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How to apply

https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/independent-monitoring-board-member-recruitment

Check you are eligible to apply

To volunteer with us, you must:

  • be over 18 years old
  • commit to making regular visits every month (this is likely to be more during induction period)
  • have the right to work in the UK
  • live close to your volunteering location, usually within 30 miles or a travel time of 45 minutes (this could be more in certain locations)
  • declare any potential conflicts of interest, for example any family connection with the prison, or business involvement in supplying a service to the establishment you are applying to
  • declare criminal records (although this won’t necessarily prevent you from becoming a volunteer)

If you have any concerns about a possible conflict, or you have a criminal record, please contact the IMB by email imbrecruitment@justice-ni.gov.uk and we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Your quick guide to the application process

Find a vacancy and apply online

Apply through this website. Recruitment competitions are held in April and October, outside of these times you can register your interest and we will contact you when recruitment opens.

Tour the prison

You will be invited to go on a tour of the facility you have applied to. This is a great chance to see the environment and decide if this is the right role for you.

Attend an interview for the role

If successful we’ll invite you to attend an interview, usually with a panel of 3 people. You will be assessed on key qualities to see whether volunteering for the IMB is a good fit for you.

What qualities do you need?

You do not need any formal qualifications to be volunteer with the IMB.

There are some key qualities we look for in volunteers:

  • analysis and decision-making
  • commitment and perseverance
  • communication
  • equality, diversity and inclusion
  • integrity and independence
  • teamwork and development

You can find out more about these qualities in our application guidance.

What happens next?

We aim to process applications promptly following the closure of the recruitment campaign.

If successful, you will have to go through security clearance. IMB members have full and unrestricted access to their local prison at any time, day or night. For this reason all our members must obtain Counter Terrorism Clearance, security clearance which can take some time to process.

The whole appointments process usually takes around 6 months, although we try to ensure times are kept to a minimum and keep applicants informed throughout the process. We understand that the wait can be frustrating but we hope that you understand why this is necessary.