Prisoner Custody Officer in Canterbury

Canterbury Crown and Magistrates Court, CT1 1ZA – Permanent roles offering job stability & security.

Working as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to be part of a professional team that plays a vital role in the justice system, ensuring safety and security every day.

We also offer:

• Base Salary of £23,402 (35hrs pw).
• Continuous training & development opportunities and annual base salary increments: year 2 - £23,984; year 3 - £24,436; year 4 - £24,890.
• Pension (matched up to 6%), life insurance; 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 after 7 years’ service) plus Bank Holidays.
• A range of health and wellbeing benefits such as Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care and Dental Plans.
• Access to discounts and exclusive deals (Merlin Attractions, Mobile Phone discounts, Cinema, Leisure, Retail and Hospitality discounts, and more).
• A supportive team and culture with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

We are operational 24/6 and you’ll cover various early and late shifts, 35hrs pw. Flexibility is key due to the nature of the role. There are a range of working arrangements and additional hours, with a rota provided 12 weeks in advance to offer flexibility for time off.

As a PCO at our court, you’ll work as part of a team to provide safe and secure escorting and custody services to detainees, focusing on maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing. During court proceedings, you’ll be responsible for every aspect of detainee management until it’s time for them to return to custody or be released.

Key duties include:

• Escorting defendants to and from courtrooms, cells, and other areas within the court, including accompanying them to the toilet to ensure security and safety. This may involve being handcuffed to the detainee.
• Monitoring and supervising detainees while they are in the docks during court sessions, ensuring they remain secure and do not pose a risk to themselves or others.
• Maintaining discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive information discussed during court proceedings, and providing support to detainees while managing your own emotional wellbeing.
• Ensuring detainees have access to food and drink throughout the day, catering to dietary requirements or restrictions.
• Monitoring the mental and physical health of detainees, providing support and reporting concerns to the appropriate authorities.
• Ensuring safety and security of the court environment, responding to incidents or emergencies, and conducting thorough searches to prevent contraband from entering secure areas.
• Completing necessary paperwork and data entry accurately, including logging detainee movements and incidents.
• Working closely with other court staff, law enforcement, and legal professionals to ensure smooth and secure court operations.

Our current PCOs come to us with different work and life experiences. What you’ve done before doesn’t matter; what matters is your commitment to making a difference to the lives of others. You will learn during a 5 1/2-week training course and through our experienced colleagues. Ideally, you’ll have a current valid driver’s license, be reasonably fit, and have good written and verbal communication skills. You will need to manage and control all situations with a high level of responsibility, vigilance, and professionalism. This role is suitable for those with an interest in criminology or psychology.

All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable young adults. The post holder must undertake the appropriate level of training and work within safeguarding policies. All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All offers of employment are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks with Enhanced DBS (Adult & Child Barring) and satisfactory employment references.

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria. While we encourage applications to other roles, candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes must meet the minimum criteria:

• Have at least two years remaining on your current visa.
• Have lived in the UK for at least one year, as vetting requires a counter-signatory from a recognised professional who has known you for that duration.

For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.

At Serco, the nature of the work is important and everyone has a role to play. We are a team of 50,000 responsible for delivering essential public services worldwide in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services. By joining Serco you will have access to our Global Employee Networks and a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Some roles receive a high volume of applications, so apply promptly. We support diversity, inclusion and provide reasonable adjustments at interview and employment. We offer flexible working where possible and operate a hybrid work structure. We are Disability Confident Leader employers and holders of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be invited to interview. For help with your application please contact jicareersUK@serco.com. We support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge; discuss any exemptions with our recruitment team.