Senior prison officer — Cherelle MacGregor

After being inspired to work in the prison service as a teenager, Cherelle applied for her first position ten years ago. She now works at HMP Gartree in the Midlands

What inspired you to work in the prison service? 

I've wanted to work in the prison service ever since I was a teenager. I enjoyed watching prison documentaries with my mum and watching ITV's Bad Girls drama growing up, so it probably comes from that.

How did you get your job as a prison officer? 

I applied online, passed all my assessments and moved up to Doncaster to work at HMP Moorland, where I spent four years. I then transferred to HMP Gartree, which is in the Midlands and closer to my family.  

What did the application process involve? 

The application consisted of an online application form and a test. Upon passing the online test, I was invited to an assessment day at the Prison Service College, where I had two written tests, a fitness test and participated in role play with real actors.  

What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis? 

My current role consists of welcoming all new starters to the establishment including non-operational staff, prison officers and operational support grades (OSGs).

I oversee and manage the induction process for all new staff. I like to ensure that all new starters feel welcome and supported, so the start of their career is as positive as possible.  

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction? 

I get a lot of satisfaction when I see new staff start as civilians and transform into prison officers over months of training and experience working on the landings.

I see individuals gain new skills and go from strength to strength in terms of knowledge and confidence.  

What are the challenges? 

The challenges can be when staff have to deal with their first serious incident. I can see they are doubting their ability to deal with it or are second-guessing their own decision-making, but that’s when I step in to make sure the right support and guidance is given.  

Can you debunk a myth about working as a prison officer? 

A common myth about this job is that people think it's like the films or TV programmes where there's a lot of action all day, every day. Maybe that's what I thought as a young teenager watching TV with my mum.

But we don't spend all our time rolling around the floor, stopping prisoners from fighting. We build good working relationships with prisoners through one-to-one keyworker sessions where you discuss everything from the weather to football results or sentence plan progression. We encourage prisoners to attend work or education and aim every day to create a safe, decent environment for all.  

Prison officers have to deal with intense situations. How do you strike a healthy work/life balance? 

I find a good work/life balance helps my mental and physical health. I do this by always having a holiday booked and nice days out planned with my family and friends, which is easy enough with the time I get off work, and the salary I receive helps.  

What are your career ambitions?

 Over the last few months, I have passed my head of function assessments, which means I can apply for a senior manager role. I will be looking to take this step within the next few years and after that, maybe look at progression again to deputy governor (providing I can pass the tests, of course).  

What advice can you give to aspiring prison officers? 

The best advice I can give is to sign up and give it a go. I've had a blast in my ten years of service and made friends for life. The tough days are tough but the good days make it all worthwhile. There's no other job where you'll see teamwork like this. The teamwork and compassion we show each other as colleagues and friends are important to overcoming challenges together.  

Find out more

• Learn more about the role of a prison officer.
• Gain an insight into jobs in the prison and probation service.
• Visit HMP Prison and Probation Service for more information.