Being a good prison officer is about having the right state of mind - Kate Sims

Growing up I always wanted to have a job with a purpose. Inspired by my grandfather’s stories about his time in the police, I wanted a career where I knew I was playing my part in making our society better and safer.
By Kate Sims
Published 4th Apr 2023, 06:00 BST

I’ve always found the criminal justice system interesting and often watched prison documentaries when I was at school, but going into the working world at a young age it took me a few years before I realised working in the Prison Service was a path I could pursue.

After working in a few different roles such as a baker’s assistant and a debt collector for a few years, I decided to apply to become a Prison Officer and start the career I’d always hoped for.

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I joined the Prison Service when I was 25, and eight years on I’ve progressed from Prison Officer to Supervising Officer, to Custodial Manager, and have never looked back. It can be challenging and like with any role, you have good days and bad days, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.

We are offering people a chance to better themselves at HMP Wealstun.We are offering people a chance to better themselves at HMP Wealstun.
We are offering people a chance to better themselves at HMP Wealstun.

My favourite part of the role is the people you meet and work with. In fact, some of my very dearest friends are people I have met through this job.

People tend to have the perception that you need to be a certain type of person with a strong physique to be a Prison Officer but they couldn’t be more wrong. Being a good Prison Officer is not as much about your physique, but rather having the right state of mind.

Of course, a Prison Officer needs a range of skills but most of it can be taught during training or comes with experience. Outside of this training, you do need to have a natural resilience, compassion and a love of working with people.

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We work with some of the most complicated people in the society here and it is really important to have enough patience and empathy to make them feel like you are on the same team. As a Prison Officer, it is not my job to judge them, they have already had their trial. Instead my role is to create an effective environment for their rehabilitation. I cannot put into words how amazing it feels when you see prisoners making better choices and improving their lives

I am a big fan of what we do here at HMP Wealstun. We are offering people a chance to better themselves.

The role isn’t just about locking and unlocking doors, it’s about making a difference to people’s lives.

There’s no typical day as a Prison Officer. You could be a negotiator or referee one minute, a teacher or mentor the next. Every shift is different, but each one is an opportunity to help someone make better choices and hopefully turn their life around.

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My current role as a Custodial Manager means that my days are built around getting the prisoners out to their educational sessions or jobs in the prison, but there are lots of opportunities in the service to progress and specialise depending on what interests you the most.

When you become a Prison Officer, you don’t just start a job, you start a career. If you’re interested in a role with variety where you have opportunities to make a difference, I’d encourage you to think about applying to join us at HMP Wealstun. You can find out more about the role by visiting: https://prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-officer

Kate Sims is custodial manager at HMP Wealstun in West Yorkshire.