Prisoner Custody Officer - Bedford Vehicle Base

Serco Group Plc; England; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A service provider in the justice sector is seeking a Prisoner Escort Custody Driver to transport detainees securely while ensuring their welfare during transport. The role requires strong emotional intelligence, the ability to handle stressful situations, and commitment to high ethical standards. Offering a competitive salary with benefits, this full-time position requires flexible working hours.

Benefits

Salary of £29,744 with overtime potential

Pension matched up to 6%

Health and well-being support

Qualifications

• Ability to understand and respond to the emotional needs of detainees.
• Capability to handle stressful and emotionally demanding situations.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with colleagues for detainee safety.

Responsibilities

• Attend briefings and receive assignments.
• Collect and transport prisoners to and from various locations.
• Monitor prisoners' welfare and provide care during transport.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Stress management

Quick decision-making

Team collaboration

Protocol adherence

Physical fitness

Conflict de-escalation

Ethical standards

Cultural sensitivity

Job description

Working as a Prisoner Escort Custody Driver (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to be part of a professional team that plays a vital role in the justice system, ensuring safety and security every day.

In addition to a rewarding career, we also offer,

As a PCO at our base, you’ll work as part of a crew to provide safe and secure court transportation and custody services. You’ll collect adult male and female detainees between prisons, police stations and courts, always ensuring their well‑being. Depending upon operational requirements, you may be required to remain at court, where you’ll be responsible for the care of the detainee until they return to custody or are released.

Responsibilities

• Start the day early, attend briefings to receive assignments, including details on prisoners, pick‑up and drop‑off locations, and specific risks.
• Check handheld devices for schedules and prisoner information. Complete vehicle checks.
• Collect prisoners from various locations, verify paperwork and property, search prisoners, and load them onto the vehicle.
• Monitor prisoners’ welfare during transport, conduct cell checks, and provide water if needed. Arrange comfort stops for long journeys.
• Transport prisoners to courts and handle inter‑prison transfers for reasons such as bed space management or educational needs.
• Return to the vehicle base, perform end‑of‑use checks, report defects, and hand in documentation.
• Work beyond contracted hours due to job demands, sometimes exceeding 50 hours a week. Stay with prisoners admitted to hospitals and handle emergency transfers during incidents like prison riots.

What you need to do the job!

Our current PCOs come to us with diverse work and life experiences. What you’ve done before doesn’t matter; what matters is your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. The rest you will learn during your 5 1/2‑week training course and through our experienced colleagues.

Required skills and abilities:

• Ability to understand and respond to the emotional needs of detainees.
• Capability to handle stressful and emotionally demanding situations with a calm and composed demeanour.
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick, effective decisions in challenging situations.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the safety and well‑being of detainees.
• Meticulous in following protocols, conducting searches, and completing paperwork accurately.
• Adequate physical fitness to perform duties that may involve restraining detainees and handling long hours.
• Skilled in de‑escalating conflicts and managing challenging behaviour effectively.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to always maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds and needs of detainees, ensuring respectful and fair treatment.

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Our Assessment Process:

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, and all offers of employment are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks with Enhanced DBS (Adult & Child Barring) and satisfactory employment references.
• 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
  • Have lived in the UK for at least one year, as vetting process requires a counter‑signatory from a recognised professional who has known you for that duration.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people. For more details please go to .

About Serco

At Serco, the nature of the work we do is important, and everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

Salary

Salary of £29,744 (40hrs pw). Training salary is £26,026 (35hrs pw).

• Annual salary increments:
  • Year 2 – £30,467
  • Year 3 – £31,154
  • Year 4 – £31,865
• Additional driving allowance earnings for Category B1/C1 License holders:
  • B1 = £600 per year
  • C1 = £2,400 per year (C1 License holders must drive 6‑cell vehicles – subject to further terms).
• A potential first‑year income between £35,334 & £37,144 (depending upon license type and overtime based on a current average of 8 hours overtime pw).
• Pension (matched up to 6%), life insurance, 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 after 7 years) plus Bank Holidays.
• Discounts on Merlin Attractions, mobile phones, cinema, leisure, retail and hospitality.
• Health and wellbeing support: Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care, and Dental Plans.
• A supportive team and culture passionate about diversity and inclusion.

Working Hours

We are operational 24/6, and you’ll be expected to cover various early and late shifts, with a minimum of 40 hours per week.

Flexibility

Flexibility is absolutely essential, as the nature of the role involves a wide range of different working arrangements and additional hours. There will be days when your finishing time is unpredictable, and you may need to work beyond your scheduled hours to meet the demands of the job. We operate on a rota basis, which is provided 12 weeks in advance, allowing you to plan ahead. This system ensures that, despite the long and often unpredictable hours, you will have the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off to do the things you love.

Employee Networks

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.