Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) wellbeing and (b) working conditions for prison officers.

Staff Wellbeing Support – Prisons 

The Department recognises the unique challenges faced by prison staff and is improving wellbeing through a structured support framework that enables timely access to support, early intervention, and effective wellbeing management by line managers.

Following critical incidents, trained Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) practitioners, care teams, Mental Health Allies, and the Critical Incident Support Service provide structured debriefs and targeted follow-up support. Preventative support is available through wellbeing workshops, reflective practice sessions, extensive mental health support, and wellbeing resources.

All staff have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, alongside Occupational Health services that provide independent clinical assessments, advice on workplace adjustments and fitness for work, and access to specialist therapies, for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where clinically appropriate.

This approach ensures that staff are supported through a combination of managerial, peer, and professional interventions, reflecting our commitment to embedding wellbeing as a core operational priority.

Working conditions for prison officers

Staff must be able to expect a safe and decent work environment. We are investing around £15 million in protective equipment to help keep frontline staff working in prisons safe, including expanding the use of tasers and providing more protective body armour. Body Worn Video Cameras are available in adult public sector prisons, and staff in the adult male estate also have batons, rigid-bar hand cuffs and synthetic pepper spray (PAVA).

We recognise prison officers deserve a fair reward for their challenging work. The Government has accepted all 12 of the independent recommendations put forward by the PSPRB for 2026/27. The pay award delivers a 3.5% increase to all frontline prison staff. Following the 2026/27 Prison Service pay award, the starting salary for an entry level officer has risen from £35,875 to £37,131 (national rate, 39 hours with unsocial hours).