General Information

Salary

£37,238 - £44,520

Working Pattern

Full Time

Vacancy Approach

Internal

Location

Accrington, Ashton-under-Lyne, Atherton, Barrow-in-Furness, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bootle, Burnley, Bury, Cannock, Carlisle, Chester, Chorley, Coventry, Crewe, Dudley, Hereford, Huyton, Kendal, Kidderminster, Lancaster, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Manchester, Northwich, Nuneaton, Oldham, Penrith, Prescot, Preston, Redditch, Rochdale, Runcorn, Salford, Shrewsbury, Skelmersdale, Stafford, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Telford, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Workington

Region

Greater Manchester, North West, West Midlands

Closing Date

18-Sep-2026

Business Unit

Security Group

Post Type

Detached Duty, Loan

Civil Service Grade

Other

Number of jobs available

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

21846

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

NPS Band 4

Loan/Detached duty for up to 12 months.

The Directorate of Security (DOS) exists to support HMPPS in its mission to prevent victims by changing lives. We do this by creating conditions for a firm, stable and secure base on which decent regimes, relationships and rehabilitation can be built. To keep prisons, probation and youth custody services lawful, safe and secure by managing risks and threats. Serious and Organised Crime represents a major threat to the UK’s national security and costs the country more than £30 billion a year. The Government refreshed its SOC strategy to deal with the threats we face from SOC in December 2023.

The Serious Organised Crime Operations Unit (SOC Ops) tackle the highest harm SOC nominals in custody and under supervision in the community and use operational insight to build organisational capability and resilience against serious and organised crime threats.

Working to the SOC Operations Regional Community Lead within the Crime Operations – SOC Ops Unit this is a specialist post providing direction and capacity to Divisions to deliver the HMPPS Serious and Organised Crime strategy.

Key tasks include:

Chair case management meetings with PDUs.

· Provide specialist SOC advice and guidance to Probation Practitioners and Senior Probation Practitioners.
· Build capability within PDUs by enhancing understanding of SOC risk and effective community management.
· Advise and support practitioners in requesting bespoke licence conditions from PPCS.
· Identify and assess cases for cohort adoption utilising relevant intelligence.
· Respond to case enquiries from PDUs and offer professional guidance.
· Escalate concerns regarding risk assessment or case management to the Regional Lead for PDU follow‑up.
· Maintain up‑to‑date SOC knowledge through research and training.
· Attend MAPPA meetings for both adopted and non‑adopted cases.
· Work collaboratively with local enforcement agencies to support the management of SOC offenders.
· Participate in monthly cohort selection meetings to review adoption, progress, and de‑selection of nominals.
· Provide detailed updates for the Head of Public Protection on the management of SOC nominals.
· Produce performance data to support governance requirements.
· Stay informed on HMPPS policy and procedural changes to ensure accurate and current advice.
· Share relevant case information with local enforcement agencies to support effective information exchange.

You must hold a Probation Officer qualification or be a qualified Probation Officer.

In addition, successful candidates must hold the following:

· PQF Honours Degree/Graduate Diploma and Level 5 Diploma in Probation

· Practice; or

· Diploma in Probation Studies; or Diploma in Social Work (Probation option); or

· CQSW (Probation option).

· Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System and the Probation Service.

· A working knowledge of relevant legislation and National Standards.

· Knowledge of Evidence Based Practice and risk/needs assessment tools

The successful candidate will also be required to pass SC vetting prior to taking up post.

There is 1 post available on a 12 month loan / secondment which covers the following PDU’s: West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool/Cheshire and Lancashire.

The successful candidate will be based at their nearest Probation Office from the following list:

North West and West Midlands Probation Offices

West Midlands

Birmingham: Centenary House, Mackadown Lane, Kitts Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B33 0LQ

Birmingham: Centre City Probation Service Office, First Floor, 5-7 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UA

Birmingham: Perry Barr Probation Office, 76 Walsall Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B42 1SF

Birmingham: Selly Oak Probation Office, 826 Bristol Rd, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6NA

Coventry Probation Office, Sheriff’s Court, 12 Greyfriars Road, Coventry, CV1 3RY

Dudley: Hope House, Castle Gate Business Park, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 4TA

Herefordshire: Hereford Probation Office, Gaol Street, Hereford, HR1 2HU

Redditch Probation Office, 1-4 Windsor Court, Clive Road, Redditch

Worcestershire, B97 4BT

Sandwell: Unity House, 14-16 New Street, West Bromwich, B70 7PQ

Shropshire: Shrewsbury Probation Office, 135 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6AS

Staffordshire: 200a Wolverhampton Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1AT

Staffordshire: Frank Foley Way, Unit 8 and 9, Greyfriars Business Park, Frank Foley Way, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2ST

Staffordshire: Stafford Police Station, Eastgate Street, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2DQ

Staffordshire: Tamworth Probation Centre, Moor Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7QZ

Stoke on Trent: Longton Police Station, Sutherland Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, ST3 1HH

Stoke on Trent: Melbourne House, Etruria Office Village, Forge Lane, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5RQ

Telford: Whitechapel House, Telford & Wrekin Council, The Probation Service, Whitechapel House, Whitechapel Way, Telford, TF2 9FN

Walsall: Walsall Probation Complex, Midland Road, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 3QE

Warwickshire: Warwickshire Criminal Justice Centre, Vicarage Street, Nuneaton, CV11 4JU

Warwickshire: Warwickshire Southern Justice Centre, Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4EL

Wolverhampton: Prue Earl House, Union Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV1 3JS

Wyre Forest: Stourbank House, 90 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 6XA

Greater Manchester:

Bury Probation Office, Argyle & Balmoral House, 29 Castlecroft Road, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0LN

Bolton Probation Office, St. Helena Mill, St. Helena Road, Bolton, BL1 2JS

Redfern Building Probation Office, off Sadler’s Yard, 30 Hanover St, Manchester, M4 4AH

Oldham: 1 Cromwell Court, Brunswick Street, Oldham, OL1 1ET

Oldham Probation Office, 128 Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JG

Rochdale: Chichester Business Centre, Unit 20, Chichester Street, Rochdale, OL16 2AU

Salford Probation Office, 2 Redwood Street, Salford, M6 6PF

Stockport: Stockport Probation Office, Fred Perry House, Edward Street, Stockport, SK1 3UR

Tameside: Ashton Probation Office, Roz Hamilton House, 8 Lees Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 8NU

Wigan: Atherton Probation Office, 81 Gloucester Street, Atherton, Greater Manchester, M46 0JS

North West

Alderdale: Progress House, Regents Court, Guard Street, Workington, CA14 4EW

Barrow: Barrow-in-Furness Probation Office, 77-79 Duke St & 57 St Vincent St, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1RP

Blackburn with Darwen: 13-15 Wellington Street, Blackburn, BB1 8AF

Blackburn with Darwen: 40B Preston New Road, Blackburn, BB2 6AY

Blackpool: 113 Coronation Street, Blackpool, FY1 4QQ

Blackpool: Blackpool Probation Office, 384 Talbot Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 7AT

Carlisle: Georgian House, Lowther Street, Carlisle, CA3 8DR

Cheshire East: Cedric Fullwood House, 14 Gateway, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6YY

Cheshire East: Macclesfield Probation Office, Brunswick Street, Macclesfield, SK10 1HQ

Cheshire West and Chester: Jupiter House, Jupiter Drive, Blacon, Chester, CH1 4QS

Cheshire West and Chester: Northwich Police Station, Chester Way, Northwich, CW9 5EP

Eden: Penrith Probation Office, Clint Mill, Corn Market, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7HW

Halton: Runcorn Probation Office, Norton House, Crown Gate, Palacefields, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2UR

Hyndburn: The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, BB5 0RE

Knowsley: Knowsley Probation Office, Poplar House, Poplar Bank, Huyton, Merseyside, L36 9US

Lancashire: Burnley, Probation Office, Queens Lancashire Way, Burnley, BB11 1HA

Lancashire: Chorley Probation Office, 2 Bolton Street, Chorley, PR7 3BB

Lancashire: Lancaster Probation Office, 41 West Road, Lancaster, LA1 5NU

Lancashire: Skelmersdale Probation Office, High Street, Chapel House, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8AP

Liverpool: Eleanor Rathbone House, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool, L5 9PR

Liverpool: Liverpool Film Studios, Unit 10, 105 Boundary, Liverpool, L5 9YJ

Liverpool: South Liverpool Probation Centre, Cheadle Avenue, Green Lane, Liverpool, L13 3AE

Liverpool: Resettle, Unit 1, 3 De Havilland Drive, Estuary Business Park, Liverpool, L24 8RN

Prescot: K2 Building, Prescot Business Park, Sinclair Way, Prescot, L34 1PB

Preston: Preston Probation Office, Diadem House, 2 The Pavilions, Port Way, Preston, PR2 2YB

Sefton: Sefton House, Canal Street, Bootle, Liverpool, L20 8AH

South Lakeland: Kendal Probation Office, Busher Lodge, 149 Stricklandgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4RF

Wirral: Wirral Probation Office, 40 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4PE

These are regional operational delivery roles that involve regular travel to multiple sites across Prison and Probation locations within the region. In addition, national travel to attend unit meetings may also be required on occasion. The successful candidates will be based in the Probation site in their region that is closest to their home address.

This role requires regular verbal contact with multiple partners including law enforcement and those with an investigation remit as well as representing the unit in statutory multi-agency forums (e.g. – MAPPA).

Must be a Qualified and Registered Probation Officer. Must be a permanent Employee, not agency or contracted employee.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays. 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.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
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 (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 21846

21846 - HMPPS CCPU/SOC Ops Community – Probation Specialist in Birmingham

21846 - HMPPS CCPU/SOC Ops Community – Probation Specialist in Birmingham employer: Ministry of Justice

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