Northern Ireland prison service (now recruiting))

Johannes_Cabal

Has anybody else who applied heard back from the Selection Test, with a positive outcome?

Laura136

Hey there, I had my interview on Wednesday.. I was speaking to the guy who escorted you to your interview and he was saying they are interviewing 3/4 candidates every 30mins for two weeks. Good luck to all those who are in for it!!

Johannes_Cabal

Laura136 wrote: »

Hey there, I had my interview on Wednesday.. I was speaking to the guy who escorted you to your interview and he was saying they are interviewing 3/4 candidates every 30mins for two weeks. Good luck to all those who are in for it!!

I had my interview this week aswell. I don't think it went very well, but hoping I'm wrong.

Hopefully it won't be long before we hear back then.

Laura136

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

I had my interview this week aswell. I don't think it went very well, but hoping I'm wrong.

Hopefully it won't be long before we hear back then.

I reckon we should hear back in 3 or 4 weeks

Mine went ok, I was able to answer the questions but I just don't know if the answers I provided covered what they were looking for (it's very hard to tell) Fingers crossed!!!

Johannes_Cabal

Laura136 wrote: »

I reckon we should hear back in 3 or 4 weeks

Mine went ok, I was able to answer the questions but I just don't know if the answers I provided covered what they were looking for (it's very hard to tell) Fingers crossed!!!

Yeah mine went pretty much the same, just not sure if my answers were in enough detail or covered the competencies.

When I went for mine they seemed to interview 2 at a time and they said each interview was restricted to 20 mins.

I wonder how many hours they interviewd for.

Laura136

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

Yeah mine went pretty much the same, just not sure if my answers were in enough detail or covered the competencies.

When I went for mine they seemed to interview 2 at a time and they said each interview was restricted to 20 mins.

I wonder how many hours they interviewd for.

The guy who escorted me said they were interviewing 3/4 applicants from 9.15 - 4.15 for two weeks minus say an hour for lunch!! That's a lot of people!!

Of course when I came out of the interview I was like damn I should have said this and that. But I guess everyone was the same

I will let you know if I hear anything.

Johannes_Cabal

Laura136 wrote: »

The guy who escorted me said they were interviewing 3/4 applicants from 9.15 - 4.15 for two weeks minus say an hour for lunch!! That's a lot of people!!

Of course when I came out of the interview I was like damn I should have said this and that. But I guess everyone was the same

I will let you know if I hear anything.

That is a lot, I wonder if there woukd be many no shows.

I know for a fact started to waffle when giving my answers, but can't change it now lol.

I'll let you know I'f I hear anything as well

Laura136

I received an email on Friday letting me know I passed And also received numerous forms, that all need to be completed and returned!! For example there is an eye exam report, health declaration, CTC.. It's going to take me a few weeks to get all the info required from my docs etc

Johannes_Cabal

Laura136 wrote: »

I received an email on Friday letting me know I passed And also received numerous forms, that all need to be completed and returned!! For example there is an eye exam report, health declaration, CTC.. It's going to take me a few weeks to get all the info required from my docs etc

Congrats, at least they didn't leave you waiting too long. Did you apply for the two roles or just the one?

I haven't received any email from them, so not expecting to hear good news.

Laura136

I applied for both... And it could be done alphabetically (I always get notices before everyone else) so don't give up hope just yet.

Johannes_Cabal

Laura136 wrote: »

I applied for both... And it could be done alphabetically (I always get notices before everyone else) so don't give up hope just yet.

I only applied for nights. I'm middle if the alphabet, but going by how I felt coming out of the interview I knew I could have done much better.

I suppose no news is good news, I'll just have to be patient for now haha.

Rockchick1989

Has anyone who has received medical forms etc, for the prison service recruitment heard anything back regarding CTC?
I completed the registration form and posted it to the NIPS Head office as instructed.
However the form said they would be in touch when the online account was setup to complete CTC and as of yet I have heard nothing.
Has anyone else had any contact regarding this?

Laura136

Hi RockChick,

Have you completed the ACCESS NI application online? On one of the forms (i think it says PIN somewhere on it) there is a link to the access ni website if you go into it and fill it all out it will give you a reference number that you record on the same form

Once i completed it within a few days i got my certificate.

Also, are you going to the information night?

Rockchick1989

Hi Laura136,

I have completed the ACCESS NI online and received the certificate. However there was a separate form which had to be filled out for counter terrorism check. It asked for basic details and driver license number and passport number. It had to be filled in and posted back separately from medical forms and at the top of the sheet it stated we would be contacted when online account was set up to complete CTC. Did you receive that sheet?

Also I cant make it to the information evening. Tried to get it off work but didnt get enough notice.

Laura136

Hi Rockchick

Yes I did receive that form, I completed it and sent it back but haven't heard anything more regarding it.

The information evening was very good, shame you missed it.

I will let you know if I hear anything more. I think the next stage will be the medical.

Laura136

Just letting you know they are giving out merit placings. Just drop them an email asking for it.

craydon

Hey, got the email around Christmas to say I hadn't passed the first stage as well as my scores for each part (which weren't bad at all). But received an email today inviting me for an interview, which is very soon! Anyone else?

Johannes_Cabal

craydon wrote: »

Hey, got the email around Christmas to say I hadn't passed the first stage as well as my scores for each part (which weren't bad at all). But received an email today inviting me for an interview, which is very soon! Anyone else?

I passed first stage and then didn't pass the interview. To be honest I don't think the questions asked where particularly relevant to the role, I'd say an assessment centre much like the PSNI's would be more suitable.

SamC321

craydon wrote: »

Hey, got the email around Christmas to say I hadn't passed the first stage as well as my scores for each part (which weren't bad at all). But received an email today inviting me for an interview, which is very soon! Anyone else?

What score did you get if you don't mind me asking?
Failed also and I also thought I had scored quite well

craydon

SamC321 wrote: »

What score did you get if you don't mind me asking?
Failed also and I also thought I had scored quite well

I don't have the email to hand but it was late 70s for both parts which I thought was ok lol! Interview is within the next week.

craydon

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

I passed first stage and then didn't pass the interview. To be honest I don't think the questions asked where particularly relevant to the role, I'd say an assessment centre much like the PSNI's would be more suitable.

There was an assessment centre last time they recruited. I passed everything and was top 90s in the merit list but they never took anyone on for that role. To be honest I think I'd prefer an assessment centre again this time, not sure what to expect from the interview.

Johannes_Cabal

craydon wrote: »

There was an assessment centre last time they recruited. I passed everything and was top 90s in the merit list but they never took anyone on for that role. To be honest I think I'd prefer an assessment centre again this time, not sure what to expect from the interview.

See I think for a position like that it is more practical to have candidates take part in mock scenarios that they might encounter, it allows them to see how you handle it and also gives you a fair idea of what the job involves.

The interview isn't too bad but I was nervous as I didn't know what to expect and I left feeling that the questions didn't really give me the opportunity to show how I am suitable for the position. It would be easy for some people to go in and talk the talk but that might not translate well into what is going to be a hands on and practical job.

Without giving anything away, the questions are too vague and have massive scope for interpretation. In my opinion they didn't really address the specific skills you would imagine is needed for the role, but again this is just my opinion and I'm sure they have these questions for a particular reason.

Good luck with your interview, don't think I could give any advice regarding it seeing as I didn't pass hahaha.

Nb1234

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

See I think for a position like that it is more practical to have candidates take part in mock scenarios that they might encounter, it allows them to see how you handle it and also gives you a fair idea of what the job involves.

The interview isn't too bad but I was nervous as I didn't know what to expect and I left feeling that the questions didn't really give me the opportunity to show how I am suitable for the position. It would be easy for some people to go in and talk the talk but that might not translate well into what is going to be a hands on and practical job.

Without giving anything away, the questions are too vague and have massive scope for interpretation. In my opinion they didn't really address the specific skills you would imagine is needed for the role, but again this is just my opinion and I'm sure they have these questions for a particular reason.

Good luck with your interview, don't think I could give any advice regarding it seeing as I didn't pass hahaha.

i would tend to disagree with you on this one, but each to their own

Johannes_Cabal

Nb1234 wrote: »

i would tend to disagree with you on this one, but each to their own

I'm not discrediting the interview as a whole, it does have it's benefits.
However I do feel that having that as the sole selection tool it may not be as affective as maybe also including an assessment centre with roleplays in order to see how an individual reacts in certain situations, as opposed to relying on a purely verbal account of past experience.

I would say the same about PSNI recruitment and that the lack of an interview removes the opportunity for the service to ask questions in order to determine an individuals motives for wanting the role.

No recruitment process is perfect, but I feel that for a position such as this that maybe it should consist of more than just a 20 minute interview with a handful of questions regarding previous experience.

Perhaps that is why the Prison Service in this country is in it's current situation.

ItWasntMe88

Hi everyone.

I'm new here and have been reading through this thread and thought I'd say hello. I too applied for the CPO position. How's everyone getting on with this now? I passed the IST, passed Interview, passed Enhanced AccessNI checks, 2 weeks into CTC checks and waiting for my invite to medical. Anyone had their medical yet?

ItWasntMe

Laura136

ItWasntMe88 wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm new here and have been reading through this thread and thought I'd say hello. I too applied for the CPO position. How's everyone getting on with this now? I passed the IST, passed Interview, passed Enhanced AccessNI checks, 2 weeks into CTC checks and waiting for my invite to medical. Anyone had their medical yet?

ItWasntMe

Hi there,

I'm so glad to have found someone in a similar position The only diff being that i had my medical earlier this week. I received a brown envelop in the post around 1.5 weeks ago from Occupational Health inviting me to attend. I was told at the medical that I was fit for duty. I suggest you give them a ring. Do you know where you are on the merit list? I'm between 10-20 on the list.

ItWasntMe88

Hi Laura

I'm not quite as low as you on the merit list unfortunately but I'm well within the top 100. I heard there are supposed to be at least 100 positions so hopefully I should get a place. I've been on to OHS regrading my medical but no date as of yet. Everything else is completed though (with the exception of the CTC which is ongoing) so shouldn't be much longer. Have you done your CTC yet? Have they given you a date to start training?

ItWasntMe

Laura136

ItWasntMe88 wrote: »

Hi Laura

I'm not quite as low as you on the merit list unfortunately but I'm well within the top 100. I heard there are supposed to be at least 100 positions so hopefully I should get a place. I've been on to OHS regrading my medical but no date as of yet. Everything else is completed though (with the exception of the CTC which is ongoing) so shouldn't be much longer. Have you done your CTC yet? Have they given you a date to start training?

ItWasntMe

I completed my CTC on the 10th Feb but it's still IN PROGESS I think it can take up to 8 weeks, fingers crossed it doesn't take that long for either of us! I have no start date yet but I am hoping it will late April/ early May (I have to give one month's notice)

Can you remember if on the application forms we were asked our preference of location? Where are you hoping to go? I'm in for the same as you CPO but I am undecided about Maghaberry or Hydebank and i can't remember if I have already selected one as my preference lol

ItWasntMe88

I completed my CTC on the 11th February. My sponsor said it will take at least 4 weeks but could take longer depending on their workload and if they require any further information. Can't see any reason why I wouldn't be granted clearance so not too worried about that one. What all did you have to do at the medical? Was it just very basic stuff?

Training is scheduled to commence from the beginning of April according to HR Connect but this is subject to change. Training will be done in batches in accordance with your merit placing...since you're very low down on the list you may be requested to start training from the beginning of April. However, I am lead to believe that should this not suit you, you can request to be taken in the a different batch and I think they are fairly accommodating with this. So I imagine you'll be fine that way.

We don't get a choice of location unfortunately. It stated on our application that we must be prepared to serve in any of the 3 establishments. I went to an information evening though and asked this question and was basically told that it's highly unlikely anybody will be going to Magilligan. The vast majority of new recruits will be going to Maghaberry and a few to Hydebank. Although I imagine they would be relatively accommodating if you requested Hydebank after you finish training. I'm hoping for Maghaberry. I live quite a distance from all locations and Maghaberry would be the easiest / closest for me at just about an hours drive.

Do you live close to any of the locations or will you have to travel quite a lot too? Obviously don't give out where you live exactly lol.

ItWasntMe88

I completed my CTC on the 11th February. My sponsor said it will take at least 4 weeks but could take longer depending on their workload and if they require any further information. Can't see any reason why I wouldn't be granted clearance so not too worried about that one. What all did you have to do at the medical? Was it just very basic stuff?

Training is scheduled to commence from the beginning of April according to HR Connect but this is subject to change. Training will be done in batches in accordance with your merit placing...since you're very low down on the list you may be requested to start training from the beginning of April. However, I am lead to believe that should this not suit you, you can request to be taken in a different batch and I think they are fairly accommodating with this. So I imagine you'll be fine that way.

We don't get a choice of location unfortunately. It stated on our application that we must be prepared to serve in any of the 3 establishments. I went to an information evening though and asked this question and was basically told that it's highly unlikely anybody will be going to Magilligan. The vast majority of new recruits will be going to Maghaberry and a few to Hydebank. Although I imagine they would be relatively accommodating if you requested Hydebank after you finish training. I'm hoping for Maghaberry. I live quite a distance from all locations and Maghaberry would be the easiest / closest for me at just about an hours drive.

Do you live close to any of the locations or will you have to travel quite a lot too? Obviously don't give out where you live exactly lol.