Join us as a Detention Engagement Officer and help people understand what is happening during a difficult and uncertain time in their lives.
You’ll work face-to-face with people in an Immigration Removal Centre, giving them clear and accurate information about their immigration case and the processes affecting them. You’ll help identify welfare needs, work with specialist teams, and support the safe and effective operation of the centre.
It’s meaningful and rewarding work, but it can also be challenging. You’ll speak with people who may be frustrated, anxious, or distressed, so you’ll need to communicate sensitively, remain calm under pressure, and maintain clear professional boundaries.
Locations: Bedford | Consett | Gosport | Oxford
Salary: £34,415 plus additional allowance of up to 20.44% depending on location which equates to up to £7,034.43 pa based on salary minimum.
Grade: Executive Officer
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, and shift working
Closing dates: 15 October (Consett and Gosport). 19 October 2026 (Bedford and Oxford)
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months and used to make further appointments. Being placed on the reserve list does not guarantee a job offer.
About the role
Immigration Removal Services Command plays an important part in supporting the Home Office immigration system by managing immigration detention and helping to facilitate lawful returns.
As part of a Detention Engagement Team, you’ll work directly with residents in an Immigration Removal Centre. You’ll help them understand their immigration case, the processes affecting them, and the steps needed to progress their case towards a conclusion.
You’ll build professional and constructive relationships with residents, giving clear, accurate, and timely information. You’ll also help identify welfare concerns and make sure these are shared with the appropriate teams.
Working closely with caseworkers, healthcare providers, detention services colleagues, and other partners, you’ll help resolve issues and coordinate the support residents need.
No two days will be the same. The environment can be demanding and priorities can change quickly. You’ll need to adapt, use sound judgement, and continue providing a professional service when conversations become difficult. This is a Trauma-Exposed role where you may be exposed to potentially distressing information and stories. Read more about how we support colleagues working in these types of roles at the Home Office.
Despite the challenges of the role, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference, develop valuable communication and decision-making skills, and work as part of a supportive team.
Meet the team
Join one of our Detention Engagement Officer online information events to hear more about the role and application process. You can sign up using the links below:
This is your opportunity to hear how your ability to communicate with care, clarity, and confidence could make a difference every day.
Is this role for you
You don’t need a formal qualification or previous experience of working in an immigration removal centre to apply.
However, you must have experience of working in a customer service environment. This can have been gained through paid or voluntary work in any sector.
You should consider carefully whether you’re comfortable working within the removal centre environment with people who may be experiencing uncertainty, frustration, or distress.
You’ll need to show empathy and respect while maintaining professional boundaries. You must also be able to explain difficult information clearly, manage challenging conversations, make sound decisions, and record information accurately.
This role could be a good fit if you have experience in a customer-facing role where you have:
- Helped someone through a difficult situation
- Responded to frustration or conflict professionally
- Explained complex or sensitive information
- Built trust with people from different backgrounds
- Balanced empathy with clear boundaries
- Stayed calm when circumstances changed
- Recorded information accurately and confidentially
Your experience does not need to come from working in Immigration Enforcement. What matters is that you can demonstrate the skills, judgement, resilience, and motivation required for the role.
Working Arrangements
This is a fully site-based role. You’ll need to attend your Immigration Removal Centre for every scheduled shift and carry out your duties on site.
The role is available on a full-time basis. Part-time working may also be available, subject to business requirements, with a minimum requirement to work three full shifts (22.2 hours) per week.
You’ll need to work a shift pattern that may include:
- Early starts
- Late finishes
- Weekends
- Public holidays (excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
The working pattern is:
- Weekday early shift: 08:00 to 15.24
- Weekday late shift: 13.36 to 21:00
- Weekend and public holiday early shift: 09:00am to 16.24
- Weekend and public holiday late shift: 09.36am to 17:00
Training
You’ll receive full training and support to help you develop the knowledge and confidence you need.
Your training will begin in a classroom setting before continuing in the workplace. You’ll work with a mentor who will support you while you learn the role and become confident carrying out your responsibilities.
Once you’ve completed your initial training, you’ll continue to work as part of a team, with colleagues available to offer advice and support.
Benefits
In addition to your salary, you’ll receive a range of Civil Service benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- 25 days’ annual leave when you join, rising to 30 days with service
- Eight public holidays and one additional privilege day
- Access to an in-year reward scheme that recognises exceptional individual or team achievements
- Training and support to help you develop in the role
- The security of a permanent Civil Service career
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Each location attracts an additional Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) as listed below,
Bedford 17.76% equates to £6,112.10 pa
Consett 20.44% equates to £7,034.43 pa
Gosport 19.02% equates to £6,545.73 pa
Oxford 19.03% or £6,549.17
You should consider how you’ll travel to your chosen location before applying, particularly where shifts begin early or end late.
Please note: Public transport links are limited in these locations, but on-site parking may be available.
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As a Detention Engagement Officer, you’ll:
- Conduct face-to-face engagement with residents: Manage interactions with a portfolio of residents, delivering inductions, serving official paperwork and providing clear explanations to help them understand the next steps in their case, which include returning to their country of origin and the consequences of non-compliance.
- Support vulnerable people: Work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support and signpost vulnerable people.
- Be the onsite link: Work collaboratively with case working teams, healthcare providers and the IRC supplier to resolve issues relating to case progression quickly and professionally.
- Undertake information gathering and record keeping: You will need to take an unbiased and methodical approach to information gathering. Daily interactions and case updates should be logged promptly and accurately, providing a clear audit trail on Home Office IT systems to support case progression and the smooth running of the team.
- Work safely and professionally: Act professionally and with integrity, following security, safeguarding and confidentiality requirements at all times.
- General administrative duties: This includes inbox management and answering phone calls.
The role combines direct engagement, administrative work, accurate record keeping, and responsibility for supporting effective immigration outcomes.
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To apply, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Experience of working in a customer service environment through paid or voluntary work
- Clear verbal and written communication skills
- The ability to build positive working relationships with people from different backgrounds
- A calm, professional, and resilient approach when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations
- A genuine motivation to support vulnerable people
- The ability to help people understand their options
- A commitment to contributing to safe and effective immigration outcomes
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This recruitment campaign will use the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. Your behaviours and experience will be assessed.
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the:
Customer Service Skills test if applying for the Derwentside or Consett locations only.
If you successfully pass the Customer Service Skills test, you will be invited to complete the full application form, which you must complete as soon as possible (with 24-48 hours is recommended)
Application
You’ll be asked to provide:
- A personal statement of no more than 1,000 words
- A behaviour example for Communicating and Influencing of no more than 250 words
Your personal statement should cover:
- Your three most recent roles
- Any other relevant voluntary, community, or charitable experience
- Your main responsibilities and achievements
- How your experience has prepared you to become a Detention Engagement Officer
- Why you want the role
- How your skills, knowledge, and experience meet the essential criteria
- Your career aspirations
- What attracts you to the opportunity
- Why you believe you have the potential to succeed
Use clear and relevant examples from your own experience.
Important: Artificial intelligence tools may help you plan or review your application. However, everything you submit must be truthful, factually accurate, and based on your own experience. Watch this how to apply personal statement video to help you with your application. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use of AI.
Sift
The sift will assessed on:
- Your personal statement
- And Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing
Interview
- If you pass the sift, you’ll be invited to an interview that will include Experience questions and questions on the Communicating and Influencing and Making Effective Decisions Behaviours.
A video covering tips on preparing for interview can be found here.
The interview will take place on at Derwentside IRC, Consett.
Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers and on the Home Office Careers YouTube channel
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Ready to use your people skills in a role where you can make a meaningful difference?
Before applying, make sure you:
- Meet all the essential criteria
- Can attend your chosen location for every scheduled shift
- Can work the required shift pattern
- Understand that the role is fully site-based
- Are comfortable working in a secure operational environment
- Are prepared to handle sensitive, difficult, or challenging conversations
- Can balance empathy with firm professional boundaries
- Can meet the security, integrity, nationality, and pre-employment requirements
Click the links below related to your preferred location/s to apply.
