Probation Service Officer

Overview

Please note: Weekend working – 1 day per month (7.5 hours per day). 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? We\’re looking for empathetic, patient, and organised people to join us in this varied role, which offers the chance to make a difference, gain new skills and build a rewarding career within the Probation Service.

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.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

• 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.
• 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.

Working Arrangements, Location & Recruitment

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. To find out more about working as a Probation Service Officer please click here: Probation services officer – Ministry of Justice

About the 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 question. 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 would like more information relating to reasonable adjustments and the CSJT, please see more details here. You can also watch a short video here. You can find out more about the CSJT and complete a practice test now here. After successful CSJT and application sift, you will be invited to interview. A short video about the Probation Service Officer role is available here.

Role Description

Probation services officers can help make a real difference to people’s lives. The role is similar to a fully qualified probation officer but works 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, and support offenders with practical needs such as housing and employment, or through listening and empathetic support.

Location & Merit Selection

Where applicants provide multiple location preferences, reserve lists will be managed in accordance with those preferences. Appointments are made in merit list order for each location. Offers are made in merit order as vacancies arise. The addresses in the advertisement indicate potential base locations but are not exhaustive. We aim to offer a vacancy within a 60-minute commute of your home location.

Salary, Benefits & Flexible Working

New entrants join at the entry point salary for the advertised band. Existing Civil Servants’ salary on transfer/promotion will follow pay rules. The post is currently advertised without VISOR Vetting to enable appointment to take place as soon as possible; VISOR vetting will be completed in due course. The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. Standard hours are 37 per week excluding unpaid breaks. HMPPS supports part-time, flexible and job-sharing arrangements.

Benefits include: annual leave (25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 after five years, plus public holidays), LGPS pension via GMPF, training and development, employee networks, and flexible benefits. There are also family-friendly policies and options to consider childcare support schemes. All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

Eligibility & Diversity

Ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through English (or Welsh where specified). Civil Service Behaviours include: Making Effective Decisions; Developing Self and Others; Working Together; Delivering at Pace; Communicating and Influencing; Managing a Quality Service. Requirements also include verbal and written communication skills and experience in helping/supporting people with social or personal difficulties, planning and coordinating work, and an understanding of equal opportunities and diversity. Knowledge of risk management, health and safety, CJ System and Probation Service aims, and the CB F framework are included. A degree is not required; criteria focus on personal qualities, including empathy, patience and resilience. Good reporting skills are essential.

Eligibility: All candidates are subject to security checks and identity checks prior to taking up post. MoJ is a Disability Confident employer and supports reasonable adjustments during recruitment and employment. Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and veteran-friendly measures are in place. Redeployment opportunities are offered for those at risk of redundancy.