**Detention Engagement Officer

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

As a key member of the Detention Engagement Team based at Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), you will work directly with individuals being held securely while their case is progressed.

Your role involves face-to-face engagement with them about their return, ensuring they understand the process and steps required to bring their case to a conclusion. You will also be responsible for monitoring and supporting their welfare, raising concerns promptly, ensuring access to information and services, and contributing to a safe, professional and respectful environment within the centre.

In this role you’ll be making a genuine difference, supporting vulnerable people at a difficult point in their lives while helping to maintain safe, lawful and effective immigration controls for the UK.

Job description

Serving as a Detention Engagement Officer means that each working day brings new and different experiences.

Your role is multifaceted and will involve face-to-face engagement with detained residents, supporting them to understand their case and ensuring they receive clear information at the right time. You will provide steady, practical guidance that helps them move through the immigration process in a safe, lawful and timely way.

As a key point of contact, you’ll help maintain strong links between residents, their case working teams, on-site healthcare and other service providers, making sure communication is consistent, accurate and dependable.

Because much of your work is people-facing and often sensitive, you will need to be a calm, confident communicator who can build trust quickly and maintain professionalism and integrity, even in challenging situations.

The role and the environment can be demanding so you’ll need to bring resilience and a confident approach. You’ll operate within a secure facility. You’ll encounter emotionally charged moments and challenging behaviour, but you won’t face them alone. With comprehensive training and a strong, supportive team around you, you’ll quickly build the confidence and assurance needed to handle complex situations professionally and safely. You also need to be aware that the role can be physically demanding as you’ll spend much of your day on the go.

These roles are based at Dungavel IRC, which is accommodation for adult male and female residents who are either foreign national criminals, immigration offenders, illegal small boats arrivals or failed asylum seekers. It has about 200 bed spaces. More information can be found here.

Please note the centre is located in Strathaven approximately 60 minutes from Glasgow, and is a multi-level building with no lift access so you must be comfortable using stairs throughout your shift.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducting face-to-face engagement with residents:Managing 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.
• Supporting vulnerable people: Working collaboratively with all stakeholders to support and signpost vulnerable people.
• Being the onsite link: Working collaboratively with caseworking teams, healthcare providers and the IRC supplier to resolve issues relating to case progression quickly and professionally.
• Undertaking 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.
• Working safely and professionally: Acting professionally and with integrity, following security, safeguarding and confidentiality requirements at all times.
• General administrative duties: This includes inbox management and answering phone calls.

Working patterns

This role is available on a full-time basis. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work three full shifts (22.2 hours) per week across the full range of shifts. Please note that full shifts will be required even if a part time contract is sought.

Shift working

This role requires you to be flexible. You will need to be able to attend for early and late shifts. On weekdays, the early shifts are 08.00 to 15.24 and late shifts are 12.04 to 19.30. On weekends and public holidays (excluding Christmas Day and New Years Day), the early shifts are 09.00 to 16.24 and late shifts are 09.36 to 17.00.

You are required to be available for all scheduled shifts and will not have the option to select specific shifts.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place initially in the classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. This includes our strategic partners Mitie who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Centre, including the safety and security of staff and residents. Once confident in the role there will be further opportunities for professional development.

Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.

Please note that candidates will need to complete Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) level 2 for this role.

Trauma-exposed roles involve working with sensitive and potentially distressing material and supporting vulnerable people. We provide team members with comprehensive support so you can make a real difference in a safe, compassionate environment. Learn more on our website.

Please also note you may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.

Driving licence

There are no public transport links however car parking is available for staff. You must be available to attend the centre for all scheduled shifts, therefore holding a full UK manual or automatic driving licence is essential.

Person specification

Essential criteria

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Being effective at building positive and trusting working relationships. This includes the ability to actively listen, show empathy and treat others with respect and dignity.
• The ability to de-escalate situations with confidence and patience.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to read and relay out loud complex and often lengthy information both clearly and accurately.
• The ability to assess situations, make balanced decisions and escalate concerns appropriately.

Desirable criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. It will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores at interview between candidates so please ensure you evidence it within your Personal Statement.

• Experience of working in a public-facing role.

Licences

Full valid UK manual or automatic driving licence

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• This role currently attracts AHW of 17.86% of salary, which equates to an additional £6,146 per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 27th July 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing (maximum of 250 words).

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviour), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – 29th July 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and the lead Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Lead Behaviour). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – 24th August 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be the Behaviour (as listed in the job advert) Strength based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place via MS Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Further information

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviour and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Further information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)