At a Glance
- Tasks: Escort and transport immigration residents safely while maintaining high security standards.
- Company: Join Mitie, the UK's leading facilities management company with a diverse team.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible shifts, free parking, and a range of discounts.
- Other info: Career growth opportunities with a Level 3 Apprenticeship and ongoing personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career with full training.
- Qualifications: No experience needed; just bring strong communication skills and a calm approach.
The predicted salary is between 30786 - 37628 £ per year.
Better places, thriving communities.
Detainee Custody Officer – Heathrow DCO Airport Based
Join Us and Make a Difference
DCO: Salary £32,635 based on 42 hours per week
Who We're Looking For
- Respectful, caring, and resilient individuals
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A calm and non-judgemental approach
- Great problem-solving abilities
- The ability to stay composed under pressure
What You'll Be Doing
As an In-Country Escorting DCO at Heathrow Airport, you'll be responsible for:
- Escorting and transporting immigration residents within the UK
- Driving a small minibus-sized vehicle and ensuring the safe transportation of those in your care
- Maintaining high security and safety standards while treating residents with dignity and respect
This role requires flexibility, as you will work a mix of day and night shifts, covering a 24/7, 365-day operation.
No Experience? No Problem!
No prior experience or qualifications are needed—full training and support will be provided. If you have experience handling challenging situations or working with people in distress, it would be a plus.
Your journey begins with a 4-week paid training course, including a control and restraint training course. Over the next 13 months, you'll receive on-the-job mentoring and assessments, leading to an accredited Level 3 Apprenticeship in Detention and Custody.
Why Join Us?
- Work-life balance – structured shifts for stability, up to 1 year in advance so you can plan your goals and travel.
- Career growth – start with a Level 3 Apprenticeship, with opportunities for leadership roles
- Continued personal development with full support given to enhance your career.
- Free parking and uniform
- A great selection of benefits including access to online GP services, share options and a generous holiday allowance.
- Pension and Life assurance
- Reward & Recognition scheme.
- Discounts which include cinema, online shopping discounts, leisure centre memberships, holidays, and Health & Wellbeing Benefits.
- As a DCO, you can apply for a Blue Light discount card.
Essential Requirements
- Be a UK Citizen, a Commonwealth Citizen with indefinite leave to remain (not through marriage), or an EEA Citizen
- Hold a valid UK passport (expired visas in out-of-date passports cannot be accepted)
- Have lived in the UK continuously for the past 3 years, with no single absence over 3 months
- Pass an Enhanced DBS check, employer referencing (last 5 years), and Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) vetting
- Hold a full UK manual driving licence (at least 12 months of experience)
- Have fewer than 7 points on your licence and no driving bans in the last 12 months
- Be over 21 years of age
Due to the safety-critical nature of this role, we require that employees are not under the influence of any substance—including prescribed medication—that may impair their ability to perform their duties safely. This includes any THC-based prescriptions due to the lack of reliable evidence on safe levels of THC in the system.
If you are currently prescribed medication that may affect your ability to carry out safety-critical tasks, we encourage you to discuss this with us as part of the recruitment process. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments where appropriate and in line with our obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
To ensure the highest standards of safety and compliance, we operate a random drug and alcohol testing programme. By applying, you acknowledge that participation in this testing is a condition of employment.
Important: If you do not have a valid UK passport and a full UK manual car driving licence, we cannot proceed with your application.
Application Process
Successful candidates will be invited to an assessment process which includes:
- Interview
- Capability assessments
- Full vetting screening
Our market-leading offering provides you with benefits that suit your lifestyle. We have a virtual GP on hand for you and members of your household. So you can get expert advice by video or phone without leaving your home. We offer financial wellbeing assistance through our Salary Finance scheme. For example, you could access 50% of your earned pay before payday for a small fee. Salary Finance also offers competitive loans.
When you join us, we’ll give you a link to our flexible lifestyle benefits platform, Choices. You might choose to purchase up to five extra days’ holiday each year. You might buy critical illness insurance, seek dental treatment or buy technology products at an affordable cost. There are many choices! We give you access to high street discounts from thousands of well-known retailers, gyms and more through our MiDeals platform. And we have a cycle-to-work scheme. Life cover of up to four times your salary is available. We also offer enhanced pension contributions, a save-as-you-earn scheme, and a Mitie Matching Share Plan (you could even be awarded free shares in Mitie).
We award our employees with Mitie Stars as recognition for their hard work. There are cash prizes up for grabs each month and at the end of the year there’s a chance to scoop a top prize of £10,000!
Our success is a direct result of the experience and quality of our people. Progressing your career is therefore a top priority for us. We offer a diverse variety of training and development avenues via a wide selection of learning resources to suit you.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing at .
Since 1987, Mitie's 84,000 employees have been maintaining companies globally. We are the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services company, and our clients range from household names in banking, critical government sites as well as hospitals and schools.
Join our Mitie Team. Together our diversity makes us stronger.
Looking to move roles but not leaving the Mitie family? Why not share your experience with others about life at Mitie?
Detention Custody Officer - Heathrow AP in Hounslow employer: Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services
Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and development. Located in Dalkeith, this role as a Licensed Security Officer not only provides competitive benefits such as life cover and dental insurance but also fosters personal and professional growth through various opportunities. Join us to be part of a team that values proactive protection and compliance while enjoying unique perks like discounts through MiDeals.
Contact Details:
Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Detention Custody Officer - Heathrow AP in Hounslow
✨Join Security Community Events
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✨Directly Apply to Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services
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We think you need these skills to ace Detention Custody Officer - Heathrow AP in Hounslow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Certifications:When applying for a full-time position in security services, make sure to showcase any relevant certifications you have, like SIA or other security industry qualifications. This adds credibility and shows that you're serious about your career in this field.
Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail:In security roles, attention to detail is crucial. Use your CV and cover letter to provide examples of how you’ve noticed and addressed security vulnerabilities or hazards in past jobs. This will help us see your proactive approach to ensuring safety.
Tailor Your Experience:Don’t just list duties from previous jobs; instead, frame your experiences in a way that relates directly to the role at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services. Whether that's managing a team, conducting risk assessments, or successfully maintaining safety protocols, make this relevant to what we do.
Share Your Availability and Flexibility:Full-time roles often require a degree of flexibility. Make sure to clearly state your availability in your application, especially if you can work various shifts. This shows us your readiness to adapt to the needs of the role at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services
✨Know Your Security Protocols
In the security services field, it's crucial to familiarise yourself with the latest security protocols and technologies. Brush up on things like surveillance systems, access control, and emergency response procedures. You'll likely face technical questions, so having a couple of solid scenarios or case studies ready can really impress your interviewers at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services.
✨Demonstrate Situational Awareness
Prepare to showcase your situational awareness skills. You might be put in hypothetical scenarios where you need to assess potential risks or respond to incidents. Practising how you’d handle these situations ahead of time can give you the confidence to articulate your thought process during the interview.
✨Emphasise Teamwork & Communication
Since security services often rely on effective teamwork and clear communication, be ready to share examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any instances where you’ve had to relay critical information or work closely with other services – this is key for a role at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
You can expect a variety of behavioural interview questions focusing on your past experiences and how you've handled challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Sharing specific examples from previous security roles or related jobs will help demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and reliability to the team at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services.
