Detention Custody Manager

Serco: Derwentside IRC, DH8 6QY

Permanent, Full Time 

£34,398 per annum plus excellent benefits, rising to £37,128 after completion of 2 years’ service (Pay Award Pending)

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Detention Custody Manager in our Justice and Immigration team, you'll lead operational teams to deliver safe, secure and respectful services for residents at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre. You'll play a vital role in ensuring high standards of care, welfare, security and operational performance while supporting colleagues to achieve their best.

This is a role with real purpose. Our work touches lives every day, and you'll help create an environment built on trust, care and dignity. By leading operations, supporting vulnerable residents and developing high-performing teams, you'll help create impactful solutions that make a positive impact on communities and contribute to a better future.

What you'll do as a Detention Custody Manager

• Lead the day-to-day management of operational activities, ensuring the safe, secure and effective running of the centre.
• Manage and deploy colleagues to maintain service delivery, contractual compliance and operational performance.
• Support the Duty Director by coordinating daily operations, responding to incidents and providing clear operational reporting.
• Coach, support and develop Detention Custody Officers and support colleagues, creating headroom for people to grow and succeed.
• Ensure compliance with detention centre procedures, welfare requirements, security standards and health and safety obligations.
• Monitor performance measures, key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational targets, driving continuous improvement and innovation across the team.
• Take command of incidents when required, ensuring appropriate decisions are made to protect residents, colleagues and the wider operation.
• Build a culture of professionalism, inclusion, trust and accountability while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

Does this sound like you?

• Experience leading operational teams, ideally within a secure, custodial, immigration, detention, justice, defence or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, influence others and develop collaborative relationships.
• Proven ability to make sound decisions, manage incidents and maintain composure in challenging situations.
• Experience planning resources, organising workloads and delivering against performance targets and service requirements.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• A relevant management qualification, such as Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 3 or equivalent, is desirable, or you'll bring significant operational management experience.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with a genuine desire to make a positive impact through your work.

What we offer

• 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (and the option to buy up to five additional leave days each year)
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Free on site care parking
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (we currently offer over 60 different apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting and checks

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact recruitmentuk@serco.com.