"Would I make a good Prison Officer?"

Before you apply, why don't you take a few moments to complete this short questionnaire which will help you to decide if becoming a Prison Officer could be the right career move for you?

The questionnaire is entirely optional and your results will not be seen by anyone other than yourself, so please be open and honest in your responses so that you get a more accurate prediction of your suitability for the Prison Officer role.

The questionnaire:

For each item please select the response which you feel most accurately applies to you:

1. The majority of Prison Officers are required to work to a shift pattern, which may include early starts, late finishes, night shifts and some weekend working.

I am happy to work shifts and feel my lifestyle could accommodate a variable working pattern

Shift-work would not suit my lifestyle and I would much rather have a regular 9 to 5 job

2. Although prisons are usually calm and controlled environments, very occasionally some prisoners can be volatile and Prison Officers need to be able to deal with conflict in an appropriate manner.

If someone shouts at me, I can usually keep calm and diffuse the conflict by listening and reasoning with the individual

If someone shouts at me, I find it hard not to lose my temper and shout back

3. Prison Officers need to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

I am most comfortable when I am working with people who are very similar to me

I find it interesting meeting and working with a variety of different people and enjoy the challenges that this presents

4. When working as a Prison Officer, it is important not to judge people on the basis of the crimes they may have committed, but to treat everyone in the same fair and objective manner.

I take people at face value and treat them as I would wish to be treated

I find it hard not to let my personal views and opinions affect the way I deal with people

5. It is essential that Prison Officers have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as these can be used to prevent and diffuse difficult situations and to create a positive prison environment.

I sometimes find it difficult to relate to people and do not always know the best way to get my message across, particularly in difficult or unusual circumstances

I relate to people easily and communicate effectively, listening to others and then adapting my own style to suit the situation and the person

6. Prison Officers need to have the self-confidence to deal with all kinds of situations as and when they arise, sometimes in difficult circumstances.

I can be quite nervous and hesitant at times, and prefer to let other people deal with particularly difficult situations rather than taking responsibility for these myself

I am generally self-assured and am keen to deal with challenging situations myself, feeling confident in my own abilities to handle these appropriately

7. Prison Officers need to be patient in order to deal with prisoners and their challenging behaviours.

I am a tolerant person and it takes a lot to make me lose my patience and react to situations

I become easily frustrated if others try my patience and I find it hard to hide my annoyance

8. Prison Officers work as a team and it is critical that they cooperate and provide constant support to one another during every shift.

I am a team-player and enjoy working closely with others, providing support and sharing knowledge and skills for everyone's benefit

I can work with others when I need to, but I really value time spent working alone and I enjoy the opportunity to work by myself when I can

9. Security is of utmost importance in a prison, and Prison Officers shoulder a great deal of responsibility for maintaining a secure and safe environment for everyone.

I am diligent and focused and rarely lose my concentration or let my standards slip

I could be described as careless with detail and I can sometimes be absent minded and forget to follow important processes

10. Prison Officers have a duty of care for prisoners and are there to ensure that prisoners are in a safe environment and are treated with dignity and respect throughout their time in prison.

I am interested in being a Prison Officer as I am keen to make a real difference to prisoners' lives and to play a part in their rehabilitation

I am thinking about being a Prison Officer as I like the idea of being in a position where I can enforce punishment on those who have committed a crime