Job Description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location
About the job
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.
The Chief Operating Officer Group works closely with the Home Offices policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the departments priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.
Security Officers are required to be able to read and absorb information, implementing what has been read, ensuring it is followed and use available information to brief colleagues and plan ahead. Security Officers require effective IT skills, including a good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
In particular, in this role you will have the opportunity to:
- Gain skills in Customer Service being the first point of contact for all visitors to the Organisation.
- Develop effective communication skills with a variety of stakeholders, including colleagues across the Organisation and other Government department security teams.
- Gain expertise in protective security by understanding best practice for business continuity, physical and manned security whilst using state of the art security equipment and electronic systems.
Job description
Key Responsibilities:
- Control access & egress to HO buildings in compliance with the Home Office Security Pass and Access Control Policies.
- When required, deal with conflict professionally and calmly using the skills learnt in the Conflict Management Training.
- Conduct Internal and external patrols vigilantly as directed, remaining observant of your surroundings and respond positively to situations discovered.
- Complete all written work accurately and efficiently ensuring it is legible and clear.
- Produce comprehensive incident reports in a timely and accurate manner.
- Follow the Home Office Pass Policy when dealing with all visitors or contractors to ensure correct pass issuance.
- Search vehicles and individuals when required in adherence with Home Office searching procedures.
- Report and record in a timely manner, all incidents, accommodation and health & safety issues identified.
- Respond to all alarms as per Home Office policy.
Working Pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.
Annualised hours
This is an Annualised Hours Working position which attracts allowances for the following:
- Flexibility and Predictability.
-
Rostered Shift Allowance – the post holder will be required to work shifts:
West London – post-specific shifts between the hours of 6am and 11pm. - Premium Hours which includes weekend working and may include Public Holidays.
-
The allowances are not guaranteed and are subject to change depending on business needs.
Allowances will be confirmed if offered the role. - Overtime At times there may be overtime available based on business needs, however this is not guaranteed.
Training
You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. You will work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.
Travel
As part of your terms and conditions, you may be required to travel to other locations nationwide within the Home Office Security remit to fulfil business needs.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Are flexible and able to successfully perform a range of multi-skilled duties.
- Are able to confidently manage potentially difficult and challenging situations.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills (both verbal and written).
- Strong IT skills including Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Professional and customer-focused, ability to understand the needs of vulnerable customers.
- Experience in security provision or a high-pressure customer-service environment and a commitment to the highest standards.
- Confident working with a range of internal and external partners.
- Due to the nature of the work and the geographical area, driving is a requirement field for this role. Applicants who hold a full valid UK, should have either a manual/automatic driving licence.
- Minimum of 5 GCSEs (Grades AE or equivalent).
Desirable Criteria
- Competent IT skills, including the use of common workplace systems and software.
- Previous security experience in a professional environment.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- This role currently attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of 36.25% of salary, which equates to an additional £11,508 per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.
- See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Sign-up on our website to receive emails with information about careers at the Home Office.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
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.
- Application by Thursday 13th August 2026.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- CV
- Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
- Evidence of the Lead Behaviour ‘Making Effective Decisions’ (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).
Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.
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 (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift Monday 17th August 2026.
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and Lead Behaviour, as listed in the advert.
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 (CV and 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 Tuesday 8th September 2026.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert). All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.
The interview will take place in person – London Eaton House.
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.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think youve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact [email protected], 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.
Location Preference
You can select up to three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
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.
Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Breaking Tied Scores
The behaviours and experience have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.
Appearance
This is a uniformed post and as such requires the highest standards. Further information on this and policies regarding tattoos can be found on our website.
Uniform
- All Security Officers are required to wear Uniform and PPE. This will be provided by the department and must be worn at all times.
- Compulsory ballistic body armour and protective footwear are included in uniform as part of PPE.
Standards
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further Information
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 [email protected] 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
See our vetting charter .
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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles .
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email : [email protected]
Further information
Recent Job Listings
London, UK
London, UK
Upgrade Your Security Resume
No more guessing what to put on your resume. With SGO’s resume builder, simply input your information. Our tool makes job applications seamless.