Staff at a Suffolk prison, home to 1,300 prisoners, have taken part in a wellbeing day to help them stay fit, healthy and happy in their jobs. 

Prison officers need to be capable of performing to a certain standard of fitness to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of prisoners and work colleagues. But they must also look after their mental health and general wellbeing to enable them to carry out their demanding roles. 

Wellbeing days are held at HMP Highpoint, near Newmarket, up to twice a year as part of a training day for staff.  

As well as physical and team exercises, staff were also able to attend sessions with therapists to support them with challenging situations at work. Other sports and activities on offer included chess, basketball, table tennis and 'Taskmaster', as well as food and drink. 

Head of Corporate Services at HMP Highpoint, Kate Heard, says: "The wellbeing day is an opportunity for the staff to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities, talk to volunteers and colleagues, and see what support services are available. 

"It's very easy to get into the repetition of everyday work, so it's good to step away from it once in a while. 

"We have an array of roles available here at Highpoint, from operational support roles such as working on the gate, catering and prison officer jobs. 

"There'll be plenty of opportunities to progress your career as the prison expands in the next few years, and more managerial roles become available." 

Adam Boyce swapped a job in engineering to start a career at HMP Highpoint 16 years ago. He is now a New Colleague Mentor which involves helping new recruits settle into their roles. He said: "This is a tough, busy job. It can be 100 miles an hour working on the wings and it stops for nobody. Sometimes we can forget to take care of ourselves.  

"I've done most jobs in the prison so I can give new colleagues a good insight into the role they're coming into. 

"A key skill for working in a prison is communication. A large part of the job is how you talk to people – if you can do that well, the respect goes both ways." 

Chris Harries is a Physical Education Instructor (PEI) at HMP Highpoint and is in his 20th year working in the prison service. He added: "The main part of the wellbeing day is the body MOT, looking at the health of our staff. 

"They get their weight, BMI, blood pressure, lung function, glucose and cholesterol levels all checked. They are then advised by the Physical Education Instructors on lifestyle changes. 

"In the past we've picked up underlying issues that colleagues were unaware of, like cases of high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. This early detection has health benefits for the individual but also helps us to reduce staff sickness in the future. 

"These wellbeing days are vital in any job, let alone working in a prison where it's all go, 365 days a year." 

You do not need qualifications to become a prison officer or to join in a support staff role. Those who would like to take the first step towards a rewarding career can apply or find out more by visiting here.