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Prison Custody Officer

Smiling man with glasses wearing a black G4S jacket.

Overview of the role

As a Prison Custody Officer (PCO), you are key to ensuring the secure environment runs smoothly and safely to ensure both those in our care and employees feel safe.

You will be responsible for maintaining a safe, secure and structured environment, but always treating every prisoner with dignity and respect.

This job gives you a chance every day to truly make a difference, helping prisoners find a better direction and get ready for a positive return to society.

Core responsibilities you will undertake

Maintaining Security outline icon

Maintaining Security

Keep everyone secure and minimise risks, deal with incidents, and write up reports.

Providing Structure outline icon

Providing Structure

Managing the daily prison regime, ensuring prisoners attend work and education sessions, and conducting welfare checks.

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Rehabilitative Support

Promoting a rehabilitative culture by challenging poor behaviour, encouraging purposeful activity, and holding one-on-one sessions for vulnerable individuals.

Prison Custody Officer

Wolverhampton, संयुक्त अधिराज्य

जागिरको परिचयपत्र : 9756
जागिरको श्रेणी : हेरचाह र पुनर्स्थापना सेवाहरू
स्थानहरू : Wolverhampton, संयुक्त अधिराज्य
पोस्ट गरिएको मिति : 18/06/2026
बन्द हुने मिति : 31/08/2026

PRISON CUSTODY OFFICER

HMP Oakwood, Wolverhampton, WV10 7QD

Salary: £32,153.14 per annum*

Permanent,  Full Time – 40 hours per week, with various shifts

Benefits:  Company Pension, free on-site parking, staff canteen, free uniform, Blue Light card for extensive discounts and extensive training and development.

Be that person who makes a difference every day, the chance to do an extraordinary job

Looking for a secure career? Are you a good communicator? Do you have resilience? A good listener?

We have a number of openings available for Prison Custody Officers. Prison Custody Officers (Residential House Block) are key to the effective running of our prisons and we are looking for people who can fit naturally into this role. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ Prison Custody Officer (PCOs).  We encourage applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, who can demonstrate the integrity, resilience and strong communication skills needed to thrive in this role.  No specific qualifications or relevant experience is required.

The philosophy of our prisons is to rehabilitate offenders and equip them to re-integrate into mainstream society on release. We seek to normalise prison conditions as far as possible to reflect life in the outside community. Our aim is to create an environment in which staff and prisoners feel safe.

The people in your care will have a variety of different needs and it will be your role to ensure those individuals are treated with dignity and respect and helped to find a new way of life whilst maintaining a safe, secure and structured environment.

You will have a number of key responsibilities that assist Prisoner reform, as well as playing a key role in providing prisoners with structure and routine, making sure they get to work in the morning, are actively engaging in education and the prison regime and are secure in their cell in the evening.

When you join us, you can be sure that you’ll find a secure, friendly and professional working environment and be given all the support, training and encouragement you need.  We are here to support you with your career aspirations.  We are committed to your development and we will provide you with the support and guidance you need to start your career journey with us as part of the Operational Development Pathway (ODP).  ODP provides you with the opportunity to enhance your skills, unlock your potential, and achieve your career goals. It demonstrates a clear pathway for your career development should you choose to take that next step.

Your initial training lasts for 9 weeks, where you will receive comprehensive training, which includes Control & Restraint, First Aid, Interpersonal skills and Health & Safety.

Equality and Diversity is an important part of G4S Care and Rehabilitation Services. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are a fully inclusive employer who aims to support all employees to be their true selves. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments for either the role or during the recruitment process.

G4S CaRS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and adults at risk and each employee is expected to support these goals.

Our training and operational practices emphasise the need to treat prisoners with dignity and respect and G4S staff build positive and supportive relationships with the prisoners in their care.

Our team has a real opportunity to make a difference and we encourage people to improve the way we operate and develop new ways of working to improve safety and better support prisoners.   If you join us, you’ll find a secure, friendly and professional working environment and be given all the support, training and encouragement you need to build and develop a successful career with us.

For more information about HMP Oakwood please visit https://hmpoakwood.co.uk/

Please note that these vacancies are subject to a 5 year checkable history and the strict vetting standards set by G4S, and HMPPS and are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

You must be eligible to work in the UK and you will need to provide full details of your employment and education history for the last 5 years as part of the security screening process for this role.

Please be aware, there is no need for you to apply again if you currently have a live application in progress with us.

*Please note that whilst on your 9 week Training Course, the training hours will be 35 hours per week therefore your salary whilst on training will be £28,133.99 increasing to £32,153.14 after training.

G4S is the International business of Allied Universal, the world’s leading security and facility services provider and trusted partner to more than 400 of the Fortune 500. Allied Universal delivers unparalleled customer relationships, innovative solutions, cutting-edge smart technologies and tailored services that enable clients to focus on their core businesses. With operations in over 100 countries and territories, Allied Universal is the third largest private employer in North America and seventh in the world. Annual revenue is approximately $23 billion. There is no greater purpose and responsibility than serving and helping to safeguard customers, communities and people. For more information, visit g4s.com.   In the UK, the company has an extensive network of offices and more than 31,000 employees.


रातो गोलाकार पाइप

Success profile

It takes someone special to be a Prison Custody Officer. Here are some of the qualities we're looking for in our team members:

  • Resilient & Calm
  • Exceptional empathetic communicator
  • Integrity & Respect
  • Proactive problem solver
  • Caring
  • Team player

Hear from one of our Head of Residence's

I was in my early twenties when I joined G4S and earned a really good salary, doing a job I absolutely loved. I was really proud to be a PCO. I look at myself now, a Governor grade in a prison. If it wasn’t for G4S for giving me so many opportunities to grow and progress my career, I would never be in this position.

Laurie-Ann Paton
Head of Residence

Career path

Our Prison Custody Officer positions offer candidates a range of things to support the personal and professional development of our teams. From your initial comprehensive Officer training to our structured Development Pathway, we provide the tools and support needed to progress from the front line into senior management.

Prison Custody Officer (PCO) First Line Manager (FLM) Operations Manager Functional Head Deputy Director/ Director

Rewards and benefits

Working at one of our prisons provides a secure and professional environment with a clear focus on your wellbeing and growth. Our benefits vary role to role and are designed to ensure our staff have access to the things they need to thrive both in and out of work.

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Training & Development

An initial training program covering Control & Restraint, First Aid, and Interpersonal skills, followed by ongoing development pathways.

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Competitive salary and bonuses

A structured salary that increases with years of service.

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Career growth

A defined Development Pathway to move from a PCO through to middle management and beyond.

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