Probation Service Officer

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? 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 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. 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.

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.

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

• 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.

Location and Appointment Process

Where applicants provide multiple location preferences, reserve lists will be managed in accordance with location preference/s, as indicated in your application. We will appoint in merit list order for each location outlined in the vacancy and hold a separate locational reserve list for each of these locations. After appointments have been made using this locational appointment process, any remaining candidates who met the benchmark for the role will remain on a locational reserve list in accordance with their preferences for 12 months. Please only indicate preferences where you are prepared to work. If you are subsequently offered a role from the reserve list for a location preference indicated in your application and decline it, you will be removed from the reserve list for the vacancy, across all locational preferences. All offers of employment will be made strictly in merit order, based on your performance throughout the recruitment process. Candidates at the top of the merit list will be offered vacancies as they arise in their chosen locations.

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. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. 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. 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 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. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Qualifications & Requirements

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions; Developing Self and Others; Working Together; Delivering at Pace; Communicating and Influencing; Managing a Quality Service. Ability: to communicate verbally and in writing; experience of helping and/or supporting people who have experienced a range of social and/or personal difficulties; experience in planning and coordinating work; experience of working with groups or individuals in order to motivate and change behaviour; commitment to equal opportunities and diversity; understanding of factors related to offending; understanding and commitment to the principles of case management; knowledge of risk management/risk assessment as pertaining to offenders and the impact on victims of crime; understanding of Health & Safety; knowledge of the work of the Criminal Justice System and Probation Service; knowledge of the aims and objectives of the Probation Service. Technical: literacy and numeracy sufficient to read, understand and interpret policies and to write reports and correspondence; minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above including English and Maths. You will be required to complete a short application form detailing responses to Civil Service Behaviours and one Experience-based question. You will be assessed on Application Form Questions and Interviews for verbal and written communication.

CSJT and Application Process

As part of this application, you will be required to sit the Civil Service Judgement Test (CSJT). The CSJT is a two-part test assessing decision-making in relation to civil service behaviours. A practice test is available. If successful, your full application will be sifted after the deadline. You will receive further instructions on progress. You can find more about CSJT and practice tests here. If you require reasonable adjustments, see details here. You may also watch a short video. If you pass CSJT and the application sift, you will be invited to interview. The MoJ welcomes applications from veterans; see the Career Transition Partnership information for details. A short video about the Probation Service Officer role is available. Note: there will be a short window of 2 working days to discuss and agree adjustments for the online test after the advert closes.

Salary and Benefits: Starting salary £26,475. The MoJ offers a range of benefits: annual leave, pension, training, networks, and eligibility information. Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and increases to 30 days after five years, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job-share posts is pro-rated. Pension: Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Training and development opportunities. Employee networks for minority groups. Eligibility: all candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. Support: family-friendly policies, flexible benefits, and childcare information. Civil Service Code and merit-based recruitment principles apply. Disability adjustments are available; request via the application process. Diversity & Inclusion and veterans’ initiatives are described, including redeployment opportunities.

Eligibility and recruitment details: If you need more information or adjustments, contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team or relevant MoJ resources.