Northern Ireland prison service (now recruiting))

horselover1986

Has anyone on here applied for the most recent NIPS recruitment drive?

Johannes_Cabal

horselover1986 wrote: »

Has anyone on here applied for the most recent NIPS recruitment drive?

Yeah I did, not expecting to hear anything back for a few weeks though.

HighburyLad

horselover1986 wrote: »

Has anyone on here applied for the most recent NIPS recruitment drive?

I have HL, what about yourself?

HighburyLad

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

Yeah I did, not expecting to hear anything back for a few weeks though.

Johannes, I would expect to hear sometime this week, they're usually pretty quick when it comes to turn around from the application.

horselover1986

I applied but I am not going to hold my breath about getting in!! My fitness is not the best and I am trying to work on it but time is running out. The timeline of the process is now down off the site and I cant remember what the assessment entails. Is it aptitude test, fitness test and role plays all the in one day? Thanks for replying folks :-)

Johannes_Cabal

horselover1986 wrote: »

I applied but I am not going to hold my breath about getting in!! My fitness is not the best and I am trying to work on it but time is running out. The timeline of the process is now down off the site and I cant remember what the assessment entails. Is it aptitude test, fitness test and role plays all the in one day? Thanks for replying folks :-)

I don't know if a fitness assessment forms part of the process, could be wrong though. What I recall form the timeline is:-

Application(if successful) > Selection Test(if successful) > Interviews.

Johannes_Cabal

HighburyLad wrote: »

Johannes, I would expect to hear sometime this week, they're usually pretty quick when it comes to turn around from the application.

I hope so don't think I can handle waiting around on this as well as the other job.

I think I remember reading during the application that they will be in contact within 2 weeks from closing date, can't be 100% on that though.

horselover1986

They must have some form of fitness test like the PSNI or HMPS. I would also bet a big recruitment drive is taking on 20 people so 20/1000 or more doesn't leave my old chances very good!!!

Johannes_Cabal

horselover1986 wrote: »

They must have some form of fitness test like the PSNI or HMPS. I would also bet a big recruitment drive is taking on 20 people so 20/1000 or more doesn't leave my old chances very good!!!

I'm sure they do require a certain degree of fitness but wouldn't imagine it's as high as what the PSNI would need. I assume if we pass the application stage we will get a bit more info and what the next stages are and how to prepare for them.

I wouldn't worry so much about the fitness, it's something that can be worked on and if the process takes a bit of time you'll have the opportunity to improve.

horselover1986

I have also bought the book 'Prison Officer Tests' by Richard McMunn which has practice tests in there but they are not all like the sample that was upload with the application form. Do you guys know of anything similar to the NIPS aptitude test I could look at. Hopefully HL and Johannes you will both get in. I have been reading your posts on this threat HL and was sorry to hear about your last application. :-( after scoring so well!!

Johannes_Cabal

horselover1986 wrote: »

I have also bought the book 'Prison Officer Tests' by Richard McMunn which has practice tests in there but they are not all like the sample that was upload with the application form. Do you guys know of anything similar to the NIPS aptitude test I could look at. Hopefully HL and Johannes you will both get in. I have been reading your posts on this threat HL and was sorry to hear about your last application. :-( after scoring so well!!

I have only printed and looked at the practice test they provide, I need to have a look and see what else I can find out there. I'd assume some of the English stuff would be similar.

HighburyLad

The process guys is an aptitude test somewhat similar to the PSNI but not as time constraining, then an interview then a medical and a ctc check, no assessment centre anymore. I don't know for definite what a big recruitment drive is but I have friends in the job and they have heard 100 to a couple, basically they want a list of people ready to go into the job at any beckon call, a lot have retired this year and some through medical retirements. The last big recruitment drive was 2012-13 were they took on 300 odd, I don't know if that's what they anticipate again, but its not gonna be just 20. There isn't really any fitness required for the job, not as stringent as the PSNI would be that's for sure, I think in the medical they ask you to touch toes etc, take your weight and height, nothing too strict.

A lot left through the recruitment of 300, I heard over half, some to the police and some to other professions. With roughly 1000 applying and I would dare say a few won't even show for the entrance exam I would imagine the odds are favourable. The past drives seen over 2000 apply previously, when I applied I passed everything and didn't get a shot, which has left a sour taste in my mouth, however I think now is at the point were they have to recruit again. I only know this from friends in the job 2, whom have left for the police recently 1 is still there, and doesn't seem to want to change career so don't take my word as gospel as I'm just reiterating what I've been told, none of those who got into the job on here have been on in a long time, but it would be great if they could offer some advice and info, this isn't a job for everyone that's for sure.

horselover1986

Thanks very much HL I am 1% over the max BMI so I'm going to have to go on a strict regime to loose a few pound cause stupid to miss out for that on medical. I have never done an aptitude test so will have to brush up on adding fractions. Please God there are no shapes in it to see a sequence or I'm screwed altogether. Can only try anyway like everyone else. Not for everyone your right. ... for 1000 is still a lot of people. I was stupid not to think of this earlier on the year and get fitter and apply for PSNI didn't they get over 5k of applicants wow that's some number. Hopefully we all get called to selection centre and not get binned. Can we use a calculator do you remember?

Joe789

Cheers Highbury. They actually rang and offered me a position in the Escorts today. 3 months on! And not great locations. Interesting read that.

Theres not a fitness test for then NIPS. Apptitide test > Interview > Medical > CTC and Access NI checks.

After being told I was succesful at the Interview stage it took 3 months to offer me a position. Mainly waiting on the CTC but the Access NI took over 2 months! This was this year I applied for PCO campaign in April.

horselover1986

Thank you guys for all your posts. Great reading over people's views

HighburyLad

horselover1986 wrote: »

Thank you guys for all your posts. Great reading over people's views

Your welcome, can't really remember if we were allowed to use a calculator I think so, it's quite a basic enough test if I remember, its again time constraining so that's what makes it a tad more difficult. I'm glad its up again, and hopefully this time around those in charge take heed of what has happened recently and realise that to reform a body such as the prison service, can't be done on a budget. They have tried to make it more like the English prison service and its a different kettle of fish, it seems they are now acknowledging that, and hopefully that means taking on more than a handful.

horselover1986

I forgot to ask was the 2k supplementary allowance already included in the starting salary for CPO. Was it 16.5k was advertised starting I can't remember now...

HighburyLad

horselover1986 wrote: »

I forgot to ask was the 2k supplementary allowance already included in the starting salary for CPO. Was it 16.5k was advertised starting I can't remember now...

Thats not included thankfully, it's on top of the advertised salary, basically danger money.

horselover1986

Danger money .. imagine wonder is the 2k worth it. Might not even get to to ICT might never have to worry about it eh!

HighburyLad

horselover1986 wrote: »

Danger money .. imagine wonder is the 2k worth it. Might not even get to to ICT might never have to worry about it eh!

Only until I think this time last year did all the newest recruits get an allowance, before it was stipulated that it was incorporated within the salary which was a bit messed up, as the older guard got it, mind you they maxed out at like 40k, I suppose its still a consolation to get the 2k on top. I don't think personally it's worth the money, I know being a prison officer is not being a brain surgeon but they do a vital job in my opinion on behalf of us as the public, the same way the police do the same, so in my opinion they should be renumerated appropriatly, it definitely is more appealing now money wise, before the pay was not great at all.

horselover1986

Can only wait and see now what happens. Cant get any hopes up that's for sure... otherwise they could be dashed pretty quickly!

tirchonaill77

I have just joined the party. Have many people applied on here? Has anyone heard anything back yet. Wonder how long the process will take? I just missed the boat on applying for the PSNI they probably wont have a 2016 recruitment drive either

Johannes_Cabal

tirchonaill77 wrote: »

I have just joined the party. Have many people applied on here? Has anyone heard anything back yet. Wonder how long the process will take? I just missed the boat on applying for the PSNI they probably wont have a 2016 recruitment drive either

Haven't heard anything yet, hopefully we will soon.

There doesn't seem to be many on here that have applied and if they have they aren't saying.

This is my first application for the prison service, so no idea of timelines.

With the allocation of extra funds this week over the next 5 years, the PSNI could possibly keep recruiting. They aren't exactly forth coming with any plans they have so we'll probably not know for sure until a month or two before applications open.

tirchonaill77

There may be a good few on here reading the threads but not actually saying if they are or are no applying. There was over 1000 people that applied is that right? Its my first as well so I have absolutely no idea what to expect and I do wonder for the money you get what the job is like taking abuse for a few quid. PSNI money is very good. I remember seeing that the ICTs were supposed to start on week commencing 30th November so they would need to get word out or maybe people have already been called. Is it for all 3 prisons they are recruiting for I wonder. Depending on where you live could be a right commute to place of work.

Johannes_Cabal

tirchonaill77 wrote: »

There may be a good few on here reading the threads but not actually saying if they are or are no applying. There was over 1000 people that applied is that right? Its my first as well so I have absolutely no idea what to expect and I do wonder for the money you get what the job is like taking abuse for a few quid. PSNI money is very good. I remember seeing that the ICTs were supposed to start on week commencing 30th November so they would need to get word out or maybe people have already been called. Is it for all 3 prisons they are recruiting for I wonder. Depending on where you live could be a right commute to place of work.

Yeah was about 1000 applied, there's not much of a difference between PSNI pay and the Prison service now, I applied for night custody officer which the salary was either 20 or 22,000.

I'm pretty sure they are recruiting for all prisons and you could expect to be in any, but for the nights position it said on the website they will try to place you in a position close to where you live, but that's probably dependant on where the greatest need is.

horselover1986

I don't think I would be able for nights. My body clock would be all over the show on the days off. if 20 or 22 then the danger money of 2k is on top if that? Wouldn't be too bad. Wonder how many applied for nights. I see the information on numbers who applied for PSNI is up and the breakdown but nothing I can see for prison service. Maybe its a waiting game. I just thought from Assembly talks this was going to be a pretty quick recruitment.

Johannes_Cabal

horselover1986 wrote: »

I don't think I would be able for nights. My body clock would be all over the show on the days off. if 20 or 22 then the danger money of 2k is on top if that? Wouldn't be too bad. Wonder how many applied for nights. I see the information on numbers who applied for PSNI is up and the breakdown but nothing I can see for prison service. Maybe its a waiting game. I just thought from Assembly talks this was going to be a pretty quick recruitment.

We can send a FOI request to an email address they have on the website and ask but I was hoping they would process us quickly so wouldn't have to.

I applied for nights only because I figured less would apply for it and I'd have a better chance, we'll see how that pans out lol.

They pay scales for the day shift stated between roughly 18,000-26,000, but nights only had the one figure so don't know if the pay improves over time.

Hopefully we here by the end of next week. I'm almost certain they said at the assembly they were wanting people in place early next year.

tirchonaill77

Did you apply for both positions then or just the NCO? We cant be jumping the gun and emailing them off just yet. Hopefully as you say next week we hear something although I am worried whats going to be in this test!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johannes_Cabal

tirchonaill77 wrote: »

Did you apply for both positions then or just the NCO? We cant be jumping the gun and emailing them off just yet. Hopefully as you say next week we hear something although I am worried whats going to be in this test!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to apply for both but only selected the nights position before submitting as I thought you had to send a separate application for each role. I'm worried about the test as well, never been very good at tests, always better at practical application.

tirchonaill77

We are both in the same boat then. Especially doing the test under pressure on the day. Hopefully not many selected nights if they take on 100 there is a 10% chance of getting in. Not very high for any of us but all can do is try best sure and get a bit of luck as well. Its a waiting game isn't it