Skip to content
Working at Sodexo - engineer fixing large machinery

Our vacancies

Search Jobs  

Prison Custody Officer (PCO)

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

Job Introduction

Great Prison Custody Officers (PCOs) are key to the smooth running of our prisons. They have an important role to play in supporting prisoners with their rehabilitation and creating a positive and safe environment.

Why become a PCO?

Our PCOs have a varied and responsible role, with the opportunity to work with different people and in a wide variety of scenarios; no two days are the same in this job! You’ll have the chance to really make a difference and change lives, supporting prisoners to improve and progress.

The flexibility of being able to work shifts allows many of our PCOs to enjoy more family time outside of work or meet other responsibilities.

What makes a great PCO?

When looking for our PCOs, we don’t focus on background or experience; our PCOs come from all kinds of backgrounds, from retail, healthcare and call centre staff to army and police officers.

We’re looking for a great fit; we can teach you the rest.

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Can remain calm under pressure
  • Can build relationships and trust through great communication
  • Can be relied upon to get things done
  • Will treat others fairly and respectfully, and can see past bad behaviour to focus on new beginnings
  • Wants to help others, including finding ways for them to help themselves

Your Training

As a newly recruited PCO, you’ll be trained in line with the Custody and Detention Officer level 3 apprenticeship standard. This will provide you with the technical knowledge, skills, behaviours and on the job support to be an effective PCO.

  • Your first 8 weeks will be a mixture of on and off the job training followed by the remainder of the programme putting your newly found skills, knowledge and behaviours into practice within the establishment
  • You will receive fantastic support by monthly one to one reviews with your nominated line managers to support, monitor and review your progress.
  • Not yet qualified in English & Maths? Our new approach will give you the support to achieve this for the duration of the programme.

Role Responsibility

What’s the job like?

Working with a team of PCOs, your role will involve everything from managing the regular prison routines, locking & unlocking, supervising meals and recreation time to escorting people to prison work and education. You will need to deal with the more challenging aspects of prison life such as abusive and violent behaviour. You will be working with all sorts of prisoners including those on long sentences, people convicted of serious crime and vulnerable individuals.

The Ideal Candidate

Recruitment process:                      

  • Full completion of application form on Sodexo careers website by 5th August 2018.
  • Fitness test: Between 23rd and 29th August 2018 (Exact dates to be confirmed)
  • Face to face interview: 3rd to 12th September
  • Start Date of course: 22nd October 2018 (You will be required to complete a mandatory 9 week training course.  No annual leave can be taken during this period.)

Please note: initial communication will be via email, please monitor your junk and spam folders to ensure you are aware of next stage requirements.

Package Description

As a Prison Custody Officer, you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including personal and professional development opportunities, season ticket loans, free meals, free parking, subsidised gym membership, group discount schemes, pension and 28 days holiday.

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs over 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

Please note all roles within Sodexo Justice are subject to security and recruitment checks which may include a Social Media Check. You will also be asked to provide 3 years’ worth of references and request employment history details from the HMRC.

This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience. If you navigate to another page without changing the settings bellow you consent to this. Read more about cookies.