Ensuring individuals in custody and detention centers are held in a secure, safe, decent and fair environment
Occupational Profile
To work in custody and detention is to ensure that individuals are held in a secure, safe decent and fair environment and work as part of a team to ensure that safety of everyone in custody and detention centers is a priority. You will operate in a secure environment such as Prisons, Detention Centers, Custodial Establishments and Custodial Services are unique and often challenging places to work. The environment could vary from a Women’s unit or treatment prison to a male resettlement prison. The people in your care will have a variety of different needs and display varied It is your role to work 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. These environments rely and operate on routine, which you’ll need to be part of, however they can often be volatile challenging places to work and officers must be able and agile enough to respond quickly to a variety of incidents whilst maintaining professional standards throughout. You will also play a key role in rehabilitation of those in your care, acting to build commitment to change to reduce reoffending and to coach people in skills such as problem solving and management of emotions. You will be expected to positively influence the lives of those in your care, by working with them on a daily basis in ensuring they take responsibility for their actions and welfare. This may include maintaining links with their families, addressing offending behaviors which may have contributed to their situation and to seek positive resolution to circumstances that will affect their re-integration to society. Officers are frontline staff who have a duty to enforce and uphold legal decisions and follow process and procedure with integrity, honesty and professionalism. Roles in this environment will involve working a variety of shifts 365 days a year including evenings, nights, weekends and holiday periods. Examples of roles in this sector are Prison Officer, Custodial Officer, Detention Officer and Escorting Officer
Summary of standard
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/custody-detention-officer/
Full standard
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/media/1549/st0386_custody-and-detention-officer_l3.pdf
