Location: Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre
Type: Full-Time (40hrs), Perm (see advert below for more details)
Salary: £25,000 per annum
Working with Serco as a Detention Custody Officer (DCO) is more than just a job—it's your chance to join a supportive, inclusive work family where you're valued, and your daily contributions genuinely make a difference. Alongside meaningful and rewarding work, we offer:
* Base salary of £25,000, rising to £26,250 after 2 years of service.
* Comprehensive training, including a paid, in-depth 7-week training course and the opportunity to shadow experienced colleagues, giving you a real insight into the role.
* Free onsite parking, free meals, and full uniform provided.
* Excellent Serco benefits including pension, life assurance, and an annual leave package designed to support your work-life balance.
* A wide range of perks, including Blue Light card discounts, paid volunteering days, Long Service Awards, retail discounts, and access to the Serco People Fund providing financial support to employees and families.
* Continuous access to career development and learning opportunities.
* The chance to positively contribute to a company passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
At Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre, you'll experience job stability, security, and clear opportunities to advance your career, potentially moving into operational management roles. The centre operates 24/7, and we offer flexible shift patterns designed specifically to help you enjoy meaningful time off for family, personal commitments, and relaxation.
Please note, public transport options may be limited, so we encourage you to consider your commute arrangements carefully to ensure punctuality and a healthy work-life balance.
The role of a DCO is varied and engaging. You'll play a crucial role in ensuring detainees experience a respectful and worry-free arrival process, supporting their access to healthcare, welfare, faith and cultural services, educational activities, and recreational opportunities. Effective and compassionate communication is essential, as you'll build supportive professional relationships with detainees from diverse backgrounds.
While challenging situations may occasionally arise, you'll be fully supported through comprehensive training and mentorship, ensuring you feel confident and secure in your role.
What do you need for this role?
Our current DCOs come from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds including retail, healthcare, hospitality, administration, education, and security. Your previous experience isn't the most important factor—what matters is your commitment, empathy, and desire to positively impact people's lives. Everything else you'll learn through our structured training programme and supportive team environment.
You'll need a reasonable level of physical fitness and good foundational skills in English and Maths, as clear communication, hand-written report writing, and basic numerical tasks form a key part of the role.
Due to genuine occupational requirements and contractual obligations, we particularly welcome applications from female candidates for this role, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Our recruitment process:
* Completion of online application & CV submission
* A 1-hour virtual interview, you’ll be assessed against our criteria (competency-based questions, role play, basic Maths test & written exercise) it will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions to get a clear understanding of the role
* If successful, you will be required to complete a mandatory 7-week paid training course, no annual leave can be taken during this period.
What else do I need to know?
* 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 to ensure sufficient time in the role.
* Have lived in the UK for at least three years
For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.
* This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and approval by the Home Office.
* You will be required to obtain Home Office CTC & Enhanced DBS with Adult and Child Barring Vetting Clearances (which requires 5 years of checkable history)
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 0345 010 4000.
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 0345 010 4000 to discuss.