The Probation Service works with over 230,000 people on probation serving community sentences and individuals who are pre/post release from prison. Our role is to support their rehabilitation and protect the public.
It is not an easy job, can be challenging and may involve working with people with complex needs. It is a rewarding one with variety, training and the chance to turn people’s lives around.
About the job
Tackling the root cause of offending is never going to be without its challenges. But helping someone turn their life around is immensely rewarding.
As a probation services officer (PSO), you will undertake the full range of work with offenders before and after sentence, and in the community. This includes:
assessment
sentencing
managing offenders throughout their conviction
report-writing
You will:
work in one of many varied roles, managing caseloads of people on probation. You may work in an offender management team, an Unpaid Work team, the courts, or in one of our victims teams
draw on the training you receive to assess and manage risks to keep the community safe
provide information to courts and work closely with agencies throughout the justice system carrying out risk management and collaborating to protect the public.
most importantly, do everything you can to support people on probation. For example, providing practical advice about housing and employment, or simply listening and understanding
Working environments
As a PSO you will be assigned to one of the following work environments. Once in post, there may be later opportunities to move into different work environments, depending on caseload and business need.
Probation office
As an offender manager in a probation office, you’ll be working with people on probation over a period of time and will need to be able to build relationships and make recommendations. You will need to support, as well as have tough conversations
with individuals.
Courts
You’ll need to be able to quickly build a rapport with people on probation to understand their circumstances as you may only see the individuals a few times. Working in a court, you will need to be a confident presenter as you will have
to make recommendations in front of the court.
Unpaid Work
Unpaid Work involves people on probation carrying out work in their community as part of their community sentence. As a PSO working in Unpaid Work, you will assess people on probation to ensure they attend placements that are appropriate.
You will work with them to overcome barriers to attendance and ensure that any lack of attendance is dealt with appropriately.
Eligibility
We want you, not your qualifications.
The role requires certain skills and experience, but for us, your personal qualities are just as important. To help people change, you’ll need to be empathetic, patient and resilient.
What we’re looking for:
perhaps you’ve already worked with people who have social or personal difficulties
maybe you have worked or volunteered with non-profit organisations to help change lives
whatever your experience, you’ll have strong writing and communication skills and be confident and competent at producing clear, accurate reports to demanding deadlines
people who are enthusiastic and ready to learn
Minimum requirements:
GCSEs grade C or equivalent, or relevant work experience including sufficient writing skills
experience of working with challenging individuals – this could be time spent working in a paid or voluntary capacity with offenders or other individuals exhibiting challenging behaviours. This also include working
with those whose lives are in crisis, either in or outside the criminal justice sector
However, there’s no formal requirements to any type of experience. Consideration of this experience is at the discretion of the hiring team.
Pay
The national starting pay for the PSO role is £23,637.
If taking up a role in London, a London Weighting Allowance of £4,006 will be added to your national pay, where applicable, totalling £27,643.
Benefits
Annual Leave: Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus 8 public holidays and service days. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata
basis
Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.
Networks: The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management.
There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Civil Service Benefits: A wide range of other Civil Service benefits including childcare vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and travel loans.
Application process
Details you’ll be asked to provide:
personal details including your full name, address, contact numbers and proof of your right to work in the UK
details of your educational background, qualifications and any relevant training you have
any unpaid or voluntary experience.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
Training and progression
In your first months, you’ll receive a blend of formal and work-based training. You’ll be supported by your team throughout, and you’ll be there for them in turn. But you’ll go beyond being collaborative: you’ll be flexible
too, adapting to changes as they arise and working fast to resolve problems.
We’ll make sure you have the training you need to do your job well. We have dedicated learning and development to help you engage with people on probation in the best, most effective way. As a PSO, you’ll have many opportunities
to develop in your role, to make it the first step in a successful career in the Probation Service.
Year one training
A comprehensive induction, including the Gateway to Practice which is the first step on your learning journey.
The PSO learning and development programme which is a blended learning package designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge required for the role.
Mapped out learning and development..
Supervised and assessed practice.
Career development opportunities
Opportunity to join the PSO Progression pathway and undertake the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) to become a fully qualified probation officer.
Secondments across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Civil Service Fast Stream.
Continuous professional development training.
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Find out about Veterans who have taken up careers with HMPPS after leaving the Armed Forces.
