Jobs scheme fast-tracks forces veterans into roles at HMP Berwyn

HMP Berwyn is offering veterans and service leavers an opportunity to start a second career as a prison officer with the re-launch of a government scheme designed to fast-track them into employment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

‘Advance into Justice’ aims to provide a stable career for former military personnel and service leavers and significantly reduces the length of the standard prison officer application process. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Now in its second year, the scheme has been expanded to include a wider range of prison-based jobs including operational support grade, physical education instructors and caterers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

There are also opportunities in a range of probation roles, including probation services officers, approved premises workers and case administrators. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Eligibility criteria has also been widened to include veterans who left the Armed Forces within the last five years, those within the last 12 months of service and their spouses or partners. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Al Byrom, 58, joined the prison service in 1991 as a prison officer after serving for five years in the Army. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Today, he is a Supervising Officer at HMP Berwyn. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Al said: “Before joining the prison service, I served in 1st Royal Tank Regiment and will remain friends with my colleagues from the Forces forever. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The term ‘band of brothers’ is a phrase often mentioned in relation to those who served together and it also applies in the prison service, which was one of the reasons I decided to join. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I would highly recommend the prison service to those who have served in the Forces because I believe in team spirit, family and working together as one – these are common traits in both the military and the prison service. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The prison service has evolved massively since I joined – it’s very possible to progress through rank structure here and it’s an environment Ex-Forces people tend to flourish in. I would urge anyone to give it a go.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Prison staff at HMP Berwyn have a key role to play in protecting the public and giving prisoners a second chance to break the cycle of crime and change their lives. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This might involve encouraging participation in education and substance recovery programmes, as well as helping prisoners to maintain vital family ties. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For more information about the scheme visit the website. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​