Detention Custody Officer

Serco; Bedford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading facilities management company is looking for Detention Custody Officers to work at Yarls Wood Immigration Centre in Bedford. In this role, you will support detainees, ensuring their arrival process is seamless and effectively communicating their needs. The position offers comprehensive training and development opportunities, with a strong emphasis on creating a supportive environment. A good educational background in English and Maths is required, as you will need to perform reporting and maintain numerical records. The opportunity also comes with competitive benefits including a pension plan and paid breaks.

Benefits

Free onsite parking

Paid breaks

Subsidised meals

Pension match up to 6%

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Commitment to making a difference in the lives of others is essential.
• Experience from various fields is valued, including healthcare and security.
• Good report writing and numerical skills are important for the role.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the arrival process for detainees is smooth and supportive.
• Promote and supervise on-site services like healthcare and education.
• Communicate effectively with detainees to establish supportive relationships.

Skills

Good educational level of English and Maths

Reasonably fit

Experience in diverse roles

Job description

Overview

Location: Yarls Wood Immigration Centre, MK 2FQ

Type: Full Time, hrs pw (rota / shifts, see advert below)

Salary: £, per annum, rising incrementally to £, (upon successful completion of 6 month probationary period) and £. upon 2 years of service.

Working at Yarls Wood Immigration Centre as a Detention Custody Officer (DCO) for Serco is more than just a job, it’s the chance to be a part of something great; join a work family where you are valued and the work you do makes a difference every day. In addition to immense job satisfaction in a rewarding career, we also offer:

• £, per annum, rising incrementally to £, (upon successful completion of your probationary period) and £, upon 2 years of service.
• Full training provided you’ll complete a in depth 7-week training course with the opportunity to be mentored byexperienced staff, giving you a real taste of life on the job;
• Free onsite parking; paid breaks and subsidised meals; full uniform provided.
• Serco benefits including pension match up to 6%, days leave (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Perks including Blue Light cards and further employee discounts across hundreds of high street shops for fashion, hospitality, attractions, holidays, electronics and gaming supplies and much more
• Access to career long learning and development opportunities
• The chance to make a positive difference in a company passionate about diversity and inclusion

At Yarls Wood we offer both job stability & job security, as well ascareer development pathways for you to transition into operational management roles. The centre is open / 7 and you’ll cover various shift patterns, but we do operate on a rota basis that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off to do the things you love (we typically work on average -hour shifts, 4 days per week on a rota basis).

Please note that this position may have limited public transport options. Due to the nature of our shift patterns, we strongly encourage applicants to consider their commute time and transportation options before applying to ensure punctuality, maintain work-life balance, and achieve job satisfaction

The DCO role is varied, and you’ll be at the forefront of ensuring that the arrival process for detainees is as worry-free as possible and ensure they access the support they need throughout their detention. This will include a range of on-site services that you’ll help to supervise and promote, including healthcare, welfare, faith and cultural provisions, education and recreation activities. Central to this is how you communicate with detainees; you’ll form supportive and appropriate relationships with detainees throughout their detention.

Detainees come from all walks of life, and we treat them all with fairness and respect. You may experience some challenging situations or unwanted behaviour, but you’ll be fully equipped to handle this through the training provided prior to starting your new role.

What do you need to do the role?

Our current DCO’s come to us with different work & life experiences, from retail to healthcare, to call centres and taxi drivers; others are ex-military, police, and security services personnel! What you’ve done before doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’re committed to making a difference to the lives of others – the rest you will learn during your 9-week training course and through our experienced colleagues.

You’ll need be reasonably fit and have a good educational level of English and Maths, as report writing,and numerical abilities are a key part of the role.

Our recruitment process :

• Completion of online application form
• A 1hour virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, you’ll be assessed against our criteria (competency-based questions, role play, written exercise, and maths assessment); it will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions to get a clear understanding of the role.
• If successful, you will be required to complete a mandatory 9-week training course. No annual leave can be taken during this period.

What else do I need to know?

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria. Whilst we encourage applications to other roles, candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes or permissions must meet the below minimum eligibility criteria :

• Have at least two years remaining on your current visa to ensure sufficient time in the role.
• Have lived in the UK for at least three years

For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the .

• This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 4, all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and approval by the Home Office.
• You will be required to obtain Home Office CTC & Enhanced DBS with adult and child barring vetting clearances (which required 5 years of checkable history)

Visit us to view all of our other roles at Yarls Wood Immigration Centre.