Detention Custody Officer

Serco; Crawley; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A dedicated service organization is seeking a Detention Custody Officer at the Gatwick Immigration Centre in Crawley. This role involves ensuring the welfare of detainees, supervising essential services, and forming supportive relationships. Candidates from various backgrounds are encouraged to apply as the organization values diversity. Full training is provided, along with various perks. Please note, this position does not qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Candidates should ideally reside within a reasonable travel distance to maintain job punctuality and satisfaction.

Benefits

Full training provided

Free onsite parking

Paid breaks

Subsidised meals

Serco benefits including pension

Access to career long learning and development

Qualifications

• Experience in retail, healthcare, or security services is beneficial.
• Commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
• Ability to handle challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the arrival process for detainees is worry-free.
• Supervise on-site services for healthcare, welfare, and education.
• Form supportive relationships with detainees.

Skills

Good communication skills

Numerical abilities

Physical fitness

Education

Good educational level of English and Maths

Job description

Location : Gatwick Immigration Centre

Type : Full-Time (hrs), Perm (see advert below for more details)

Salary : up to £, (upon successful completion of your 6-month probationary period)

Working at Gatwick 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 :

• Starting salary £,, rising to £, (upon successful completion of your 6-month probationary period)
• Full training provided, you’ll complete a in depth 7-week training course with theopportunity to shadow experienced staff, giving you a real taste of life on the job;
• Free onsite parking; paid breaks when on night shifts; subsidised meals; full uniform provided.
• Serco benefits including pension match up to 6%, days leave (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Perks includingBlue Light cards and furtheremployee 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 Gatwick Immigration Centre 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 is based at Gatwick Immigration Removal Centre, which has very 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. Some commutes within a - mile radius can take up to hours during peak traffic times. Therefore, we recommend that candidates live within a mile radius of the IRC to maintain punctuality, work-life balance, and 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 the 7-week training course and experienced colleagues.

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

Our recruitment process :

• Completion of online application form
• A 1-hour virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, you’ll be assessed against our criteria (competency-based questions, role play & written exercise) 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
• 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 Gatwick Immigration Centre.