Engagement Officer

Salary: £30,900 – £32,445. Plus, an Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of between 19.04% and 19.69% of salary also depending on location.

Working pattern: Full-time or part-time and entirely on-site. Part-time requires a minimum of three full shifts (22.2 hours) per week. Early and late shifts are part of the rota:

· Weekdays: Early 08:00 – 15:24, Late 13:36 – 21:00

· Weekends: Early 09:00 – 16:24, Late 09:36 – 17:00

· Weekends (Heathrow): Early 08:36 – 16:24, Late 12:06 – 19:30

Weekend shifts include public holidays but exclude Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Your presence can bring clarity and calm where it matters most.

About us

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

At Immigration Enforcement (IE) we work to uphold immigration laws, prevent illegal migration, and remove foreign national offenders without a right to remain in the UK. We also disrupt organised criminal groups that exploit vulnerable people for personal gain. You can learn more on our careers pages.

About the role

As an Engagement Officer, you’ll work directly with detained residents at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), helping them understand their case and navigate the immigration process. As the first point of contact for new arrivals to the centre, you’ll explain how it works, serve official paperwork, give updates on the return process, and help people understand the rules and why they matter. Drawing on your people skills, you’ll spot when someone needs extra support and make sure, they’re connected with the right services.

Your on-site presence won’t just support residents – it’ll be a vital link for caseworking teams, healthcare staff and the IRC supplier. By sharing accurate, unbiased updates and keeping clear daily records, you’ll make sure everyone has the information they need so issues can be resolved quickly. Plus, you’ll respond to emails and phone calls to help the centre run smoothly.

Working with residents can be rewarding, but it comes with challenges too. People may feel anxious, frustrated or unsure about what comes next, and this can sometimes be reflected in their behaviour. Confident, calm communication and a resilient attitude will help you navigate these situations, but you won’t be facing them alone. With full training, guidance and a supportive team around you, you’ll be able to respond with professionalism, compassion and composure.

Please note the roles will be based at secure centres which house residents that are either foreign national offenders, immigration offenders, illegal small boat arrivals or failed asylum seekers. This role is active with plenty of moving around the centre throughout the day. Public transport links are limited at the Bedford and Oxford locations, but parking is available on site. A free minibus service is available at Gatwick along with staff parking. At Heathrow, the site can be reached by bus and nearby train stations – with limited staff car parking availability.

About you

You’re the kind of person who connects with others easily. You listen actively, empathise, and make sure everyone feels treated fairly and with respect. You’ve got the confidence and patience to make balanced decisions, assess and de-escalate difficult situations, and escalate any concerns in the right way.

You don’t need any formal qualifications to apply, but strong verbal and written skills are essential, including reading and explaining complex information clearly. Experience working in a public-facing role is also desirable.

Training and development

You’ll receive full training and support to thrive in your role. Training takes place initially in the classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who will support you until you’re fully confident in the role. Even when that day comes, you won’t be alone. You’ll work as part of a team where you’ll always be given support and advice. This includes our strategic partners who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the centre, including the safety and security of staff and residents. More information on training can be found on our website. You must also complete Public Personal Safety Training which is also relevant for some Home Office roles that are not uniformed such as the Engagement Officer position.

Sign-up on the Home Office Careers website to receive emails with information about careers with us.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £30,900.00-£32,445.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Company pension
  • On-site parking

Work Location: In person

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