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- Tasks: Help people turn their lives around while managing a caseload of offenders.
- Company: Join the Probation Service and be part of a supportive team.
- Benefits: Starting salary of £26,475 with annual pay progression and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and gain valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Empathy, patience, resilience, and good writing skills are essential.
- Other info: No degree required; training provided for personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 26475 - 29475 £ per year.
Overview
Helping to keep the public safe. Giving people the chance to turn their lives around. Building a rewarding professional career. There are many reasons to join the Probation Service. What will yours be?
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £26,475.
The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which if eligible, will see your pay increase. CBF is designed to enable you to move up through the pay band range as your competence grows.
Probation Service also increase their pay band ranges annually in line with Civil Service Pay guidance, which will also apply an increase to band pay ranges where applicable.
About the role
Probation services officers can help make a real difference to peoples’ lives. It’s not always easy to help someone turn their life around, but it can be immensely rewarding.
We’re looking for empathetic, patient and resilient people to join us as probation services officers. As well as making a difference to others, the role offers plenty of on-the-job training and a real chance to build a career in the Probation Service.
As a PSO, you’ll have a similar job to a fully qualified probation officer. The main difference is you’ll work with medium and lower risk clients. That’s not to say it’ll be easy. There’s no doubt this is a challenging role.
Day-to-day, you’ll manage a caseload of offenders before and after sentence. We’ll look to you to assess and manage risks, provide information to courts and work closely with agencies throughout the justice system. You’ll also do everything you can to support offenders. This could involve everything from providing practical advice about housing and employment to simply listening and empathising.
About you
You don’t need a degree for this role. We’re much more interested in your personal qualities. Ideally with experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties, you’ll be empathetic, patient and resilient. Good writing skills are also essential. You must be able to produce clear and accurate reports to tight deadlines.
About us
By managing offenders in the community, the Probation Service protects the public from the effect of crime and gives offenders the chance to turn their lives around. Join us and you’ll be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise.
Successful applicants may be based a wide variety of office, court, team or prison locations within the Probation Service region. Allocations will be made according to business need. To find out more about working as a Probation Service Officer please click here: Probation services officer – Ministry of Justice
Overview of the job
The job holder will undertake the full range of work with people on probation before and after sentence. This will include assessment, sentence implementation, offender management and producing reports. The job holder will provide case management support to a full range of people on probation utilising service procedures and practice directions that underpin professional judgement.
Summary
To assess and manage the risk (including risk management plans and escalation) posed by people on probation to protect victims of crime and the general public by:
- Liaising, providing information and advice to criminal courts, criminal justice agencies and other partner agencies.
- Supervise and manage risk of those people on probation subject to community sentences, during and after custodial sentences.
- Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and people on probation.
In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.
The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.
If relevant to the role, some out of hours working may be required (i.e. Courts, Approved Premises, programmes, evening reporting etc.).
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation assessed as low or medium risk of harm and to support the Probation Officer grade in high risk cases.
- When providing case manager support, to contribute to the delivery of the Risk Management plan and report significant changes relating to risk of harm and/or of reoffending or any non‑compliance within agreed enforcement procedures.
- To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
- Ensure effective referrals to services and facilities and communicate with offender management staff, interventions staff, service providers and external agencies to review progress and associated risks.
- To undertake prison, home or alternate location visits as required in accordance with service procedures and policies.
- To undertake work in the court setting, including the completion of appropriate reports on cases and prosecution of breaches.
- To provide cover within teams as required.
- To deliver and co-lead accredited programmes commensurate with grade.
- To conduct mandatory alcohol and drug tests as required, and to follow prescribed medication procedures.
- Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the PS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
- Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
- To work within the aims and values of PS and HMPPS.
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9293 - Probation Services Officer - London East employer: Ministry of Justice
Contact Detail:
Ministry of Justice Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land 9293 - Probation Services Officer - London East
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former probation services officers on LinkedIn or at local events. They can give you insider tips and maybe even put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to empathy and resilience. Think of real-life examples where you've made a difference in someone's life – this is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for helping others during the interview. Talk about why you want to join the Probation Service and how you can contribute to turning lives around. Authenticity goes a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace 9293 - Probation Services Officer - London East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Empathy: In your application, make sure to highlight your empathetic nature. We want to see how you can connect with people who are facing challenges. Share any relevant experiences that showcase your ability to support others.
Be Clear and Concise: Good writing skills are essential for this role, so keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We need to see that you can produce accurate reports under tight deadlines.
Tailor Your Application: Make your application stand out by tailoring it to the specific role of a Probation Services Officer. Mention your understanding of the responsibilities and how your personal qualities align with what we’re looking for.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the information you need about the role and the application process there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Justice
✨Know Your Role
Before the interview, make sure you understand the responsibilities of a Probation Services Officer. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks like risk assessment and offender management. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Show Empathy and Resilience
Since the role requires working with individuals facing personal difficulties, be prepared to share examples from your past experiences that highlight your empathy and resilience. Think of specific situations where you’ve helped someone turn their life around or managed a challenging case.
✨Brush Up on Your Writing Skills
Good writing skills are essential for producing clear reports. Bring along samples of your written work if possible, or be ready to discuss how you approach report writing. This will show that you can communicate effectively, which is crucial in this role.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the training opportunities available or how the team collaborates with other agencies. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if the environment is the right fit for you.
