Serco Plc
Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
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# Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) – Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS)
Location: Exeter Vehicle Base, EX5 1EW
Join us in our Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) and play a vital role in maintaining safety and security within the UK’s justice system. This role offers:
- Job security and stability
- Competitive starting salary and clear progression opportunities
- Attractive benefits, including driving allowances
Salary & Pay Structure
Base Salary (Benefits progression framework)
- Initial training salary: £24,596 (35 hours per week)
- Graduated base salary: £28,109 (40 hours per week), rising to £29,205 from 1st September 2026 with annual progression:
- Year 2: £29,932
- Year 3: £30,496
- Year 4: £31,063
Additional Earnings
Potential first-year income ranges from £34,805 – £36,605 when combined with:
- Base salary
- Average overtime (8 hours per week)
- Driving allowances (subject to licence type and vehicle eligibility):
- B/B1 licence: £600 per year
- C1 licence: £2,400 per year
About the Role
Key Responsibilities and Duties: As a PCO, you’ll operate across 24/6 shifts (morning, afternoon, and late rotations) with unpredictable finishing times. Key tasks include:
-
Transport and custody of detainees:
- Escort prisoner between prisons, police stations, and courts, ensuring safety, security, and dignity.
- Conduct pre- and post-transfer risk assessments, and execute route planning.
-
Process and documentation:
- Attend pre-shift briefings for detainee-and-case-specific updates.
- Carry out vehicle inspections, including safety equipment checks.
- Monitor detainee welfare during transit (comfort checks, mitigating risks).
- Complete comprehensive end-of-shift reports and provide manual and electronic records.
-
Role adaptability:
- Work flexibly, including handling incidents or unforeseen delays.
- Option to work part-time, but this must be aligned with full working days (not part-shifts).
What We’re Looking For
Successful applicants will embody these core values:
- Reliability, trustworthiness, and compassion
- Dignity and respect for detainees and colleagues
- Commitment to safeguarding principles
- Adaptability and path to minor progression
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Requirements:
- Full UK driving licence (Minimum: B/B1; C1 preferred).
- C1 licence holders should ideally hold a valid CPC Credit.
- Reasonable fitness to meet the physical demands of the role.
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and make decisive decisions.
- Personnel manipulation skills including:
- Conflict de-escalation and crisis response.
- Strict procedural adherence for security and governance.
- Professionalism, integrity, and an ability to maintain confidentiality.
Benefits
Your dedication will be recognised through a range of workplace and personal advantages, including:
- Holidays:
- 20 days (rising to 25 days after 7 years’ service)
- Bank holidays included (pro-rated annually).
- Pension:
- 6% contributory scheme (employer matches contribution in full).
- Training and Professional Development:
- 5.5-week structured paid induction program.
- Ongoing learning opportunities and access to internal courses.
- Mentorship and clear pathways for internal promotion.
- Health and Wellbeing:
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- Support from mental health charity Mind.
- Simply Health health cash/dental plans.
- Range of wellbeing resources (serco-discounted health gym memberships).
- Discounts:
- Retail, leisure, and hospitality perks, including:
- Merlin attractions (theme parks, museums).
- Cinema, retail, hospitality rewards.
- Mobile and phone discounts.
- Retail, leisure, and hospitality perks, including:
- Employee Networks:
- Gender equality (SercoInspire).
- Multicultural Engagement (SercoEmbrace).
- Disability allyship (SercoUnlimited).
- LGBTQ+ and ally groups (In@Serco). –
Recruitment Process
- Online application – Includes pivotal eligibility questions and assessments.
- Virtual assessment (online via portal):
- Competency-based interview.
- Role-play.
- Written exercise.
- Documentation phase:
- Right-to-work verification.
- Vetting checks including Enhanced Criminal Records (DBS).
- References and occupational health checks.
- Job offer with finalised training start date.
Eligibility Reminders:
- Job Offer exempted from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (allows public disclosure of convictions).
- Visa eligibility: Must have right-to-work status (UK resident for at least 1 yr) and no (or soon-expiring) visas. Application for younger duties will be conditional on Home Office rules.
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Critical Note on All Employees:
All colleagues (consciously) play a role in child and vulnerable adult safeguarding. You must complete mandatory safeguarding training, understand and adhere to Serco’s safeguarding policies.
#pecs #prisonerescortandcustodydriver
About Serco
Serco is an innovative global firm backed by an ethos of delivering responsibility, integrity, and high standards across public services. With 50,000+ colleagues, we shape essential sectors, including justice, healthcare, and defence.
Our partners—50,000 innovative colleagues—redesign better-for-society systems. By joining us, you become part of consultative teams championing:
- Diversity and inclusion (e.g., affirmatively promoting women, multiculturals, disabled, and LGBTQ+ communities):
- Global networks SercoInspire, SercoEmbrace, SercoUnlimited, In@Serco.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Serco embraces reasonable adjustments while maintaining their award-winning inclusive models.
Disability Confident Leader (+Gold Inclusive Employer Standard recognised):
- Reasonable use adjustments at interview/employment given to that advantage.
- Targeted support for candidate pools, especially skills unspent convictions.
Next Steps
Please click "Apply Now" to begin, and submit your application promptly. Inescapable delays in unexpected high-volume periods will lead to expedited reversibilities.
Serco’s committment to ‘Ban the Box’: We pledge deadpan justice to fair hiring assessments, though some entry-level roles require security checks.
For further queries, contact sercoUKRecruitment@sercofund.uk.com or Serco talent@serco.com.
Equality and Fairness At Serco
Serco promises equal opportunities, including accommodative support for those with unspent criminal convictions, in alignment with public-focused goodwill.
If you have pre-existing concerns touching these usual constraints, feel free to contact: j&icareersUK@serco.com for open discussion.
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