At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

Escort Custody Officer

Sittingbourne Vehicle Base

Full Time, Permanent, 40 Hours

£22,235.20

Could you take a young person from confusion to clarity?

Could you take them from confrontational to calm?

Could you take young people from secluded to supported?

Do you want to make a difference every day?

If so, then an Escort Custody Officer position could be the role for you

What we offer

• £22,235.20 salary per annum
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, cycle to work scheme and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A safe and supportive culture
• The chance to make a positive difference to the prison and court systems
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

Being an Escort Custody Officer is not always easy but it is rewarding.

Our job is to provide Court Custody and Transportation Services. This means collecting detained Children and Young People from Prisons or Police stations and transporting them safely and securely to Courts for trial.

Ensuring all Children and Young People in our care feel safe and secure from the point that the escort commences to the point the escort concludes. Once in Court we are responsible for every aspect of their care throughout the day until it is time for return to custody or release. Daily tasks will include:

• Searching property or people
• Ensure the needs of the Custody are balanced with the need to protect the public
• Ensure there is a high regard to their emotional and physical well-being, and their anxieties recognised and managed
• Prevent escape, self- harm, harm to others and damage to property
• Ensuring food and drink is available
• Completing paperwork and entering core data on to our computer systems

It's not easy being trusted with the safety and security of Children and Young People about to receive a sentence from the courts. Every detained person reacts differently and you will see a full range of emotions that include apathy, anger, remorse and trauma. For the person being detained it can be one of the most stressful situations they will ever encounter, but for you it's an everyday part of your job.

As an ECO it is your responsibility to act as a role model while Children and Young People are in your care, rewarding and reinforcing positive behaviour whilst challenging inappropriate behaviour which may include violence, abusive, racist and inappropriate language. You will always demonstrate the highest level of integrity and honesty.

This role will require you to work 40 hours per week covering daytime shifts Monday- Saturday. You must be willing to be flexible with your hours as there may be occasions when finish times are unpredictable.

What you need to do the job

Our officers come from very diverse backgrounds but what they will have in common is they are totally trustworthy and utterly impartial. They all have strength of character and strong communication skills. They are patient, honest and fully committed. This role will require you to be vigilant with good observations skills and the ability to follow processes and procedures to the letter. But most of all you will have a strong team ethic.

You'll need to possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate in a way that Children and Young People can understand, whilst showing interest in them as individuals. You will also need be able to achieve a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills English and Maths (GCSE, NVQ or equivalent) test, which forms part of the assessment process.

Due to the nature of this role it is essential that you hold a Full UK Driving Licence.

Why Serco

Meaningful and vital work : By keeping your custodies in the right frame of mind you ensure the courts run on time and in a secure way. And we do it in the right way, with over 15,000 prisoner movements a month we only have to use force 0.24% of the time

A world of opportunity : Serco's contract covers 104 courts and 16 vehicle bases and our ECOs can progress into Court Custody Management and Base Ops Management

Great people : Our bases are tight knit and you'll find yourself working with a variety of highly supportive and experienced people, where no two days are the same. You'll also make a difference to your custodies at a critical time in their lives.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks - SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply

Please click on the apply button to complete your application.

Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and approval by the Home Office, and satisfactory employment references.

We're a Disability Confident employer and are committed to equal opportunities. If you have any additional queries, requirements or you need more time to apply, then please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

On occasion we receive significantly more applicants than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Serco is a Disability Confident Employer committed to employing and retaining people with disabilities. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.