The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, today announced the opening of a recruitment campaign for new Recruit Prison Officers for the Irish Prison Service. This recruitment campaign is the first competition for Recruit Prison Officers to be held for the Irish Prison Service since 2008.
Welcoming the new campaign the Tánaiste said: “Today is an important day for the Irish Prison Service. It marks the formal announcement on www.publicjobs.ie of the commencement of the 2016 recruitment campaign for Recruit Prison Officers”. “This campaign will see the welcome addition of new Prison Officers to our prisons. The new staff will ensure that the Irish Prison Service is renewed and has the capacity to continue to provide safe, secure custody and rehabilitation in all prisons throughout the country”.
The Irish Prison Service expects to appoint up to 120 Recruit Prison Officers per year over the next 3 years with the first recruits entering the Irish Prison Service College in early 2017. Recruit Prison Officer is the entry level to the Service and following the completion of 3 years’ service and the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC) the new Recruit Prison Officer will be appointed as an Established Prison Officer.
The Tánaiste also said that “Working as a Prison Officer can be complex and difficult but can also be varied, challenging and highly rewarding. While the duty of prison staff is to enhance public safety by holding securely those committed by the courts their role must be deeper than just a custodial function”. “Prison staff must have the capacity to relate to and engage with prisoners, act with professionalism and integrity, have tolerance and humanity and the ability to role model positive social behaviour. It is an important job and prison staff play a special role on behalf of society” she added.
Speaking on the campaign the Tánaiste encouraged all those interested in joining the Irish Prison Service as a Recruit Prison Officer to access the website of the Public Appointments Service and submit their application at www.publicjobs.ie
In particular she urged members of minority and new communities to consider applying so that the workforce of the Irish Prison Service reflected the diversity of our society which is replicated in our prison communities also.
Notes for editors
· For information on this campaign, how to apply, the Information booklet and application form please go to www.publicjobs.ie
· The Irish Prison Service is a key component of the criminal justice system and employs approximately 3,200 personnel.
· Successful applicants will be included on a panel from which vacancies for Recruit Prison Officer in the Dublin area will be filled.
· Prisons operate 24/7 and 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. They will be required to work shifts including night duties, every second weekend, and some public holidays and over festive seasons.
· Candidates must be at least 18 years of age at midnight on Thursday 28th July 2016
· All Recruit Prison Officers must complete the 2 year Higher Certificate in custodial Care which is accredited by Waterford IT. RPOs must successfully complete this training programme in order to progress to the rank of Prison Officer.
· For Further information on the Irish Prison Service go to www.irishprisons.ie