“People think of bald, tattooed, muscly people and I’m not that” Prison officer seeks to break down stereotypes and get more women to join prison service
Covid has transformed the working world. Easing restrictions, healthcare concerns and money worries have all left people questioning what they do and why they do it.
It houses up to 530 men aged 18 and over and Mica's also spent a stint working as a supervising officer.I always wanted to be in uniform as a kid. A lot of my friends actually worked in the prison service when I got older and I found their stories really interesting - it seemed like every day was completely different, whereas that was really missing from the job I was in at the time, in immigration.
In person, you do things like a basic fitness test -a bleep test - but you don't need qualifications. But I can't stress enough - it's all about the communication skills. I can't stop talking sometimes, whether that's the right or wrong thing!You look at locks, doors, fences - it doesn't look like a nice place. Don't get me wrong - you need those things for safety. But when you come into HMP Portland and see the workshops, healthcare, the staff and the rugby pitches... it's like a community.