Control Centre Operator

About the role

Join the Front Line of Community Safety in a Role That Really Matters

Are you calm under pressure, quick to react, and motivated by work that genuinely makes a difference? Swale Borough Council is looking for a sharp‑minded, reliable individual to become a Control Centre Operator within our dynamic Community Safety team.

This isn’t your typical desk job. The Control Centre operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so this post involves working a 12-hour rotating shift pattern, including nights, weekends, bank holidays and Christmas.

In this role you’ll be at the heart of real‑time incident monitoring, supporting emergency services, and helping keep our communities safe. If you’re looking for flexible work that’s meaningful, fast‑paced, and never the same day twice, this is your chance to step into a role with real impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

Every shift is different — you’ll be monitoring live Public Space CCTV, supporting local communities across the partnership, and helping local businesses tackle crime.

Spotting and reporting incidents in real time, providing vital information to our commercial clients across the partnerships and the Swale, Ashford, Gravesham and Folkestone Business Crime Reduction Partnership.

Keeping our Control Centre secure, ensuring only authorised personnel enter and maintaining accurate access logs.

Handling out‑of‑hours calls for local councils, following clear procedures to keep services running smoothly.

This is a full-time permanent position working 34 hours per week on-site, on a shift rota basis including nights, weekends and Bank Holidays, as outlined above.

About Swale Borough Council

Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.

Our Offer

A range of benefits including

Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.

Free parking

Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities

Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.

Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

Annual flu vaccine

Cycle to work scheme

Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping

Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals

A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About You

You’ll be a clear and confident communicator, able to speak calmly and concisely while listening carefully and responding appropriately. You don’t need to have worked in a Control Centre before, but you should be comfortable using IT systems and able to think quickly and act effectively, particularly in time-critical or emergency situations. The ability to remain calm under pressure and deal with potentially distressing incidents is essential.

This is an important position within the Council’s Community Safety Unit, and you’ll play a valued part in helping to keep our communities safe. If you’re motivated, reliable, and keen to learn, with the right attitude and commitment, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

A basic DBS Check and Kent Police Vetting is required for this post. You must also hold, or be prepared to achieve, a Security Industry Authority (SIA) Licence.

Training and Support

You’ll receive a structured induction and on-the-job training to help you build confidence in the role. Ongoing support will be provided by experienced colleagues and supervisors, ensuring you’re fully equipped to carry out your duties and continue developing your skills over time.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please email Caroline Shrubsall, Control Centre Supervisor – carolineshrubsall@swale.gov.uk or Debbie Valk, Partnership Liaison Officer – debbievalk@swale.gov.uk

Job Description and Person Specification

https://docs.maidstone.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/329932/Job-Description-Control-Centre-Operator.pdf

Interview Date

Wednesday 10th June 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.