Case studies: Prison officer: David

David graduated in 2007 with BA in History from Edge Hill University. He is a prison officer at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution.

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do once I finished my degree but while I was researching joining the police I found some information on the prison service and thought it sounded worth looking into as well. The initial part of the selection process involves an online assessment of your suitability for the job and timed English and maths tests. Having got through this, I was invited to a regional training centre for a series of one to one role play sessions designed to see how I react in certain situations that are challenging, stressful or threatening. Each session was filmed and recorded to be analysed to see if I stayed calm and managed the situation without panicking or becoming aggressive. I was pretty nervous beforehand but I could see the purpose of the exercise. The final thing you have to pass is a fitness test, which wasn't too difficult. The whole recruitment process takes many months including background and CRB checks. 

Once you've passed everything, you're asked for three preferences for prisons you wish to work in and I think it is very important to look into the type of institution you really want to join. I'd worked with young people before so thought that I would enjoy the younger age group and I do find it rewarding to see individuals develop and in many cases leave to turn their lives around. It can, of course, seem thankless when you've tried really hard to help and nothing seems to work. It's vital not to give up on them.

The first few months in the job were the hardest - getting used to the physical and emotional environment of a prison and knowing that you're being watched by the prisoners. No two days are the same. You never know what will happen - sometimes nothing and sometimes there can be serious incidents involving abusive behaviour, self harming and fights. During the first year you complete NVQ Custodial Care and classroom study on a range of topics such as hygiene, control and restraint, and diversity and fairness. To succeed you need to have lots of common sense, be able to handle yourself in some difficult situations and work as part of a team. The Prison Service is quite traditional in terms of the seniority of ranks, respect for hierarchy and self-discipline and that isn't a working environment that suits everyone. There's quite a lot of paperwork to be done too, which means you have to manage your time and prioritise tasks. But I think it's a great job and I hope to progress through the management structure. This will involve moving prisons but I'd want to continue with young offenders.

Anyone interested in joining the service should do as much research as possible, particularly on the actual prisons you wish to work in, and there’s lots of information on the relevant websites.