Careers
What is an Operations Support Officer at Serco?
An Operations Support Officer (OSO) helps keep a prison running safely, securely and effectively.
At Serco, you may also see this type of role advertised as a 'Prison Support Officer (Operations)' or 'Operational Support Officer'.
From supporting security gates and prison visits to escorting prisoners, staff and contractors, this role can involve a wide range of responsibilities. Operations Support Officers are one type of Prison Support Officer role, with responsibilities varying depending on the establishment and position.
But this job is about more than completing a list of tasks. The work you do can have a direct impact on the people around you, the wider prison and the community it serves. By helping keep the prison running safely and effectively, you’re playing your own part in creating a safer, better future for the people inside the prison and the community beyond it.
From supporting security gates and prison visits to escorting prisoners, staff and contractors, this role can involve a wide range of responsibilities. Operations Support Officers are one type of Prison Support Officer role, with responsibilities varying depending on the establishment and position.
But this job is about more than completing a list of tasks. The work you do can have a direct impact on the people around you, the wider prison and the community it serves. By helping keep the prison running safely and effectively, you’re playing your own part in creating a safer, better future for the people inside the prison and the community beyond it.
Why does this role matter?
Prison operations depend on hundreds of things happening correctly every day.
A Prison Support Officer is often part of the team responsible for tracking who is coming into the prison, who is moving around it and when, while helping ensure the necessary security measures are in place.
A security check, a well-managed visit, an accurate report or making sure someone gets safely from one part of the prison to another can all contribute to a safe and well-run environment.
It's about doing the small things well because they have a bigger purpose – helping to keep people safe and supporting the effective running of the prison.
A Prison Support Officer is often part of the team responsible for tracking who is coming into the prison, who is moving around it and when, while helping ensure the necessary security measures are in place.
A security check, a well-managed visit, an accurate report or making sure someone gets safely from one part of the prison to another can all contribute to a safe and well-run environment.
It's about doing the small things well because they have a bigger purpose – helping to keep people safe and supporting the effective running of the prison.
Could being a Prison Support Officer be right for you?
If you're looking for a role where you can take responsibility, work with people and make a tangible difference, a Prison Support Officer role could be a great fit.
You could be well suited to the role if you:
You could be well suited to the role if you:
- Communicate well and feel comfortable working with a wide range of people.
- Stay calm under pressure and can use good judgement when situations change.
- Are reliable, trustworthy and organised, with good time management and attention to detail.
- Are professional, resilient and mature, with a positive, can-do attitude.
- Enjoy working as part of a team, while being confident working independently when needed.
- Want to learn and develop, building new skills and experience in a role where every day can be different.
You don't need previous experience in security or prisons to become a Prison Support Officer. Whatever your background, you may already have valuable transferable skills that can help you succeed in the role.
Our Prison Support Officers come from a wide range of backgrounds, including customer service, retail and hospitality, administration, warehousing, manufacturing and security.
What matters most is having the right attitude, being willing to learn and being able to work well as part of a team.
Some specialist roles, such as security-focused Prison Support Officer positions, do require previous security experience. Please check the specific requirements on the job advert before applying.
Our Prison Support Officers come from a wide range of backgrounds, including customer service, retail and hospitality, administration, warehousing, manufacturing and security.
What matters most is having the right attitude, being willing to learn and being able to work well as part of a team.
Some specialist roles, such as security-focused Prison Support Officer positions, do require previous security experience. Please check the specific requirements on the job advert before applying.