Base Location: Ashford, TW15 3JZ (Departing from HMP Bronzefield)
Permanent roles offering job stability & security.
Working as a Prisoner Escort Custody Driver (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. In addition to a rewarding career, we also offer:
We are operational 24/6, and you'll be expected to cover various early and late shifts, with a minimum of 40 hours per week.
Flexibility is absolutely essential, as the nature of the role involves a wide range of different working arrangements and additional hours. There will be days when your finishing time is unpredictable, and you may need to work beyond your scheduled hours to meet the demands of the job. We operate on a rota basis, which is provided 12 weeks in advance, allowing you to plan ahead. This system ensures that, despite the long and often unpredictable hours, you will have the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off to do the things you love.
About the Role:
As a PCO at our base, you'll work as part of a crew to provide safe and secure court transportation and custody services. You'll collect adult male and female detainees between prisons, police stations and courts, always ensuring their well-being. Depending upon operational requirements, you may be required to remain at court, where you'll be responsible for the care of the detainee until they return to custody or are released. Duties include accompanying defendants in courtrooms and cells, searching property and people, ensuring food and drink are available, and completing paperwork and data entry.
Key Responsibilities:
What you need to do the job!
Our current PCOs come to us with diverse work and life experiences. What you've done before doesn't matter; what matters is your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. The rest you will learn during your 5 1/2-week training course and through our experienced colleagues.
You'll need to hold a current driver's licence, B1 or C1 Licence (valid CPC card desirable). Our roles would suit those who have a particular interest in criminology or psychology. Required skills and abilities:
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Our Assessment Process:
Briefing call to assess eligibility -> Competency based Virtual Interview -> short role-play and written exercise.
Additional Information:
All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and 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. Whilst we encourage applications to other roles, candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes or permissions must meet the below minimum eligibility criteria:
For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.
#PECS
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.
At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Silver Inclusive Employer Standard. 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 j&icareersuk@serco.com
At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the 'Ban the Box' pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on j&icareersuk@serco.com to discuss.