HMP & YOI Grampian opened in 2014, and is a community facing prison, capable of housing over 500 individuals. The establishment is responsible for the care of both male and female prisoners.
The prison is located in Peterhead, the most easterly town on the Scottish mainland. The town is around 32 miles from the city of Aberdeen.
As a Prison Officer in Grampian, you'll be joining a dynamic and diverse team that are committed to making a difference to the lives of those in our care and to their local community. No two days will be the same, and you'll be constantly learning new things and developing yourself.
The team in Grampian is made up of around 250 Prison Officers, working across our Operations, Residential and Offender Outcomes functions. As an Operations Officer, your role will predominately focus on maintaining the safety and security of the establishment, and you'll work across 5 key areas of the prison; Front of House, Patrol, Visits, Reception and the Electronic Control Room. As a Residential Officer you'll work within the residential area of the prison which is where those in our care live.
Our Officers work shifts which will include night shift and weekends. A majority of our Officers at Grampian typically work 7-days across a 2-week period.
Grampian is committed to supporting new staff, recognising that they may never have worked in a prison environment before.
When you join the organisation you'll undertake an Officer Foundation Programme, which will involve both practical and theoretical learning to prepare you for the role. If you are joining us as an Operations Officer, you'll also be required to undertake SVQs which you'll be supported to complete.
New staff joining Grampian will be supported throughout their induction, and can access support on their return to the establishment through a mentoring programme which is delivered by dedicated mentors within the establishment. You'll have an assigned line manager, who will be one of the Operational First Line Managers within the establishment. They'll be there to support you alongside your peers.
At the SPS, we recognise that our staff are our biggest asset, and as such we'll support you throughout your career progression. We regularly advertise internal opportunities for promotion to our staff.
You can see the operational staffing structure in the diagram to the right hand side. You'll join us as either an Operations Officer or Residential Officer, but can work your way all the way up to Governor in Charge. Most of our serving Governors joined the organisation as Prison Officers.
We also offer many lateral opportunities for our staff too. As a Prison Officer, there are opportunities to specialise in the delivery of specific programmes or purposeful activity for those in our care. We have Offender Outcomes specialists that work in key areas such as; Physical Education, Catering, Hairdressing and Outreach...to name a few!
What did you do before joining the Scottish Prison Service?
I was a Project Officer and supported and helped Young People from the ages of 16-24 with volunteering, employment and interviews to support them through our project.
What skills did you learn in that role which are relevant to the Prison Officer role?
It helped me understand mental health struggles. Some people in our care have mental health conditions and my previous role helped me learn skills in relation to knowing what support people may need, areas you can reach out to as well as a general understanding of behaviours.
In my previous employment, decisive decision making was also needed.
Those two skills have been a life saver. You are responsible for the people in your care, and you have to manage a regime, day to day issues, personal problems those in our care may need support with as well as completing paperwork.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying for a Prison Officer role within Grampian?
I had in my head exactly what I would be like as an officer, what working as part of a section would look like, and how I would handle situations. I think the best advice I could give to others is to be open minded in your expectations; there is a balance of care and opportunities, yes. But custody and order is a hugely important part of your role as a Prison Officer.
As a First Line Manager (FLM), what skills do you think would make someone a good Operations Officer?
Key skills I believe make a good operations officer are; team working, open mindedness and being keen to learn. The roles in the Operations group are varied and you will work with different staff. We always work better when we work together. As a new officer you will be taught lots of theory as well as practical training too. Communicating well with your peers and building positive relationships are key.
What development have you received working in Grampian?
I was given the opportunity of temporary promotion from Residential Officer to First Line Manager, which provided me with substantial experience and examples for my promotion board interview. I then completed the Grampian Development Programme which supported me in role. Currently I am undertaking a temporary promotion opportunity to Unit Manager level and I have received regular feedback and support from my line manager and peers.
What is the best part about being a First Line Manager (FLM)?
I found the FLM role to be extremely rewarding. You are key to making positive changes within the establishment benefiting those in our care. As an FLM you also support staff to grow and develop.
What did you do before joining the Scottish Prison Service? What skills did you bring from that role to the role of Prison Officer?
I was a fitness instructor and Health and Well-being Instructor. The skills I brought from these roles were; I am a “people person”, I am easy to talk to, I am non-judgemental and I am a good listener. I am confident speaking with people individually or in a group environment.
As a relatively new member of the team at Grampian, what is one thing you wish you had known about the role before you joined?
I wish I had known how full-on the job was. You are kept busy for the majority, if not all your shift. There is a routine that needs to be followed to allow the smooth running of the prison. I really enjoy the busyness as it makes the day go quickly.
What is the best thing about working in Grampian?
The best thing about working in Grampian is that you work in a big team and support each other. I have had so much support from my colleagues, managers and all of the other staff whilst working in Grampian. Whether you have had a bad day or not, there is always someone there to support and talk to.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
I work as an Outreach Officer within Offender Outcomes. This is a wide-ranging role which includes helping people in our care at moment of crisis and supporting them through this. I help people in our care who are suffering with poor mental health to have purposeful activity away from their cells. I also support people in our care who are on a recovery pathway from substance misuse to fulfil the goals they have set themselves.
What does a typical day in your role look like?
Dealing with a crisis one minute to pure joy the next. Working in a prison can be a rollercoaster, and no two days are the same.
What skills do you think make a good prison officer?
Firstly, you need to be a good listener and show empathy to those in our care. You will need to be prepared to have difficult discussions with individuals on a wide range of issues. You should be a good team player and be able to work as part of a team. Your appearance and behaviour when on duty should demonstrate that you are approachable to others.
How would you describe the key differences between the Operations Officer role and Residential Officer role to someone thinking about applying?
The Operations function can be very diverse in terms of where you are posted. One day you could be based within the Health Centre, the next Front of House, then another day Visits. Each post has its own routine and workload.
Working in the Residential Function you are primarily working in the same area running with the same regime; however, I can assure you that no two days will be the same. I would recommend anyone thinking about a career in the Scottish Prison Service, to just do it!
What is the most rewarding part of your role as a Residential Officer?
I have worked as a Residential Officer for almost 5 years. During this time, I have faced some challenges, however I have also been part of some amazing projects. There can be bad days, however the good days supersedes this. Working in Residential you have the opportunity to work with individuals in our care on a more one-to-one basis that allows you to build a working relationship. I enjoy working with individuals that are in custody and working in the Residential function allows you to be part of an individual’s success story on how you were able to be a part of their journey.
What is the best thing about working in HMP Grampian?
Grampian is my local establishment. I knew of some people that worked in Grampian however did not have any friendships with anyone that worked there. During my time working in Grampian, I have met people from all over Scotland, and even the world; both those I work with and those in our care. Whilst working in Grampian I have been lucky to gain friendships with colleagues that I would not have met elsewhere.
I have gained experiences whilst working in Grampian that I do not feel I would be able to obtain from any other job.
Grampian also have a Talent Development Team, which allows those wishing to progress within the service an opportunity to do so whilst working against a Training Needs Analysis, therefore opportunities for development are available for those who wish to have it.
Apart from your promotion to Residential Officer, what has been your biggest achievement of your Prison Officer career?
During my time working in the Scottish Prison Service, I have had various opportunities to work in different departments of the service. I started as an Operations Officer then progressed to Residential. During my time as a Residential Officer, I had an opportunity to work on Detached Duty in HMP Inverness during the initial COVID pandemic. On return to Grampian I was then given a secondment to Offender Outcomes. From these experiences and my time in Grampian I have recently been given the opportunity to take on the role as a Residential Mentor. Working as a Mentor I now work daily with those recently promoted/acting up from Operations Officer to Residential Officer, as well as those recruited directly as Residential Officers. I am able to support and mentor these individuals in an environment that can be completely brand new whilst teaching them the roles as responsibilities of a Residential Officer.
Finlay, Operations OfficerThe team aspect of working in Grampian is what I like most.
John, Residential OfficerI would recommend anyone thinking about starting a career in the Scottish Prison Service, to just do it!
Information on the Prison Officer Recruitment Open Day being held at HMP & YOI Grampian on 26 March 2025.