Security 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.

The Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part the home office security team, providing excellent customer service and security, to staff and customers visiting the home office.

Job description

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 interpersonal 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 pioneering security equipment and electronic systems.

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 expertly 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.

Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place on the Job during your probation period 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. 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 optimally perform a range of multi-skilled duties.
• Can 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 fast paced customer-service environment and a dedication to the highest standards.
• Confident working with a range of internal and external partners.

Desirable criteria

• Security experience.

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 up to 31.34% of salary depending on location, per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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 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.

• Application – by Wednesday 7th October 2026.

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

• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
• Evidence of the Lead Behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions' (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 (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – Friday 9th October 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement 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 (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 – Friday 30th October 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 - Capital Building Liverpool L3 9AF.

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 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.

Location Preference

You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location 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.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours 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.

All Security Officers are required to wear Uniform and PPE. This will be provided by the department and must be worn at all times.

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 Chec k to Disclosure and Barring Service on y our 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.

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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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 Irel