Detention Custody Officer

**Location**: Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre
**Type**: Full-Time (40hrs), Perm (see advert below for more details)
**Salary**: £25,000 per annum
Working with Serco as a Detention Custody Officer (DCO) is more than just a job, it’s the chance to be a part of something great; join a work family where you are valued and the work you do makes a difference every day. In addition to immense job satisfaction in a rewarding career, we also offer:
Base Salary of £25,000, rising to £26,250 upon 2 years of service Full training provided, you’ll complete a in depth 7-week paid training course with the opportunity to shadow experienced staff, giving you a real taste of life on the job; Free onsite parking; free meals; full uniform provided. Serco benefits including pension, life assurance and an annual leave package that allows you to relax and recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance Perks including Blue Light card, paid volunteering days; Long Service Awards; other benefits, including retail discounts and the Serco People Fund, which provides providing financial support to staff and their families. Further employee discounts across hundreds of high street shops for fashion, hospitality, attractions, holidays, electronics, and gaming supplies and much more Access to career long learning and development opportunities The chance to make a positive difference in a company passionate about diversity and inclusion
At Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre we offer both job stability & job security, as well as career development pathways for you to transition into operational management roles. The centre is open 24/7 and you’ll cover various shift patterns, but we do operate on a rota basis that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off to do the things you love.
The DCO role is varied, and you’ll be at the forefront of ensuring that the arrival process for detainees is as worry-free as possible and ensure they access the support they need throughout their detention. This will include a range of on-site services that you’ll help to supervise and promote, including healthcare, welfare, faith and cultural provisions, education and recreation activities. Central to this is how you communicate with detainees; you’ll form supportive and appropriate relationships with detainees throughout their detention.
Detainees come from all walks of life, and we treat them all with fairness and respect. You may experience some challenging situations or unwanted behaviour, but you’ll be fully equipped to handle this through the training provided prior to starting your new role.
What do you need to do the role?
Our current DCO’s come to us with different work & life experiences, from retail to healthcare, to call centres and taxi drivers; others are ex-military, police, and security services personnel What you’ve done before doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’re committed to making a difference to the lives of others - the rest you will learn during your 7-week paid training course and experienced colleagues.
You’ll need be reasonably fit and have a good educational level of English and Maths, as report writing & numerical abilities are a key part of the role.
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.