Could You Spare A Thought?

For The Prison Officer's Role.

Prison chaplaincy work is not all about the prisoners. We do often focus upon the needs of the inmates, but we have in mind to minister to the prison officers as well. They often have to carry out their duties in very difficult circumstances, working on occasions with chaotic and challenging people.

There is much more to their job than simply locking people up. They sometimes have to act as agony aunts as younger offenders share their troubles with them. Situations can arise when they have to step in almost as social workers and carers. In fact, some officers are assigned as key workers to prisoners.

In the prison system, key workers are prison officers who are assigned to develop one-to-one relationships with a small number of offenders to support their rehabilitation and help them make positive choices. The key worker scheme is a core part of prison officers' work, to support offenders during their time in custody, promoting rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Prison officers have to deal with emergencies such as violent incidents between prisoners, inmates who have seriously self-harmed or attempted suicide and those who have overdosed. Then there are those who have set their cells on fire and those on a “dirty protest.” Sadly, although thankfully not so often, officers have to also deal with deaths in custody.

While they are not specifically trained as professionals in medical procedures or in firefighting, prison staff are called upon to be first responders to such situations, so let us spare a thought, and some time in prayer, for prison officers, the vast majority of whom care deeply about the inmates in their charge and sincerely seek their well-being while in custody.

Nick Stirling.

On The Wing Supported by Benefact