Detention Custody Officer

**Location**: Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre
**Type**: Full-Time (40hrs), Perm (see advert below for more details)
**Salary**: £25,000 per annum
Caring. Compassionate. Resilient. Sound like you? You could be a Detention Custody Officer for Serco, using these key strengths to make a positive difference for people at one of the most difficult times in their lives.
**Alongside meaningful and rewarding work, we offer**:
Base salary of £25,000, rising to £26,250 after two years of service
Comprehensive training, including a paid, in-depth 7-week training course and the opportunity to shadow experienced colleagues, giving you a real insight into the role
Free onsite parking, free meals, and full uniform provided
Job security
Excellent Serco benefits including pension, life assurance, and an annual leave package designed to support your work-life balance
A wide range of perks, including Blue Light card discounts, paid volunteering days, Long Service Awards, retail discounts, and access to the Serco People Fund providing financial support to employees and families
The centre operates 24/7, and we offer flexible shift patterns designed specifically to help you enjoy meaningful time off for family, personal commitments, and relaxation. Please note, public transport options may be limited, so we encourage you to consider your commute arrangements carefully.
What you’ll do
No two days are the same in this varied and rewarding role. As a DCO, you’ll be the first point of contact for detainees, helping to ensure a respectful, calm, and supportive arrival process. You'll play a vital part in their journey — supporting access to healthcare, welfare, faith and cultural services, education, and recreational activities.
Compassionate communication is key, as you'll build professional, supportive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds — treating every person with dignity and respect.
You may face challenges, but you’ll never face them alone. We provide comprehensive training, ongoing mentorship, and a strong team culture, so you’ll feel confident and equipped to handle whatever the day brings.
What you’ll need
Our current DCOs come from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds including retail, healthcare, hospitality, administration, education, and security. Your previous experience isn't the most important factor — what matters is your commitment, empathy, and desire to positively impact people's lives. Everything else you'll learn through our structured training programme and supportive team environment.
You'll need a reasonable level of physical fitness and good foundational skills in English and Maths, as clear communication, hand-written report writing, and basic numerical tasks form a key part of the role.
**Our recruitment process**:
Join a one-hour virtual interview, where you’ll be assessed against our criteria (competency-based questions, role play, basic maths test and written exercise). This will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions to get a clear understanding of the role.
If successful, you’ll complete a mandatory seven-week paid training course (no annual leave can be taken during this period).
What else do I need to know?
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 three years
For general Right To Work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.
You’ll be required to complete Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) vetting and an Enhanced DBS check with Adult and Child Barred List clearances. This process requires at least five years of checkable history.
About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, 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.
Apply
At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.