Prison Instructor

Prison instructors teach prisoners new skills to help them find work after their release.

Typical Salary

£20,000 To £31,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week
between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Prison Instructor

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship

College / University

You'll need a recognised teaching qualification or be willing to work towards one. Qualifications include:

  • Level 3 Award in Education and Training
  • Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training
  • Level 5 Education and Training Diploma
  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • Apprenticeship

    You can complete a learning and skills teacher higher apprenticeship.

    Routes into this Career

    Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

    Other Routes

    Other Routes are not listed for this job.

    Skills And Knowledge

    You'll need:

    • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
    • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
    • to enjoy working with other people
    • customer service skills
    • sensitivity and understanding
    • excellent verbal communication skills
    • the ability to work well with others
    • to be flexible and open to change
    • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

    Day To Day Tasks

    Your day-to-day duties may include:

    • finding out the skills and training needs of each prisoner
    • planning training sessions
    • preparing teaching materials
    • providing group or one-to-one instruction
    • updating prisoners' individualised learner records
    • supporting prisoners working towards qualifications
    • making sure prisoners are supervised at all times
    • keeping the working area safe
    • making sure tools and materials are counted to avoid security risks
    • searching prisoners, known as a 'rub down' or 'pat down'

    Working Environment

    You could work in a prison.

    Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and physically and emotionally demanding.

    Career Path & Progression

    You could become a senior or principal officer, or move into other areas of training or instructing.

    Volunteering Opportunities

    Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

    Tips & Information

    Further information

    You can find out more about teaching qualifications from FE Advice.

    Find out more about the role from Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service.

    Restrictions & Requirements

    You'll need to:

    You would also need to meet the usual Prison Service entry requirements, which include nationality and security checks. See Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service for more details.

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