CAREERS
Our employees and services touch the lives of others every day, providing crucial services to keep them safe and secure.
The opportunities for a long term career are many and diverse. Whether you are already experienced in Secure Care Centre management or operations, or are looking for a new career path with a chance to make a difference, we may have a role for you. You could be that person who makes a difference every day.
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WHATS IT LIKE TO BE AN SCO?
We’re looking for people with core skills such as good communication skills, empathy and integrity to join our frontline team at Oakhill Secure Training Centre. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ officer and we encourage applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, who can demonstrate the integrity, resilience and strong Secure Care Officers are key to the success of our centre and we are looking for people who can fit naturally into this role.
Day to day, you will help to create a safe, secure environment for young people aged between 12 to 18 years who have been remanded or sentenced to periods of detention. In return, you will receive a rewarding career, as well as great training, excellent benefits and the chance to change lives for the better.
The children 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, whilst having the ability to set boundaries, maintain a consistently mature approach and manage the behaviours of young people in our care with professional authority. This is an environment that calls for high standards of social care and service delivery to provide a secure and stable environment for young people to develop their life skills, address the behaviours that have led them into custody and effectively re-integrate them into mainstream society on release.
Working directly with the children in our care, you will need to be able to motivate and support them in their surroundings and in the classroom to develop life skills, manage their own behaviour and enhance their effective resettlement on release. It is imperative that you consider yourself to be effective and resilient under pressure and ready to manage the ever changing dynamic of working with young people, many of whom may have a history of unpredictable behaviour. This can, at times, feel challenging to manage, and whilst we pride ourselves on teamwork and support, it is important to acknowledge that this can be a high pressured environment.
Safeguarding young people is our primary focus and the welfare of the young person is paramount. Therefore we have a corporate responsibility to ensure that the safeguarding and our G4S values are at the centre of all we do.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds who can show that they have the integrity, resilience and strong communications skills needed to thrive in these roles.
No specific previous qualifications or experience are required.
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 young people.
MANAGERIAL & SUPPORT ROLES
As a Manager, you will provide employees with the leadership and motivation they need to do a great job. At the same time, you will keep an eye on our strategic vision, making sure that everything we do is in line with our top level objectives.
All our employees make a difference.
Working in a support role, you play a pivotal part of our continued success and the everyday operation of the Centre. We have a number of support functions within the Centre such as Human Resources, Education, Psychology, Chaplaincy, Facilities Management and Administration plus many more, so there will be something that suits you!
We are committed to developing our employees as well as providing opportunities for progression. We will give you every chance to transform challenges into opportunities and to excel professionally and personally.
THE RECRUITMENT & VETTING PROCESS
Human Resources (HR) is an integral part of Oakhill STC and plays a key role in employees’ development in line with the Company’s values. The HR function focuses on diverse areas such as performance management, recruitment and selection process, employee relation matters, benefits and payroll processing. HR is also committed to promoting and supporting openness, transparency and high ethical standards within the working environment.
The purpose of the recruitment and vetting process is to assess candidate’s suitability for the role and to attract the right calibre of candidates who have the resilience and the skill set to effectively undertake their roles in order to continuously build a stronger workforce. The HR team consistently ensures that it is operating within the safer recruitment guidelines to support our young people in our care.
It is imperative that all successful candidates complete the security screening required by G4S and the Youth Custody Service (YCS). There is also a requirement for candidates to go through enhanced DBS checks and provide a full 10 year employment history.
Assessment days (Secure Care Officers)
On the day of assessment, candidates have the opportunity to speak to senior and middle managers and also current Secure Care Officers (SCOs) working at Oakhill STC. The day will consist of the following:
- Welcome session
- Group exercises
- An interview with management
Vetting
All employment at Oakhill STC is conditional upon successfully passing security screening and the Initial Training Course. This consists of:
- G4S initial clearance (before a formal offer can be made)
- G4S full clearance (Youth Custody Service clearance).
If you are successful at the assessment day, you will be invited for a screening interview. Please note that it is important to be completely open and honest throughout the screening process. Failure to declare information may result in your offer being withdrawn.
Medical testing
If you are successful and get through the assessment day, your employment will also be conditional upon passing a medical with the company’s occupational health providers. This will take place shortly after the assessment day.
TRAINING
Initial Training Course (ITC)
The Initial Training Course is an eight week training plan for all operational staff to complete prior to being certificated as a Secure Care Officer and has been developed to prepare you with the knowledge and tools to complete the role within the centre. The course is delivered by our own department specialists. There are also a number of courses within the Initial Training Course that are nationally recognised.
The Initial Training course covers all the areas required to fulfill the role of the Secure Care Officer and also other Managerial and Support roles within Oakhill. It provides the foundation for staff to start their new career path. Each session provides knowledge of the subject, enhanced by role plays and group exercises. Throughout the course there are elements of testing that require pass marks before moving on with certification as a Secure Care Officer.
These are some of the courses that are included in the Initial Training Course:
First Aid
Three day course in First Aid in the Workplace. The course will cover CPR, Bleeding, Fractures, the use of AEDs and many more areas to equip staff when required to administer first aid. This course is tested through a practical and theory exam to test knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Food Hygiene
A one day course that provides a level 2 knowledge and certificate.
British Safety Council level 2 Health and Safety
A one day course and exam on Health and Safety in the workplace.
Child Development
Training provided by a qualified social worker on the development of young people from birth to adolescence. Researching and reviewing a number of theories that will support the management and understanding of the young people within Oakhill STC.
Fire Awareness
Training provided by in-house experienced staff on the fire procedures within Oakhill STC. The Fire Awareness course will provide the knowledge of the local policies and procedures at Oakhill. Alongside the course a practical testing using the Personal Protection Equipment available on site for the staff should there be a need to use it and the use of a mock room filled with smoke. Providing real life practical experience.
Mental Health
Enhanced training provided by qualified CAMHS workers to equip staff with the knowledge of mental health conditions that the young people within Oakhill STC may have. The training uses theory and group work to emphasise the complex needs of some of our young people that staff work alongside and how to manage their complex behaviour needs.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training
Corporate training reviewing the Equality Act 2010, local diversity policies and how to act inclusively. This course also reviews the local values of G4S and Oakhill STC.
Managing and Minimising Physical Restraint (MMPR)
The aim of this course is to provide staff working with young people within the Justice Sector, professional strategies and skills supported by a range of accredited physical techniques which are simple, safer, and more effective when managing conflict and violence in the workplace. The course is assessed throughout with practical and theory testing.
To become a certificated Custody Officer you are required to complete a minimum of 280 guided learning hours. The Initial Training Course also provides non certificated staff the opportunity to develop and gain further knowledge in areas to promote their role.
Support staff are also required to complete a number of mandatory sessions for their roles at Oakhill STC, which include:
- Introduction to G4S
- Health and Safety
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Fire Awareness
- Safeguarding
- Security Training
- Keys. Radios and Body Worn Cameras
- Personal Protection Training
Further Traininig
Being part of the Oakhill Team will also require all staff to continue their learning and professional development. This comes in the form of in-house refresher training and qualifications provided by external learning providers.
Further qualifications are available for all roles at Oakhill to provide job satisfaction and a professional service to customers.
Mandatory Refresher Training includes Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Fire Awareness, First Aid, Restraint Training (MMPR), Security and Mental Health. These courses are not exhausted and others are provided as per an annual training plan.
Being a large business also allows staff employed by G4S to enrol onto Government Apprenticeships fully funded through the “Apprenticeship Levy.”
At present, Oakhill has a number of staff currently on various apprenticeship schemes.
G4S also has its own e-Learning platform for all staff to access and complete self-learning courses. These courses are a great way to enhance knowledge within your role!
CURRENT VACANCIES AND HOW TO APPLY
Whether you are already experienced as a Manager, looking for a new career path as a Secure Care Officer or you are interested in a support role – you have a chance to make a difference.
Find out more details about the range of exciting opportunities available by clicking here…
Equality and Diversity is an important part of G4S Care and Rehabilitation Services. We actively encourage applications from all diverse groups.
We have a corporate responsibility to ensure that safeguarding and our G4S values are at the centre of all we do.
You must be eligible to work in the UK and must have been resident in the UK for a minimum period of 3 years.
You will also need to provide full details of your employment and education history for the last 10 years as part of the security screening process for this role.
