Serco
Prisoner Custody Officer
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Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) – Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS)
Location: Ipswich, IP1 2AP
Role
Join Serco as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS), where you’ll play a critical role in safeguarding the justice system. In addition to exceptional job security, stability, and clear progression, this dynamic role offers:
- Salary: £24,596 (35 hours per week), rising to £25,555 from 1st September 2026
- Future progression: Year 2 – £26,191, Year 3 – £26,684, Year 4 – £27,180
- 24/7 business hours: Exclusively shift-based across early/late shifts with flexible 12-week rota notice. Note: Unpredictable finishing times and occasional overtime to align with operational demands. Part-time is possible, but must cover full working days.
Our commitment: Keep people safe. Keep justice moving.
Duties
As a PCO, you’ll work within a multi-disciplinary team to deliver secure and safeguarded escort/custody services during court-based proceedings. Core responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Escorting detainees to/departing from: courtrooms, reception areas, and designated facilities
- Supervising detainees in a lawful manner during hearings to maintain safety, security, and decorum
- Managing confidential information and detecting vulnerabilities or risks
- Physical, medical and emotional welfare support—access to food/water, routine conflict de-escalation, arisezeiten-based behavioural intervention
- Conducting selected searches and monitoring perimeter security
- Accurate documentation—incident reports, property records, and procedural logs
- Regular collaboration with court personnel, social services, and law enforcement when necessary.
Requirements
Serco recruits diverse talent, prioritising attitude and aptitude over formal experience. Key attributes are assessed in our 5½-week paid training programme and ongoing weekly mentorship:
- Full UK driving licence (B/B1 class, though desirable rather than mandatory)
- Requisite physical fitness for tasks like standing, lifting, and effectively managing emergencies
- Clear and professional communication skills—both written and verbal
- Ability to stay calm and work effectively under stress, making real-time evidence-based decisions
- De-escalation aptitude on high-conflict situations, with authority backed by procedures
- Adherence to systems with meticulous attention to detail always
- Inalienable integrity: Protect confidentiality with ultimate discretion
- Section-direct dressed and accessible via technology to colleagues for real-time escalation
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What We Offer
Benefits Summary
Leave
- 20 days per year escalating to 25 after seven years of continuous service (pro-rated for part-timers), plus full bank holiday entitlements
Rewards & Finances
- Pension: Employer-matches a 6% employer contribution scheme
- Salary progression: Clear, annualised raises up to four years.
Growth & Learning
- Core Training: 5½-week induction programme (paid)
- Ongoing Education: Access to internal qualifications/certification, alongside mentorship-focused development
- Voluntary upskilling: L shutrary system statuses for relevant external learning opportunities (e.g., enhanced DBS-accredited courses)
Health and Work-Life Balance
- Simply Health memberships: Medical (cash plan), dental support (exclusive discounts)
- EAP (* Employee Assistance Programme) confidential counselling/care
- Partnership with Formulate to safeguard mental health and wellbeing via charitable MIND (open Puis-top offer)
- Gym discounts: Exclusive cashback amenities at screw-operated gyms
- Comprehensive manuals; including eating/drinking/fitness guides aligned with SOC/Ministry of Justice.
Savings
- Multiplier access to loyalty discounts offered on worth of retail (High Street/Luxury), leisure (going to the movies, sure attractions), mobile-phone plans, and mid-wested process sponsorships.
Recruitment Process
- Online Application: Including eligibility questions and online assessments
- Virtual Assessment: Competency-based interview plus practical demonstration (on-line as a mock-day shift, with inclusions such as)
- DBS/Basic checks: Right-to-work documentation + finalizing security vetting
- Job offer confirmation contingent on passing next steps (minimum 3 working days processing, post-interview).
Important Legal Notices
Pre-Requisites Before Offer Finalization:
- Eligibility: Mandatory UK DBS Level 2 Enhanced + Disclosure rights. Role exempted from rehabilitation protection under the Act as of 1974. Minimum of one-year residency and an unencumbered six-months visa remaining (if applicable); skilled-worker visa sponsorship declined under current UK immigration policy
- Enhanced Clearances: Counter Signed paperwork checked via DBS-eligible employer ensuring alignment with mitigating safeguarding/re-offending risk
- Drugs/Alcohol: Onboarding includes vetted random peer screening (required 10% randomisation annually).
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All successful candidates commit to e-learning/up heldule on safeguarding vulnerable persons
- Follow mandated compliance policies and mandatory relevant national-extensive reports/review processes on ‘children & at risk or vulnerable carers’.
Serco’s Commitments
“At Serco, our collective mission shares and reinforces trust: essential public services matter. We’re a team of over 50,000 diverse professionals shaping better worlds across healthcare, logistics, defence, smile-services, and social justice.”
Explore our Global Serco platforms, supporting initiatives such as gender equity (In@ Serco), disability advocacy (Serco Embark), and cultural representation (Serco Unlimited).
Exclusive networks offer peer advocacy and bridging through inclusion before and throughout your career.
Inclusion & Fair Access
Serco adheres to stringent equal/free-access policies:
- Visitor recruitment commitment apart of the ‘ thoughtful fairness’ protocol to welcome talent from all walks of life
- Reasonable adjustments available for candidates during interview/assessment stages
- Respect sensitive disclosures, provide full sex-free engagement and diligently observe safeguarding duties
For dedicatedEmployability focused ‘Disability-inclusive’ talent/transition pathways, recruitments reach out to: j&icfullApplicants-UK@serco.com.’*
*AThe Company Fully endorses the ‘Ban the Box’ regulation,bidden to ensure impartiality, shall consult directly j&icfullrApplicants-UK@serco.com per misuse.
Apply Here
Experience Serco’s difference: [ Apply Now - Link ]
Note: Due to high applicant volumes, prompt action recommended. Serco intervenes early if need be, closing dates swiftly.
Discover with us why trust can paved the way to long-term futures: hello justus/home @serco-positionsUK
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