Community Payback - Probation Service Officer - Halton and Warrington in Runcorn

The job holder will undertake the full range of work with people on probation before and after sentence. This includes 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.

Day‑to‑day responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of offenders before and after sentence.
• Assess and manage risks, providing information to courts and working closely with agencies throughout the justice system.
• Support offenders by offering practical advice about housing, employment, and other personal difficulties.
• Produce clear and accurate reports to tight deadlines.
• Deliver professional judgement and support to offenders through empathetic listening and advice.

Key qualities required:

• Empathetic, patient and resilient.
• Strong written communication skills – able to produce reports under time pressure.
• Experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties is desirable, but a degree is not required.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Working arrangements & benefits:

• The role can be part‑time, flexible or job‑sharing depending on business needs.
• Benefits include: Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years of service.
• Public holidays and leave for part‑time posts calculated on a pro‑rata basis.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
• Extensive training and development opportunities through the Ministry of Justice.
• Family‑friendly policies and flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits and discounts on goods and services.
• Paid parental leave and free annual eye tests for computer‑screen users.

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), 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 EU Settlement Scheme, 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profile Criteria. The Civil Service Commission will provide a formal complaint process if any recruitment activity does not comply with recruitment principles.

Interview and Recruitment Process:

Successful candidates will progress through the Civil Service Judgement Test, application sift and interview. Successful completion of all stages leads to appointment.