Prison Custody Officer Jobs: Serco and Sodexo Assessments

Some prisons in England and Wales are run by private companies under contract, and they recruit their own staff. In these prisons the frontline role is usually called a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) rather than a prison officer. The job on the wing is similar, but recruitment is run by the company, not HMPPS, so the tests, pay and training are different.

This guide looks at two recent adverts we checked, one from Sodexo and one from Serco, explains what their assessments involve and how to prepare. Processes vary between companies, between prisons and over time, so always check the current advert for the post you want.

Sodexo: Prison Custody Officer at HMP Altcourse

A Sodexo advert for a Prison Custody Officer at HMP Altcourse, Liverpool, posted on 11 August 2026, sets out the process clearly.

Pay

Length of service	Salary
Starting	£32,469
After 2+ years	£34,027
After 4+ years	£34,897

The role was full-time. Applicants had to be 18 or over, and the advert said Sodexo could not offer visa sponsorship for this post.

The assessment centre

The advert listed three parts:

1. Written English and Maths assessments, covering "the communication and numerical skills required".
2. Scenario-based exercises.
3. A competency-based interview.

The advert gave fixed assessment centre dates and said attendance was mandatory. If you are offered a date, treat it like a shift you can't miss.

Training

Successful candidates went on an 8-week training programme, delivered locally. It covered classroom learning, practical instruction, conflict resolution, communication training and shadowing experienced officers.

Serco: Prisoner Custody Officer

The Serco advert we checked, posted on 3 October 2026, is for a Prisoner Custody Officer in Serco's escort and court custody service. That is a different job from working on a prison wing: it involves the safe custody of people at court and while they are moved between sites. Serco's prison-based roles may use a different process, so check the specific advert.

The process in that advert

1. Online application, including eligibility questions and online assessments.
2. Virtual assessment: a competency-based interview, a short role play and a written exercise, all done online.
3. Right to work and vetting document checks.
4. Job offer and confirmation of your training start date.

Pay, training and vetting

• Salary £25,555 for 35 hours a week, rising to £26,191 in year 2, £26,684 in year 3 and £27,180 in year 4.
• 5½ weeks of paid induction training.
• Offers subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks, an Enhanced DBS check (adult and child barring), satisfactory employment references and occupational health checks.

What the two processes have in common

Although the detail differs, both adverts test the same core things:

• Can you communicate clearly and stay calm with people who may be upset or uncooperative? (Role play or scenario exercises.)
• Can you write a clear, accurate account? (Written exercise or English assessment.)
• Can you handle everyday numbers? (Maths assessment.)
• Have you shown the right behaviours before? (Competency-based interview.)
• Can you pass vetting? (Background, references and health checks.)

How to prepare

English and maths assessments

Private operators assess basic English and maths because the job involves writing reports, keeping records and counting people, property and money.

Maths: practise adding and subtracting times across midnight, working out percentages, handling money and doing simple head counts (for example, a wing of 64 with 5 at healthcare and 3 at court: how many on the wing?). Do some practice without a calculator.

English: practise short pieces of writing with correct spelling, full sentences and clear paragraphs. Read a short notice or policy extract and summarise it in two or three sentences.

Scenario-based exercises and role play

You may be asked to deal with a person in custody, or to say what you would do in a situation. Assessors usually look for:

• Calm, respectful communication: introduce yourself, use their name, listen properly.
• Empathy without giving in: acknowledge how they feel even when the answer is no.
• Honesty: don't promise things you can't deliver. Explain what you can do next.
• Safety and procedure: know when to involve a colleague or supervisor.
• A clear ending: agree a next step and say when you will follow up.

Practise with a friend playing someone angry about a missed phone call, a lost item of property or a refused request. Ten minutes is longer than it sounds, so practise keeping the conversation constructive the whole way through.

Written exercise

Write in the first person, in time order, sticking to facts. Include times, what you saw and heard, what you did and who you told. Avoid opinions and guesses. Leave a minute or two to check your spelling and grammar.

Competency-based interview

Prepare four or five real examples using a simple structure: situation, task, action, result. Good topics include:

• calming down an angry customer or member of the public;
• supporting someone who was struggling;
• following a rule you disagreed with;
• working as part of a team under pressure;
• dealing with a mistake you made.

Keep the focus on what you did, and finish with what you learned.

Vetting

Both adverts make clear that offers depend on vetting. Make it easy:

• have your full address and employment history to hand, with dates;
• warn your referees that they will be contacted;
• be honest on every form. Undisclosed issues cause far more problems than disclosed ones.

Is our practice relevant to private-sector roles?

Our tests are built around the HMPPS prison officer process for public-sector prisons, not any private operator's assessments, and we don't claim to replicate Sodexo's or Serco's tests. The skills, though, overlap heavily: prison-style numeracy, judging scenarios, writing incident accounts and structured interview answers. If you want to try that style of practice, see our free practice questions.

Before you apply

• Read the specific advert. Operators, prisons and dates vary.
• Note any fixed assessment dates and make sure you can attend.
• Check the hours and pay stated. They differ between operators and between prison and escort roles.
• Start preparing for the English and maths assessments early. They are usually the easiest marks to secure with practice.

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prisonofficertest.co.uk is an independent practice site. It is not affiliated with HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, the Scottish Prison Service, the Northern Ireland Prison Service or any prison operator. Always check your own invitation and the recruiter's current guidance.