Detention Custody Officer - Gatwick VB

Mitie Group plc.; Gatwick; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Pension

Life assurance

Discounts and online benefits

Job summary

Mitie Group plc. is hiring a Detainee Custody Officer at Gatwick Vehicle Base responsible for safety, welfare and security of detained immigration residents, delivering respectful care while upholding procedures.

The role involves escorting residents within the UK, driving a small vehicle, maintaining high security standards, and undergoing a four-week paid training plus a 13-month apprenticeship. Flexible day and night shifts across a 24/7 operation.

Qualifications

• Be a UK Citizen, or have the right to work in the UK.
• Full UK manual driving licence (at least 12 months).
• Pass Enhanced DBS check and vetting.
• Ability to work a mix of day and night shifts in a 24/7 operation.

Responsibilities

• Escort and transport immigration residents within the UK.
• Drive a small minibus-sized vehicle safely.
• Maintain high security and safety standards while treating residents with dignity and respect.
• Provide care to residents at a fixed location as required.
• Participate in mandatory training and assessment programs.

Skills

Strong communication

Calm under pressure

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Detainee Custody Officer – Gatwick Vehicle Base

Join Us and Make a Difference

Vehicle base DCO: Salary £31,080.00 based on 40 hours per week

As a Detention Custody Officer, you will be responsible for the safety, welfare, and security of detained immigration residents in every aspect, ensuring compliance with immigration procedures and maintaining a professional and respectful environment while upholding all legal and operational standards

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for respectful, caring, and resilient individuals to join our team. If you have:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A calm and non-judgemental approach
• Great problem-solving abilities
• The ability to stay composed under pressure

Then this could be the perfect role for you!

What You'll Be Doing

As an In-Country Escorting DCO at the Vehicle Base, you'll be responsible for:

• Escorting and transporting immigration residents within the UK
• Driving a small minibus-sized vehicle and ensuring the safe transportation of those in your care
• Maintaining high security and safety standards while treating residents with dignity and respect

As an In-Country Escorting DCO at Gatwick VB DCO based you'll be responsible for:

• Providing care to immigration residents in a fixed location
• Maintaining high security and safety standards while treating residents with dignity and respect

This role requires flexibility, as you will work a mix of day and night shifts, covering a 24/7, 365-day operation.

No Experience? No Problem!

No prior experience or qualifications are needed—full training and support will be provided. If you have experience handling challenging situations or working with people in distress, it would be a plus.

Your journey begins with a 4-week paid training course, including a control and restraint training course. Over the next 13 months, you'll receive on-the-job mentoring and assessments, leading to an accredited Level 3 Apprenticeship in Detention and Custody.

Why Join Us

• Work-life balance - structured shifts for stability, up to 1 year in advance so you can plan your goals and travel.
• Career growth – start with a Level 3 Apprenticeship, with opportunities for leadership roles
• Continued personal development with full support given to enhance your career.
• Free parking and uniform
• Training: 4-week fully paid training course
• A great selection of benefits incl. Access to on-line GP services, share options and a generous holiday allowance.
• Pension and Life assurance
• Reward & Recognition scheme.
• Discounts which include cinema, online shopping discounts, leisure centre memberships, holidays, and Health & Wellbeing Benefits.
• As a DCO, you can apply for a Blue Light discount card.

Essential Requirements

• Be a UK Citizen, a Commonwealth Citizen with indefinite leave to remain (not through marriage), or an EEA Citizen
• Hold a valid UK passport (expired visas in out-of-date passports cannot be accepted)
• Have lived in the UK continuously for the past 3 years, with no single absence over 3 months
• Pass an Enhanced DBS check, employer referencing (last 5 years), and Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) vetting
• Hold a full UK manual driving licence (at least 12 months of experience)
• Have fewer than 7 points on your licence and no driving bans in the last 12 months
• Be over 21 years of age
• Important: If you do not have a valid UK passport and a full UK manual car driving licence, we cannot proceed with your application.

Application Process

• Interview
• Capability assessments
• Full vetting screening

Our market-leading offering provides you with benefits that suit your lifestyle. We have a virtual GP on hand for you and members of your household. So you can get expert advice by video or phone without having to leave your home. We offer financial wellbeing assistance through our Salary Finance scheme. For example, you could access 50% of your earned pay before payday for a small fee. Salary Finance also offers competitive loans.

When you join us, we'll give you a link to our flexible lifestyle benefits platform, Choices. You might choose to purchase up to five extra days' holiday each year. You might buy critical illness insurance, seek dental treatment or buy technology products at an affordable cost. There are many choices!

We give you access to high street discounts from thousands of well-known retailers, gyms and more through our MiDeals platform. And we have a cycle-to-work scheme. Life cover of up to four times your salary is available. We also offer enhanced pension contributions, a save-as-you-earn scheme, and a Mitie Matching Share Plan (you could even be awarded free shares in Mitie).

We award our employees with Mitie Stars as recognition for their hard work. There are cash prizes up for grabs each month and at the end of the year there's a chance to scoop a top prize of £10,000!

Our success is a direct result of the experience and quality of our people. Progressing your career is therefore a top priority for us. We offer a diverse variety of training and development avenues via a wide selection of learning resources to suit you.

Since 1987, Mitie's 84,000 employees have been maintaining companies globally. We are the UK's leading facilities management and professional services company, and our clients range from household names in banking, critical government sites as well as hospitals and schools.

Join our Mitie Team

Together our diversity makes us stronger.

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