Prisoner Custody Officer

Serco; Greater London; On-site; GBP 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Prisoner Custody Officer, where you will play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of detainees. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of individuals while working in a supportive team environment. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, the company values your contributions and provides continuous training and development opportunities. Enjoy a competitive salary, a range of health and wellbeing benefits, and the chance to work flexible shifts in a dynamic setting. If you're ready to take on this rewarding challenge, this could be the perfect role for you.

Benefits

Continuous training & development

Pension (matched up to 6%)

Life insurance

20 days annual leave (rising to 25)

Health and wellbeing benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts on leisure and retail

Qualifications

• Commitment to making a difference and handling challenging situations professionally.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe escorting and custody services to detainees.
• Monitor and supervise detainees, ensuring their wellbeing.
• Complete necessary paperwork and work closely with court staff.

Skills

Written communication skills

Verbal communication skills

Responsibility

Ability to handle challenging situations

Physical fitness

Discretion and confidentiality

Education

Valid driver's license

Job description

Location: Guildford Crown Court or Guildford Magistrates Court

Salary: £22,502 per annum

Working as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is more than just a job; it’s the chance to be a part of something great, to join a work family where you are valued, and you can make a difference every day. In addition to a rewarding career, we also offer:

• Base Salary of £22,502 (35hrs pw)
• Continuous training & development opportunities with yearly salary increments (year 2 - £23,062 / year 3 - £23,469 / year 4 - £23,933)
• Pension (matched up to 6%), life insurance; 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 after 7 years’ service) plus Bank Holidays.
• Health and wellbeing benefits such as Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care and Dental Plans.
• Access to discounts and exclusive deals such as Merlin Attractions, Mobile Phone discounts, Cinema discounts, Leisure, Retail and Hospitality discounts.
• A supportive team & culture focused on making a positive difference and passionate about diversity and inclusion.

We are operational 24/6 and you’ll cover various early and late shifts, 35hrs pw. Flexibility is key as due to the nature of the role there are different working arrangements & additional hours. There will be days when your finishing time could be unpredictable; however, we operate a rota basis (provided 12 weeks in advance) that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off.

We are open to considering part-time positions for day shifts only, but full-time attendance is required during the initial training period of 5 1/2 weeks.

About the Role:

As a PCO at our court, you’ll work as part of a team to provide safe and secure escorting and custody services to detainees, focusing on their physical and mental wellbeing. Key duties include:

• Escorting defendants to and from courtrooms, cells, and other areas within the court, including accompanying them to the toilet.
• Monitoring and supervising detainees during court sessions.
• Maintaining discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive information discussed during court proceedings.
• Ensuring that detainees have access to food and drink throughout the day.
• Monitoring the mental and physical health of detainees and reporting any concerns.
• Ensuring the safety and security of the court environment and responding to incidents or emergencies.
• Completing necessary paperwork and data entry accurately.
• Working closely with other court staff, law enforcement, and legal professionals.

What you need to do the job!

Our current PCOs come with diverse experiences; what matters is your commitment to making a difference. Ideally, you’ll have a valid driver's license, be reasonably fit, and possess good written and verbal communication skills. This role requires a high level of responsibility and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism.

Online Assessment -> Briefing call to assess eligibility -> Competency-based virtual interview -> Short role-play and written exercise.

Additional Information:

All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment offers are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks and satisfactory employment references.

About Serco
At Serco, we deliver essential public services worldwide. We are innovators committed to improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

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At Serco, we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge. Please contact our recruitment team to discuss.