About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Probation Service Officer Programmes

‘YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!’

Do you have life experience?

Are you compassionate and have great communication skills?

Are you looking for a role that provides you the flexibility within your working hours and job satisfaction.

If you do, this role will allow you to use these skills to support people on probation and play an important part in changing lives for a safer community.

We currently have opportunities for PSO’s to deliver Accredited Programmes and Structured Interventions in the East of England Probations Service.

If you want to join an innovative, passionate and creative organisation, we offer challenging and rewarding roles and the opportunity to make a positive contribution to reducing reoffending.

This is a great opportunity to join our teams contributing to the delivery of both accredited and non-accredited group work programmes. You will play an integral part our work with people on probation, this will include taking a central role in the delivery of group work programmes.  We offer excellent opportunities for personal and professional development and are committed to supportive induction, appraisal, and supervision.

This role gives individuals the flexibility within their working day, where groups are delivered during the day and in the evenings, to respond to the needs of those on probation. The expectation would be to work up to 3 evenings a week, with the flexi time and toil as benefits.

Role Responsibility

You will be required to prepare and deliver individual and group Accredited Programmes and Structured Interventions to people on Probation. 

The preparation of reports and other documentation is a key requirement of the role, and you will be required to liaise with other departments within the Criminal Justice setting to ensure continuity for service users during their supervision.

Full training will be provided, and you will be required to pass specific training in order to be confirmed in post.

The Ideal Candidate

• Able to use their life experiences to support People on Probation.
• Effective communication skills both in a group and on an individual basis
• Ensure the key principles of the programme are understood, delivered and the integrity of accredited programme is maintained.
• Have the ability to respond appropriately to challenge, conflict or questions within the programme environment.
• Be flexible and show initiative.
• Demonstrate a strong team ethic. 
• Have experience of working with a variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties.

 

Please see click on the links below, to provide you with information about some of the programmes you would be delivering:

Introduction-to-TSP

 

Introduction-to-BBR

 

If you would like more information on how programmes work, please click the attachment below for an example of a session delivery.

Programmes-Facilitator

Overview of the job

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.

Summary

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

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and 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.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,228, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £6,420 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.