Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver

Working as a Prisoner Escort & Custody Officer in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to be part of a caring community where you are valued and can make a difference every day. In addition to a fulfilling career, we offer:

• Salary: Starting at £25,716 (40hrs pw), with £22,502 during the 5 ½ weeks training.
• Growth and Development: We believe in recognizing your contributions and growth. With continuous training and development opportunities, you’ll see tangible progress in your earnings annually: Year 2 - £26,357 / Year 3 - £26,835 / Year 4 - £27,352.
• Additional Earnings: Generous driving allowances are available, up to £2,700 depending on license type (subject to terms & conditions).
• Transparent Earnings: Factoring in base salary, driving allowances, and an average of 8 hours overtime weekly, your first-year income can grow between £31,316 to £33,416.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Pension (matched up to 6%), life insurance, 20 days annual leave (rising to 25 after 7 years’ service) plus Bank Holidays. Enjoy exclusive discounts on Merlin Attractions, mobile phones, cinemas, leisure, retail, and hospitality.
• Health and Well-being: A range of benefits to support you and your family, such as Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care, and Dental Plans.
• Supportive Culture: Join a team that values diversity and inclusion, where you can make a positive impact every day.

We operate 24/6, and you’ll cover various early and late shifts (minimum of 40 hours per week), including bank holidays (except Christmas Day and Good Friday). Shifts start at 6:30 am, with unpredictable finish times, so flexibility is key. While evening or overnight work is rare, we provide a 12-week advance rota, giving you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off and pursue the activities you love.

About the Role:

As a PCO, you’ll be part of a dedicated team providing compassionate and secure court transportation and custody services. You’ll pick up detainees from prisons or police stations and transport them with utmost care to courts, ensuring their physical and mental well-being throughout the journey.

Once at court, you’ll attend to their well-being until it’s time for them to return to custody or be released. Key duties include accompanying detainees in courtrooms and cells, searching property or people, ensuring food and drink are available, and completing paperwork and data entry for the day.

What You Need to Succeed:

Our current PCOs come from diverse backgrounds with various work and life experiences. What matters most is your commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. You’ll learn everything you need during the 5 1/2-week training course and with the support of our experienced colleagues.

• Requirements: A current driver’s license (C1 License with valid CPC card desirable) / D License (with valid CPC card & Tacho Graph desirable). You should be reasonably fit and possess strong written and verbal communication skills to manage various situations effectively.
• Ideal Candidates: Those with an interest in criminology or psychology will find this role especially rewarding.