Prisoner Custody Officer- Hamilton

Mitie; Hamilton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitie Group is recruiting Prisoner Custody Officers to support the Scottish Prison Service's JPECCS. You will help maintain safety and dignity in custody, escort detainees, and work with courts, prisons and police partners to ensure smooth court operations.

The role requires resilience, integrity and strong teamwork. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK, be able to pass vetting checks, and be prepared for drug and alcohol testing as part of safety standards.

Qualifications

• Right to work in the UK in unrestricted form.
• Ability to complete security vetting and pre-employment checks.
• Evidence of identity and employment history as part of screening.
• Experience in customer service, security, or people-focused roles is welcome.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and care for individuals in court custody suites.
• Ensure safety, wellbeing and welfare of those in custody.
• Escort individuals between custody suites and courtrooms.
• Conduct searches of people and custody facilities per procedures.
• Support vulnerable individuals with risk assessment and monitoring.
• Maintain records, reports and custody documentation.

Skills

Integrity

Resilience

Communication

Teamwork

Judgement

Physical fitness

Reliability

Job description

38 hours per week £28,790.32 PA plus overtime available

Job Overview

Mitie is proud to be delivering the Justice Partners Escort and Court Custody Service (JPECCS) on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service.

We are looking for dedicated, resilient and professional individuals to join our Court Operations Team as Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs). This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in Scotland's justice system, ensuring the safe, secure and respectful care of individuals attending court.

As a Prisoner Custody Officer, you'll help maintain the safety and wellbeing of those in custody while working alongside courts, prisons, police services and justice partners to support the efficient operation of Scotland's courts.

Main Duties

As a Prisoner Custody Officer, no two days are the same. You will play a key role in maintaining a safe and secure environment while treating everyone in your care with dignity and respect.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising and caring for individuals held within court custody suites.
• Ensuring the safety, wellbeing and welfare of those in custody.
• Escorting individuals safely between custody suites and courtrooms.
• Conducting searches of individuals, holding areas and custody facilities in line with operational procedures.
• Supporting vulnerable and at-risk individuals through appropriate risk assessment and monitoring.
• Liaising with prison establishments, police custody teams, court officials and legal representatives.
• Maintaining security, order and professionalism within custody suites and court environments.
• Completing accurate records, reports and custody documentation.
• Working collaboratively as part of a team to ensure individuals arrive safely and on time for court appearances.

What we are looking for

We are seeking candidates who:

• Demonstrate integrity, professionalism and sound judgement.
• Are calm and resilient when working in challenging situations.
• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Are reliable, trustworthy and committed to high standards.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Are able to treat people fairly, sensitively and with respect.
• Can follow procedures and maintain accurate records.
• Have the physical fitness required to safely undertake the duties of the role. Previous custodial experience is not essential. We welcome applications from individuals with experience in customer service, security, military, emergency services, social care, healthcare and other people-focused roles.

To be eligible for this role, applicants must:

• Have the right to work in the UK with no restrictions that would prevent them from undertaking the role.
• Be able to successfully complete the required security vetting and pre-employment checks.
• Be willing to undergo criminal record checks through Disclosure Scotland and any contract-specific vetting requirements.
• Provide evidence of identity, employment history, and any other documentation required as part of the screening process.

A candidate may be eligible if they have:

• British or Irish citizenship.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
• EU Settled Status.
• Pre-Settled Status (provided they continue to hold a valid right to work).
• Another visa category that provides an unrestricted right to undertake the role and satisfy vetting requirements.

Applicants must have the unrestricted right to work in the UK and be capable of meeting all contractual security vetting requirements. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Due to the safety-critical nature of this role, we require that employees are not under the influence of any substance—including prescribed medication—that may impair their ability to perform their duties safely. This includes any THC-based prescriptions due to the lack of reliable evidence on safe levels of THC in the system.

If you are currently prescribed medication that may affect your ability to carry out safety-critical tasks, we encourage you to discuss this with us as part of the recruitment process. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments where appropriate and in line with our obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

To ensure the highest standards of safety and compliance, we operate a random drug and alcohol testing programme. By applying, you acknowledge that participation in this testing is a condition of employment.