Trainee Prisoner Officers being recruited by prison service

The Irish Prison Service is recruiting new officers after almost a decade of a hiring moratorium.

288 pensionable public service jobs are available in the country's prisons.

The application process is open until February 22 and 50 recruits expected to start training in autumn.

The annual basic salary for the position can rise to €33,000 - with 20 days of annual leave.

Work on Saturday, Sunday, public holidays and nights attract extra payments.

Recruit Prison Officers will also receive other allowances.

Full details of the jobs and application process is on www.publicjobs.ie.

The Recruit Prison Officer (RPO) is the entry level to the Service and it is proposed to set up a panel from which vacancies arising in the Irish Prison Service may be filled.

Vacancies will be filled at Recruit Prison Officer level initially. Following the successful completion of 3 years’ service including probation and a Higher Certificate in Custodial Care, the Recruit Prison Officer will be appointed as an established Prison Officer.

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, Prison Officers will be required to work a basic 2,035 hours per year based on an average roster of 39 hours a week, and will be required to work shifts including night duties, every second weekend, some public holidays and over festive seasons.

Recruit Prison Officers will also be required to work Additional Hours (AH) over and above basic rostered hours up to 360 hours per annum.

Working as a Recruit Prison Officer can be complex and difficult, but it can be varied, challenging and highly rewarding.

We are looking for individuals who have the capacity to relate to and engage with prisoners, act with professionalism, tolerance and humanity and the ability to role model positive social behaviour. They must also have the ability to think on their feet in dealing with situations which require security and control.