Detention Custody Manager

Location: Derwentside IRC, Consett, County Durham, DH8 6QY

Job ID: 311515

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent (Regular)

Salary: £34,398 per annum, rising to £37,128 after completion of 2 years of service (Pay Award Pending), plus excellent benefits

About Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency

At Supportive Bridge, we connect skilled leaders with secure, purpose-driven operational roles across the UK justice and immigration sector. Partnering with leading public service providers, we specialize in placing candidates into stable, rewarding careers where your leadership expertise helps foster safe, secure, and respectful environments for vulnerable residents and staff alike.

Role Overview

As a Detention Custody Manager within our Justice and Immigration team at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre, you will lead operational teams to deliver safe, secure, and respectful services for residents. You will play a vital role in ensuring high standards of care, welfare, security, and operational performance while supporting colleagues to achieve their best.

This is a position with real purpose. You will help create an environment built on trust, care, and dignity, driving impactful solutions that make a positive difference in the community and contribute to a better future.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership: Manage the day-to-day coordination of operational activities, ensuring the safe, secure, and effective running of the centre.
Resource & Performance Management: Deploy colleagues effectively to maintain service delivery, compliance, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), driving continuous improvement.
Incident Command: Take command of incidents when required, making sound decisions to protect residents, colleagues, and the broader operation.
Team Development: Coach, support, and develop Detention Custody Officers and support staff, creating headroom for professional growth and success.
Welfare & Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to detention procedures, welfare mandates, security standards, and health and safety obligations.
Senior Support: Coordinate daily operations alongside the Duty Director, responding to incidents and delivering clear operational reporting.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a resilient, compassionate, and experienced leader with a background in regulated, custodial, or secure environments.

Requirements:

Leadership Experience: Proven experience leading operational teams within a secure, custodial, immigration, detention, justice, defence, or similarly regulated environment.
Core Skills: Strong leadership and communication skills, with an ability to build trust, influence others, and maintain composure under pressure.
Decision Making: A demonstrated ability to make sound decisions and manage critical incidents professionally in challenging situations.
Planning & Tech: Competence in resource planning, tracking workloads against performance targets, and strong IT skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
Qualifications: A relevant management qualification—such as a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 3 or equivalent—is desirable, or equivalent significant operational management experience.
Vetting Requirements: Ability to successfully pass Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, security clearance checks (such as CTC or SC), and an Occupational Health Questionnaire.

What We Offer You

Financial Package: Competitive starting salary of £34,398 per annum, scaling up to £37,128 after 2 years of service, plus free on-site car parking.
Leave & Pension: 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to buy up to 5 additional leave days annually) and up to a 6% contributory pension scheme.
Training & Development: Access to over 1,100 internal courses, over 60 different funded apprenticeships, mentoring schemes, and clear paths for internal progression.
Health & Wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, virtual GP service, wellbeing app, and 30% off at managed leisure centres.
Perks & Community: Around 1,000 retail discounts, a paid volunteering day, payroll-giving charity options, and active employee-led inclusion networks.

Our Recruitment Process & Equal Opportunities

Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with convictions who meet the minimum job criteria are guaranteed an interview.
Ban the Box: We champion fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions (subject to security clearance exemptions). Reasonable adjustments are fully supported throughout the hiring process.