Reflecting the voices of prison officers with respect to their support, supervision, and wellbeing training needs: a reflexive thematic analysis

Prisons represent a significant public health concern. The challenging living and working conditions within prisons are widely acknowledged to contribute to elevated rates of ill health among both prisoners and prison officers. Officers hold a vital role in supporting individuals in custody. However, the intense pressures associated with the role, compounded by toxic workplace cultures, are frequently reported to negatively impact their wellbeing. This deterioration not only affects officers personally but can also compromise the effective functioning of the prison service. While structured support systems exist to meet the rehabilitation and care needs of prisoners, equivalent care and professional support for prison officers remains inadequate and insufficiently prioritised. A total of 27 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with both former and current prison officers to explore their subjective experiences and to collaboratively identify the support, supervision, and wellbeing training needs arising from their roles. A process of reflexive thematic analysis was adopted. Six main themes were constructed from the data analysis: (1) responsible recruitment, training, and development; (2) dual duty of care; (3) acknowledgement of psychological hardship; (4) superficial support systems; (5) collaborative cultural change; and (6) components of a good model of practice. This study highlights the urgent need for reform in how prison officers are supported and serves as a framework for the development of more effective support structures. It also contributes to the growing body of literature by deepening our understanding of the emotional labour inherent in the role and the associated psychological impact. Furthermore, it acknowledges the wider societal implications of these findings, emphasising that supporting prison officers is a matter of institutional responsibility and a critical public health concern.