in on the
minimum of the band pay range.
Region
Prisons
Band 3 Salary Minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance
Band 3 Salary Maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance
Band 4 Salary Minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance
Band 4 Salary Maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance
Inner London
Brixton, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs
£36,164
£38,078
£42,104
£42,104
Outer London
Belmarsh, Downview, Feltham, High Down, Isis
£34,363
£36,181
£40,207
£40,207
National
All other prisons
£30,902
£32,539
£36,565
£36,565
Benefits
As a prison officer, you will get:
25 days annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
paid special leave for Reservists to participate in the continuous mandatory period of training.
*Operational grades within prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and you will be
expected to work on some public and bank holidays. Any that you do work will be added to your annual
leave entitlement.
Anonymised CV – You will also need to provide an anonymised (also known as ‘name-blind’) CV
which includes your employment history, relevant experience, skills and key achievements. It’s
important you don’t include the following information which could identify you:
name and title
names of educational institutions
age and gender
email address
postal address and telephone number
nationality and immigration status
This will ensure we make decisions based on your knowledge and skills rather than your background,
gender or ethnicity.
