Overview
Permanent roles offering job stability & security. Working as a Prisoner Escort Custody Driver (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is a professional role within the justice system, focused on safety and security every day. In addition to a rewarding career, we offer:
* Salary of £26,745 (40hrs pw). Training salary is £23,402 (35hrs pw).
* Annual salary increments: Year 2 - £27,411; Year 3 - £27,927; Year 4 - £28,446.
* Additional driving allowance earnings for Category B1/C1 License holders: B1 = £600 per year; C1 = £2,400 per year. (C1 License holders must drive 6 cell vehicles – subject to further terms).
* A potential first-year income between £32,345 & £34,145 (depending upon license type and overtime based on a current average of 8 hrs overtime pw).
* Pension (matched up to 6%), life insurance, 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 after 7 years) plus Bank Holidays.
* Discounts on Merlin Attractions, mobile phones, cinema, leisure, retail, and hospitality.
* Health and wellbeing support: Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care, and Dental Plans. A supportive team and culture passionate about diversity and inclusion.
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 essential due to the nature of the role, which involves a wide range of working arrangements and additional hours. Rota grids are provided 12 weeks in advance to help you plan ahead. This system supports meaningful time off amid long and sometimes unpredictable hours.
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, ensuring their well-being. Depending on operational requirements, you may be required to remain at court, where you’ll care for detainees 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
* Start the day early, attend briefings to receive assignments with prisoner details, pick-up and drop-off locations, and specific risks.
* Check handheld devices for schedules and prisoner information. Complete vehicle checks.
* Collect prisoners from various locations, verify paperwork and property, search prisoners, and load them onto the vehicle.
* Monitor prisoners’ welfare during transport, conduct cell checks, and provide water if needed. Arrange comfort stops for long journeys.
* Transport prisoners to courts and handle inter-prison transfers for reasons such as bed space management or educational needs.
* Return to the vehicle base, perform end-of-use checks, report defects, and hand in documentation.
* Work beyond contracted hours due to job demands, sometimes exceeding 50 hours a week. Stay with prisoners admitted to hospitals and handle emergency transfers during incidents like prison riots.
What you need to do the job
Our current PCOs come from diverse work and life experiences. What you’ve done before matters less than your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. You’ll learn during the 5 ½ week training course and through our experienced colleagues. You’ll need a current driver’s licence and B1 or C1 Licence (valid CPC card desirable). The role may suit those with an interest in criminology or psychology.
Required skills and abilities
* Ability to understand and respond to the emotional needs of detainees.
* Capable of handling stressful and emotionally demanding situations with calm and composure.
* Ability to think on your feet and make quick, effective decisions in challenging situations.
* Strong ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure detainee safety and well-being.
* Meticulous in following protocols, conducting searches, and completing paperwork accurately.
* Adequate physical fitness to perform duties that may involve restraining detainees and long hours.
* Skilled in de-escalating conflicts and managing challenging behaviour effectively.
* High ethical standards and a commitment to confidentiality and professionalism.
* Sensitivity to diverse backgrounds and needs of detainees, ensuring respectful and fair treatment.
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. Applicants may be directed to other roles if relevant. Minimum eligibility criteria include:
* 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.
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About Serco
At Serco, the work is important and everyone plays a role in caring for vulnerable people and delivering public services. We are a team of 50,000 delivering essential services globally across 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 and inclusion.
Apply
Please click the apply button to complete your application. We may close the vacancy early if a large volume of applications is received. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive organisation and will make reasonable adjustments at interview and during employment. We support flexible working arrangements where possible and are Disability Confident Leader employers and hold the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at 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; some exemptions may apply due to role requirements and security clearance. Please contact our recruitment team directly to discuss.
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