The Gardens Officer plays a vital role in supporting positive offender outcomes at HMP Castle Huntly. You will help maintain and enhance the prison’s extensive outdoor environment while creating purposeful, structured work opportunities for those in custody. This is a hands‑on role that promotes environmental sustainability, ensures the estate remains safe, attractive, and well‑managed, and contributes directly to rehabilitation by supervising, coaching, and developing individuals involved in horticultural, landscaping, whilst being conscious of wider environmental issues.

You’ll combine practical gardens maintenance with the guidance and support needed to help people in custody build skills, confidence, and meaningful work experience in an outdoor setting. Working as part of the Offender Outcomes Team, you will play an important part in improving the environment, supporting personal development, and contributing to a positive, forward‑looking community at Castle Huntly.

Stage 1 – Competency Sift; All applications will be reviewed against the relevant published essential criteria for this role.

Stage 2 – Role Specific Interview; All applicants who are successful at Stage 1 will undertake a Role Specific Interview, where you will be assessed against the relevant published criteria for this role. On conclusion of Stage 2, all candidates will be notified whether they have passed this stage of the process. Candidates will be ranked in merit order based on their performance at Stage 2 and this merit order will be used to identify preferred candidate(s) plus any potential reserve candidates. For existing substantive Residential Officers, this will conclude the process, however it will not be possible to finalise the selection process until those applying on promotion complete Stage 3. Candidates applying on promotion who pass Stage 2, will be required to pass Stage 3 (see below) to be considered for appointment, subject to the application of the merit order as identified at Stage 2. In the event that the highest scoring candidate at Stage 2 is an existing substantive Residential Officer, those applying on promotion will be given the opportunity to undertake Stage 3 and if successful be held as a reserve candidate.

Stage 3 – Assessment for Promotion; For individuals applying on promotion (I.e. candidates who are not substantive Residential Officers) and pass Stage 2, there will be a requirement to undertake assessment for promotion in line with the national standards and process in place for Residential Officers, (Situational Judgement Test, Cognitive Ability Test, Group & Written Exercise, Residential Officer Interview). Candidates will be required to meet the minimum progression standards to pass Stage 3 – an overall pass or fail will be awarded for Stage 3 and performance at this stage will not influence the overall order of merit determined at Stage 2.

Offer Process

Following the conclusion of all stages, candidates who are deemed to be appointable will be considered in line with the merit order determined at the end of Stage 2. Offers of appointment will be made in line with this merit order.

About Us

Job Purpose Formatting

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) operates in a fascinating, complex and rapidly changing environment. Our vision is to help build a safer Scotland by unlocking potential and transforming lives. To enable us to successfully deliver our vision, we are committed to nurturing and investing in our greatest strength and resource: Our People.

We are proud to employ a diverse range of people; each contributing their own unique experiences and skills to enhance the service we deliver. Whatever the role, you will find your SPS experience both challenging and rewarding. You will be committed to helping us to achieve our goals and in return we will be committed to helping you to achieve yours.

We employ approximately 5,000 staff across our prisons, headquarters, college, and training and storage facility. The hard work of our staff is the most critical component in the successful delivery of Scotland’s prison system.

We need professional, capable and motivated individuals who reflect Scotland’s diversity to deliver effective and efficient activities and services to achieve our Mission and realise our Vision.

Whatever SPS profession you embark upon, you will be a valued member of the team, helping us build a Safer Scotland for the communities we serve. We are committed to your personal and professional development and offer a wide range of career progression opportunities.