Prisoner custody officer Work, Jobs in Gloucester, Eng (with Salaries)

Prisoner Custody Officer
Serco Plc —Cheltenham
- £23,402 - £27,180 a year
- Full-time
- IT
- Communication skills
- Paid training
- Annual leave

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Prisoner Custody Officer
Serco Plc —Cheltenham
Full UK driving licence (B/B1) (desirable). Ideally, you’ll have a current valid driver's license, be reasonably fit and have good written and verbal…
£23,402 - £27,180 a year
Operational Control Centre Controller
Serco Plc —Gloucester
Your work will directly support our colleagues and customers, helping us deliver a safe, trusted and reliable service around the clock.
£35,000 a year

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Prisoner Custody Officer

Serco Plc -
Cheltenham

Apply Now

Job details

Full-time
£23,402 - £27,180 a year

Benefits

Paid training
Annual leave
Company pension
Employee assistance programme
Employee discount
Life insurance

Qualifications

Driving Licence
IT
Communication skills

Full job description

Location: Gloucester Crown Court, GL1 2TS

Join us a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) where you’ll play a key role in helping keep the justice system safe and secure. In addition to job security and stability we offer:

Salary: £24,596 (35hrs pw), rising to £25,555 from 1st September 2026

We operate 24/6 across early and late shifts, so flexibility is essential. Finishing times can be unpredictable, and you may need to work beyond your contracted hours to meet operational demands. Shifts are set on a rota provided 12 weeks in advance, giving you visibility to plan ahead. Part-time working may be considered, but this must be across full working days, as reduced daily hours are not available.

Keep people safe. Keep justice moving.

As a PCO, you’ll work as part of a team to deliver safe and secure escorting and custody services, ensuring detainee welfare at all times during court proceedings. You’ll be responsible for detainees throughout court proceedings until their return to custody or release. Key duties include:

Escorting detainees within the court, including to courtrooms, cells, and facilities
Supervising detainees during hearings to maintain safety and security
Managing sensitive situations and maintaining strict confidentiality
Supporting detainee welfare, including access to food, drink, and wellbeing checks
Monitoring behaviour and responding to incidents or risks
Conducting searches to maintain a secure environment
Completing accurate records and documentation
Working closely with court staff and partners to ensure smooth operations

What you need to do the job!
Our PCO’s come from a wide range of backgrounds—what matters most is your commitment to making a difference. You’ll receive full training through a 5½-week paid training course, plus ongoing support from experienced colleagues. Requirements of the role:

Full UK driving licence (B/B1) (desirable)
Reasonable fitness for the physical demands of the role
Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
Ability to stay calm and make decisions under pressure
Confidence managing behaviour and de-escalating conflict
Teamwork and the ability to follow processes accurately
Professionalism, integrity, and respect for confidentiality

What we offer

Holidays: 20 days (rising to 25 after 7 years’ service) plus bank holidays (pro rata’d)
Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme (matched by Serco)
Training and development: Structured induction (5½ weeks), ongoing learning, access to internal courses and qualifications, mentoring, and a strong focus on internal progression
Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), support from mental health charity MIND, Simply Health cash and dental plans, wellbeing resources, discount on membership at Serco-run gyms
Discounts: Savings across major retailers and experiences, including Merlin attractions, cinema, leisure, retail, hospitality, mobile plans, and more

Our recruitment process

Online application inc. eligibility questions and online assessments
Virtual assessment: Competency based interview, short roleplay and written exercise (online)
Initial right to work and vetting documentation checks
Job offer and confirmation of your training start date

Eligibility checks and further information
Job offers are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks with Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, satisfactory employment references and occupational health checks. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All roles are subject to random alcohol and drug testing.
This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office regulations. You must have the right to work in the UK. If you do have a visa, it must have at least two years remaining, and you must have at least one year’s UK residency (to enable required counter signatory checks by a recognised professional).

All colleagues share responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and must complete the required training and follow our safeguarding policies.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

#pecs #prisonercustodyofficercourts

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).
We believe in recognising your contributions and growth, so as well as continuous training & development opportunities, every year, you will be eligible for a base salary increment, allowing you to see tangible progress in your earnings (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 benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care and Dental Plans and more
Access to a range of discounts and exclusive deals such as Merlin Attractions, Mobile Phone discounts, Cinema discounts, Leisure, Retail and Hospitality discounts and more

We are operational 24/6 and you’ll cover various early and late shifts, 35hrs pw. Flexibility is key as due to the nature of role there are a range of different working arrangements & additional hours. There will be days when your finishing time could be unpredictable, however, we operate a rota basis (provided 12 weeks in advance) that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off to do the things you enjoy & love.

About the Role:

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.
Being privy to sensitive and confidential information discussed during court proceedings, including testimonies, legal arguments etc. Maintaining discretion and confidentiality is paramount. Being prepared to listen to harrowing and distressing testimonies and evidence. It is crucial to maintain professionalism and provide support to detainees while managing your own emotional wellbeing.
Ensuring that detainees have access to food and drink throughout the day, catering to any dietary requirements or restrictions.
Monitoring the mental and physical health of detainees, providing support and reporting any concerns to the appropriate authorities.
Ensuring the safety and security of the court environment, including responding to any incidents or emergencies that may arise. Conducting thorough searches of property and individuals to prevent contraband from entering secure areas.
Completing necessary paperwork and data entry accurately, including logging detainee movements, incidents, and any other relevant information.
Working closely with other court staff, law enforcement, and legal professionals to ensure smooth and secure court operations

What you need to do the job!

Our current PCO’s come to us with different work & life experiences, what you’ve done before doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’re committed to making a difference to the lives of others – the rest you will learn during your 5 1/2-weeks 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 communications skills, using those skills to manage and control all situations. This role requires a high level of responsibility, vigilance, and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism and care. You will be an integral part of the judicial process, ensuring that justice is administered safely and securely. Our roles would suit those who have a particular interest in criminology or psychology.

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 :

Have at least two years remaining on your current visa
Have lived in the UK for at least one year, as vetting process 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.

#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 Gold 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&[email protected].

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&[email protected] to discuss.

Apply Now

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