Prison officer JSAC in The AnswerBank: Career Advice

The JSAC takes the form of role play exercises. My best advice is to read all the information they give you carefully, then listen to what is being said, as the role player will be trying to get information over to you. If they repeat something, it is because it is important, and you have not picked up on it. They will not repeat it again!

Be yourself, remain calm, remember that if the role player shouts at you, (and they will) it is not directed at you personally, but more a sign of their anger and frustration at a situation. Let them get it out of their system, but don't allow them to swear and be rude to you, say something along the lines of 'I am not swearing at you, please don't use that kind of language to me', but don't let it develop into an argument. Once you have explained the situation, they will calm down and listen to your point of view.

I know that it is a stressful situation, but speaking as someone who has acted as a role player in JSAC's, (and nearly been attacked by candidates) I can tell you that if you listen carefully, all the clues are there.

Good luck.

Sado

Sorry, but I have just looked at your name. If you get the job, you may wish to change it! (Think of showers and bars of soap)!

mybotty

Question Author

cheers sado, i picked that name because everything i tried had been taken, it was the polite version of myar***

winniezzx

Hi Sado,

I've just recently done my JSAC and was wondering what the assesors are looking for.

I showed all the skills that were outlined to us all. Are they looking for just that, or do we need to have resolved the situation? I don't think resolving it was appropriate in some of the cases.

winniezzx

Hi Sado,

I've just recently done my JSAC and was wondering what the assesors are looking for.

I showed all the skills that were outlined to us all. Are they looking for just that, or do we need to have resolved the situation? I don't think resolving it was appropriate in some of the cases.

Thanks

-- answer removed --

Sado

Winniezzx
They look primarily at how you manage the situation. Did you get as much information from the role player as you could, did you ask questions to clarify points, did you summarise at the end so that it was clear what was going to be done?
In many of the exercises, there is no right answer, but they are interested in how you reached the conclusion that you arrived at.
Did you become involved in any arguments, or did you allow them to blow off steam before de-escalating the situation?
Personaly, I always hated doing JSAC's, (you also do them for promotion) as I felt they were too false, but that's just my opinion!
Good luck.

winniezzx

Thanks for your reply, I'm feeling more positive about it now. I did ask lots of questions, clarify everything we discussed and summarised what needed to be done, by when, and the consequences if they failed to do so.

I had one character who was really angry with him, but by the end of the roleplay, I had managed to calm him down and we were talking like adults again.

Sado

Sounds promising.

mybotty

Question Author

hi winniezzx, where did you take your jsac, was it highpoint by any chance.

winniezzx

No I didn't do it at Highpoint. Have you done your JSAC now?

mybotty

Question Author

yes, i took it last fri (27th) waiting for result, i'll let youi know how i did. let me know how you do.
good luck.

Sado

mybotty
I received your message. Congratulations. Don't be in a rush, as security checks need to be completed before a final offer of employment. Spend the time whilst you are waiting going to the gym and getting fit, believe me, you will be thankful once you start your training!

jobloggs

Hi to you all,

I'm due to take my jsac in two weeks time and am quite nervous as i don't really know what to expect. How is it all assessed and how intimidating is it? Sado is the failure rate high? And is there any ways in which i can prepare to help my chances?

Thanks

mybotty

Question Author

hello mate, i am still waiting for the results of my jsac, i took it the 27th of last month. what i can tell you is, don't take the scenarios at face value, look for reasons behind the scenes, listen very carefully to EVERYTHING the actor says and listen for repeated sentences as these are clues to what you should be picking up on, ask lots of questions but listen to the answers. The very best of luck. Please let me know how you get on. if you like you can e-mail me at
[email protected]

mybotty

Question Author

To everybody reading this thread, I am delighted to say that I passed my JSAC, Good luck to all of you about to take it !!!!

jobloggs

Congrats Mate, which prison service have you applied to?
Was the JSAC as hard or easier than you expected?

mybotty

Question Author

wayland prison which is in norfolk, and , i am sorry to say, yes it was harder than i thought, but take note of all of the other answers and you can do it. best of luck, let me know how you do.

Sado

Well done, mybotty.
Two pieces of advice.
1 Change your name!
2 Don't worry about how you can change prisoners, worry more about how they will change you.
I'll let you all discuss JSACs amongst yourselves, now; after 28 years, I need a rest.
Good luck to you all.

Koi Kichi

Hi all,

Also passed my JSAC recently, taken at HIghpoint - certainly an experience.

Been allocated to my local prison 'Blundeston', does any idea how long the security checks take and what they entail? Been waiting nearly 4 weeks since they confirmed I'd be going to Blundeston and they haven't written for my reference yet.

Anybody any ideas?

Many thanks....

Prison officer JSAC

Answers