Prison Officer

Serco Group; Blaby; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking on site

Gym on site

Free meals on shift

Health and wellbeing benefits

Rewards and recognition scheme

Discounts (cinema, retail, dining, etc

Blue Light discount card

Job summary

Serco is recruiting Prison Custody Officers for HMP Fosse Way, Leicester. You will supervise prisoners, support education programmes, and handle security and administrative tasks in a 24/7 operation.

The role emphasises transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, resilience and de-escalation, with a comprehensive 10-week training and ongoing development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Eligibility requires two years remaining on current visa and UK residency for vetting.
• Willingness to complete a 10-week Initial Training Course and Diploma in Custodial Care.

Responsibilities

• Supervising prisoners in all aspects of prison wing activity.
• Overseeing work and education programmes and encouraging participation.
• Managing security tasks such as headcounts, cell searches and administrative processes.
• Supporting prisoners at risk of self-harm.

Skills

Strong communication

Teamwork

Resilience

Patience

Time management

De-escalation

Job description

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Location:HMP Fosse Way, Wigston, LE18 4WS
Full-time with varying shift patterns
Important: To be eligible for this role, you must have at least two years remaining on your current visa and have lived in the UK for at least one year to meet our vetting requirements.
Work with Purpose: Transfer your Skills to a Career in the Prison Service
What’s in it for you?
Your starting salary will be £28,187pa. increasing to £29,271 after 12 months and increasing again to £33,337 after 3 years’ service. We're fully committed to supporting you through a nationally-recognised PCO Portfolio or PCO apprenticeship qualification, which would increase your salary to £32,288 as soon as either of these is successfully completed, which can realistically be achieved within 12 to 18 months of joining us. We also offer:

• Opportunity to earn approximately £37,800 including overtime (while we can't guarantee overtime will always be available, this is based on an average of 4 hour per week)
• Clear career development pathways for you to transition quickly into operational management positions with salaries ranging from £37,000 to £42,000
• Free parking on site, free use of the gym and free food while on shift
• Health and wellbeing benefits
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Discounts including cinema, retail, dining, leisure centre memberships, mobile phone plans and more
• Option to apply for a Blue Light discount card

Is this the right career for you?

Our Prison Custody Officers join us from a wide range of backgrounds - including customer service, administration, retail and hospitality, warehousing and logistics, the Armed Forces, health and social care, manufacturing, trades, operations and supervision, security, education and more.

Day to day you’ll be involved in:

• Supervising prisoners in all aspects of prison wing activity
• Overseeing work and education programmes, encouraging prisoners to participate
• Operational matters such as prisoner headcounts, prison cell searching, security, and administrative processes
• Managing prisoners who are at risk of self-harm

What you’ve done before doesn’t matter as much as how you work. We’re focused on transferable skills and behaviours such as strong communication, teamwork, resilience, patience, time management, and the ability to de-escalate challenging situations. A commitment to customer service and upholding health and safety standards is key - the rest you’ll learn through our comprehensive 10-week training course and the ongoing support of experienced colleagues.

We operate 24/7, all year round meaning you’ll cover shifts on days, evenings, weekends, nights, and bank holidays. We value the importance of work-life balance, we operate on a rota basis that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off.

Your recruitment journey:

• You’ll be invited to complete an online assessment
• If successful, you’ll attend a virtual competency-based interview, along with an English assessment
• Once passed, you’ll be invited to HMP Fosse Way for a Welcome briefing about the prison and the role, a group session, a mobility assessment, and a guided visit around the prison
• After successfully completing the assessment process, you’ll attend a 10-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the prison (100% attendance required), which includes 8 weeks of classroom-based training, 2 weeks of on-the-job shadowing to experience the role first-hand, completion of a Diploma in Custodial Care, First Aid training, and Control and Restraint training

Travel: Please note that this position is based at HMP Fosse Way in Leicester, which has 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. Therefore, we recommend that candidates live within a 30 mile radius of the above location to maintain punctuality, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.

What else do I need to know
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks, and satisfactory employment references. You’ll be required to provide 5 years of employment and education history as part of these checks.

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 one year, as the vetting process requires a counter-signatory from a recognised professional who has known you for that duration

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
Applicants with disabilities and veterans who meet the minimum job criteria are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.

For support with your application, please contact j&[e-mail].

Let’s impact a better future, together.