Probation services officers in Bournemouth

This role is based in the Approved Premises in Bournemouth and is not suitable for hybrid or remote working. 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.

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 will be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise. Successful applicants may be based at a wide variety of office, court, team, or prison locations within the Probation Service region. Allocations will be made according to business need.

Recruitment process: To apply to this role, you will be required to complete a short application form and detail responses to Civil Service Behaviours and Experience based questions. As part of this application, you will also be required to sit the Civil Service Judgement test (CSJT). The CSJT is a two-part test which looks at your ability to make decisions in relation to specific civil service behaviours. If you are successful in passing this stage, your full application will be sifted once the application deadline has closed. You will then receive further instruction on the progress and outcome of your application. If you are successful in passing both the CSJT and application sift process, you will be invited to interview.

About the role: Probation services officers can help make a real difference to people’s 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 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 people on probation. Day-to-day, you’ll manage a caseload of offenders before and after sentence. You’ll assess and manage risks, provide information to courts, and work closely with agencies throughout the justice system.

About you: You don’t need a degree for this role. We’re much more interested in your personal qualities. Ideally, you will have experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties. Good writing skills are essential, as you must be able to produce clear and accurate reports to tight deadlines.

Additional Information – Approved Premises: Approved Premises (AP) provide critical community-based service to accommodate and closely supervise high-risk offenders on release from prison, for the purposes of public protection. AP are staffed 24 hours per day, with staff enforcing an overnight curfew and other monitoring and reporting requirements. Probation Services Officers lead on the key interventions and rehabilitative activities with the resident group, working regular hours Monday to Friday but also covering at weekends as required.

Salary and benefits: Pay band – new entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join at the entry point salary for the advertised band. Annual leave – 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays. Pension – The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Training – The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. Family Friendly policies – opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.

Support and inclusion: We are a Disability Confident employer and 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.

Diversity & inclusion: The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.