Serco Plc
Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) – Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS)
Location
Burgess Hill Vehicle Base, RH15 9RD
Join us as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS), where you’ll play a critical role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of the UK justice system. As part of a dedicated crew, you’ll deliver secure prisoner transport and custody services while ensuring high standards of welfare, dignity, and respect.
Why Work With Us?
Competitive Salary & Benefits
-
Initial Training Salary: £24,596 (35-hour week)
-
Graduated Base Salary: £28,109 (40-hour week), progressing to:
- £29,205 from 1st September 2026
- £29,932 (Year 2)
- £30,496 (Year 3)
- £31,063 (Year 4)
-
Potential Additional Earnings:
- £600 per year for B/B1 licence holders
- £2,400 per year for C1 licence holders (holding a valid CPC is mandatory)
-
With base salary + average overtime (8 hours/week), potential first-year income ranges from £34,805–£36,605.
-
24/7 Operations: Rotas provided 12 weeks in advance (expected flexibility with possible extended shifts). Note: Part-time working may be considered, but only across full daily shifts (reduced daily hours unavailable).
Key Responsibilities
As a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO), your duties include:
- Attending daily briefings to receive detainee, route, and risk assessments
- Conducting vehicle and equipment checks before shift operations
- Saferly transporting detainees between prisons, police stations, and courts
- Ensuring welfare monitoring during transport, including comfort stops
- Completing end-of-shift checks, reporting, and documentation
- Working flexibly, including overtime for operational demands
- Court-based responsibilities such as escort duties, searches, and release coordinating
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements for the Role
We seek diverse candidates with a strong commitment to safeguarding and respectful treatment—professional background isn’t mandatory, but the following attributes are essential:
- Full UK driving licence (B/B1 or C1 license preferred—C1 licence holders should hold valid CPC)
- Reasonable physical fitness for the role’s demands
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
- Ability to work under pressure, make crisis decisions, and deploy conflict resolution
- Confidence in managing challenging behaviour and de-escalating situations
- Exceptional teamwork skills with meticulous process compliance
- Integrity, professionalism, and tact for handling confidential information
Training & Professional Growth
- 5.5-week paid training programme (comprehensive induction)
- Ongoing mentorship from experienced colleagues
- Access to internal courses and qualifications, along with a focus on long-term career progression
Benefits Package
- 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 days after 7 years), including pro-rata bank holidays
- Pension scheme contribution: Up to 6% matched by Serco
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) + support via mental health charity MIND
- Simply Health cash plan + dental discounts
- Serco-wide discounts (retail, leisure, travel—including Merlin attractions and cinemas)
- Employee Wellbeing Resources + free access to Serco-operated gyms
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Recruitment Process
- Online application including eligibility questions and online assessments
- Virtual assessment comprising:
- Competency-based interview
- Short role-play exercise
- Written test
- DBS, vetting checks, and occupational health evaluation (occupational health checks required)
- Job offer with training start date confirmation
Eligibility & Security Requirements
✅ Must have:
- The right to work in the UK
✅ For visa holders:
- Visa valid for 2 years minimum
- Minimum 1 year UK residency ✅ Role exemptions:
- Not covered under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Random drug/alcohol testing required
- Disability-friendly recruitment and responsibilities under safeguarding protocols apply
Making an Impact
At Serco, we value inclusivity, diversity, and purposeful work. We champion a hybrid work structure, disabled applicants’ opportunities, and mental health support as part of our mission to redesign public services.
Apply before the closing date—continuously high application volumes may lead to early termination!
For support with your application: j&icareersUK@serco.com
Let’s shape a better future together
Apply today: [View/Country-Specific Apply Button] #pecs #PrisonerEscortAndCustodyDriver
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills