23409 - SOC Operations Custody Officer

Ministry of Justice • Durham, NC

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Directorate of Security supports HMPPS in keeping prisons, probation and youth custody services lawful, safe and secure by managing risks and threats. The Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) tackles high-harm serious and organised crime (SOC) offenders in custody and in the community, and builds organisational capability and resilience against SOC threats.

The SOC Operations Custody Officer provides regional and local advice and support to disrupt organised crime in custody. The post holder identifies and supports the management of prisoners identified as serious and organised criminals, provides briefings and training to establishment staff, and works with internal and external partners to manage risks posed by SOC Band 1 nominals. The role involves coordinating reactive and proactive interventions, case-managing high-risk prisoners, and ensuring a coordinated multi-agency response.

The officer works across establishments in the North East region, with an identified establishment as the main base. Frequent regional travel and occasional travel to SOCU headquarters and Directorate of Security regional hubs are required. The role reports to the Regional Serious Organised Crime Manager and has no line-management responsibility. It involves working independently, often remotely, and may require short-notice tactical disruption work at any time of the year. The role requires a current UK driving licence and includes exercising the Powers of a Constable.

Requirements

• Hold a current UK driving licence.
• Be able to work independently, often remotely and with little or no daily supervision.
• Be capable of delivering briefings to establishment managers and senior managers, with training and development as needed.
• Be able to develop effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Be willing and able to travel frequently across the region and occasionally to SOCU headquarters and Directorate of Security regional hubs.
• Be able to work in prison establishments and participate in tactical interventions at short notice, including at unsocial times.
• Be able to exercise the Powers of a Constable.
• Meet the required security and identity checks; the stated security requirements are DBS Standard and Security Clearance (SC).

Responsibilities

• Directly case-manage SOC Band 1 nominals identified through agreed processes, investigating their activities and advising on their management.
• Agree local activity with establishment Security Departments and negotiate access and opportunities to develop information about targets.
• Share relevant information with partners, including Security Departments, establishment offender managers and law enforcement agencies, and update records across systems such as Mercury, PNOMIS and case management records.
• Maintain the Digital Case Management System with accurate, up-to-date information and share reporting with establishments.
• Deliver briefings to establishment managers and senior managers on plans and developments concerning SOC Band 1 nominals.
• Develop relationships with external stakeholders, including the NCA, HMRC and police, and deputise for the Regional SOC Manager at multi-agency risk-management meetings when required.
• Plan, deliver and facilitate specialist interventions or disruptions, directly or through partners, to divert and support SOC Band 1 nominals and people engaging in or vulnerable to SOC offending.
• Advise Offender Supervisors and establish close working links with offender management units, acting as a point of contact for SOC-related matters.
• Work with SOC Probation colleagues and partner agencies to prepare for and plan the release of SOC offenders, ensuring local POMs and offender management unit staff understand relevant risks.
• Support prison intelligence analysts and establishments in identifying and managing prisoners whose behaviour may indicate SOC offending.
• Work with establishment Security Departments to investigate SOC-related issues, develop and contextualise intelligence, and prepare for case-management or local security meetings.
• Provide specialist SOC advice to Security Department staff and senior managers.
• Monitor mail and PIN phone communications, engage with prison staff to build a fuller picture, and blend into wing teams when tactically required.
• Undertake short-notice work in establishments to lead or participate in tactical disruption interventions, which may take place at any time throughout the year.
• Maintain systems, prepare documentation for verification and quality checks, attend and contribute to meetings, undertake required specialist training, and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Comply with national and local policies and legislation, and undertake other reasonable duties of a similar level.

Benefits

• Annual leave, with entitlement calculated on a pro-rata basis where applicable.
• Nine days (66 hours 36 minutes) of bank, public and privilege holidays, added to annual leave allowance.
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
• Flexible working arrangements, subject to business needs and satisfactory probation.
• Season ticket advance eligibility after two months' service.
• Training and development opportunities, including equality and diversity, challenging behaviour, suicide prevention and anti-bullying programmes.
• Opportunities to access promotion programmes.
• A 20% unsocial-hours payment in addition to basic pay for regular unsocial hours.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed