Full Time and Key Time opportunities available
Salary with shift
enhancements:
Full Time - £26,127 - £28,502
Key Time - £23,170 - £25,276
The custody suite is at the heart of the police station.
To work in this beating heart is definitely challenging, but can be hugely rewarding.
No two days are the same. You’ll need to be alert at all times, thinking on your feet and making quick decisions.
You’ll make a positive difference.
The role:
Being a Detention Officer takes patience, understanding and tons of resilience. But if you take professional pride in what you do, wanting to give due care and attention to someone who's been abusive or violent towards you, providing an ear to someone who's vulnerable and in need, you'll find this an exceptionally rewarding and varied role.
The role of the Detention Officer in our custody suites cannot be underestimated – not only are you an integral part of the team who maintain a safe and professional environment, you provide a lifeline to detainees who may be facing one of the most difficult times of their lives.
If you can do all of this and still shrug off your experiences at the end of the day, you'll be rewarded with an immensely satisfying job that's never dull, as well as the opportunity to make a real difference to the community and the North East itself.
As a Detention Officer you will work within Northumbria Police custody suites providing support to custody officers, police investigators, and both internal and external stakeholders. You will be dealing with a range of individuals – some being the most challenging and vulnerable in society. You will be the first point of contact in the suite for both officers and detainees, and will be responsible for managing risks and assessing vulnerabilities 24/7, 365 days a year under the supervision of Police Sergeants.
You will assist in the preparation, completion and administration of all documentation, information and computer records relating to persons in custody to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and operational accuracy, as well as responding to dynamic situations that will require you to think fast and act professionally.
The role of Detention Officer will involve interacting with detainees, some of whom can be difficult and challenging. You will be responsible for obtaining evidential photographs, fingerprints and DNA from detainees. You will be given training on safe handling of detainees, and various IT systems.
What shifts would you be working?
Full time: 2 days 07:00 – 19:00, 2 nights 19:00 – 07:00, then 4 days off.
Key time reduced hours pattern - Key time working days are Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights: 10 hour shifts.
Do you have what it takes?
You don’t need to have done this type of role before - life skills are more important than specific qualifications. The role requires good communication skills, sound record-keeping, common sense, resilience and a desire to make the custody suite a safe place to be. You'll need to be able to stand up for yourself and deal with confrontational situations, but you’ll never be alone – there will always be regular police officers and other support staff on hand to help. When the going gets particularly tough, you'll appreciate the camaraderie that makes working in this environment so unique.
You will provide a visible presence and be the face of Northumbria Police Detention, adhering to the Code of Ethics and Northumbria Police’s Values in the presence of 24/7 CCTV. Respect for others regardless of their race, age, background or reason for arrest is absolutely essential.
It is vital that a detention officer has high professional and ethical standards, good communication skills, can work as part of a team, has resilience of character, is diligent and takes pride in the level of service they provide. You will work alongside Custody Sergeants who have responsibility for the custody suite and who will be your immediate supervisors.
Requirements
You will be IT literate, full of initiative and have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Strong customer focus and passionate and committed to helping others
Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities
You must also be willing to work at other locations in line with operational demand. For this reason a full UK driving licence is considered essential.
In return for your dedication and experience, we offer 23 days’ leave, excluding bank holidays, increasing to 28 days for 5 years+ service. We support our people inside and out of work – offering a very competitive pension scheme, childcare vouchers, and discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card. And to take care of your physical and mental well-being, we’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service and access to gyms in some stations.
Training
You will complete a four week course of formal training. This is undertaken on a full-time basis at Ponteland Police Training Centre. It’s designed to give you a solid understanding in the essentials of a Detention Officer, and you will be legally designated to carry out certain police powers like searches and the taking of fingerprints and DNA. You will also receive officer safety training, which includes de-escalation and restraint techniques, as well as first aid training to College of Policing standards. You’ll then be deployed to a custody suite – this marks the beginning of your Northumbria Police career.
Please refer to the
Job Profile for further details of the role and the essential criteria.
What support will I receive in the workplace?
Creating a great place to work is important for us and our support associations are part of that. Available for all of our Police Staff, Police Officers and volunteers they support your wellbeing and careers. They include Women in Policing, LGBT+ and Northumbria Police Ethnic Minorities Association, to name but a few.
To take care of your physical and mental wellbeing we’ve invested in trained mental health first aiders on-site, Blue Light Well-being ambassadors, TRiM support officers, an employee advice service offering 24/7 access to trained counsellors, and a peer-led support programme.
Vetting level: Recruitment Vetting (RV)
Applicants must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information and references.
If you have any queries with regard to the application process please contact the Talent Acquisition Team by email at careers@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
All staff including those appointed on fixed term contracts must successfully complete their probationary period before they are eligible to apply for a Northumbria Police vacancy.
Vacancy Contact:
To discuss the position in more detail please contact Custody Inspector Michelle Miller on 7664@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
**Due to Covid restrictions, visits to the custody suite cannot be accommodated**
Northumbria Police fully supports a policy of equal opportunities and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Appointments are based on merit alone