A 47-year-old female prison officer has been suspended and will face court next month, charged over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a prisoner in the NSW central west.

Police will allege in court that the woman engaged in inappropriate activity with a male inmate over a two-week period earlier this month.

Last week detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit began investigating reports of an inappropriate relationship between a female correctional employee and male inmate.

Officers on Wednesday issued the woman with a Field Court Attendance Notice for the offence of engaging in a relationship with inmate.

The Bathurst woman will appear at Lithgow Local Court on November 17.