19858 - Qualified Probation Officer

Ministry of Justice; Hereford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Justice—National Probation Service seeks a Probation Officer to undertake offender management tasks, assess risk, and prepare professional reports for courts and partner agencies.

You will work with other agencies to reduce reoffending, deliver accredited programmes, and ensure safeguarding and professional standards across the team.

Qualifications

• Professional advice and assessment to courts, the Parole Board and partner organisations
• Manage offenders subject to varying risk levels including high risk
• Use computer-based systems to create and maintain records
• Coordinate with courts, victim contact units, interventions and external agencies to improve outcomes

Responsibilities

• Provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to courts and other agencies
• Undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders assessed at all risk levels
• Use computer-based systems to produce, update and maintain records within agreed timescales
• Ensure timely referrals and strong relationships between offender management, court teams and external agencies
• Attend professional meetings and represent NPS at MAPPA, MARAC and similar forums
• Collaborate with colleagues and provide guidance to PSOs and staff
• Cover team duties and support other teams as needed
• Conduct prison, home or alternate location visits as required
• Respond to risk escalations and determine management approach for high risk cases
• Deliver and co-lead accredited programmes as appropriate
• Carry out mandatory alcohol and drug tests and follow medication procedures
• Carry out safeguarding duties under NPS policies
• Model pro-social behaviour and uphold NPS/NOMS values

Skills

Risk assessment

Court reporting

Interagency collaboration

Safeguarding

Job description

Post holders will undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders under supervision including assessment, sentence implementation and producing reports; utilising service procedures and practice directions to underpin professional judgement.

Summary

• Providing information and advice to criminal courts, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations
• Supervise offenders subject to community orders and licences and during custodial sentences
• Contribute to the management of risk
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and offenders

In line with NPS 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 undertake.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

Probation Officers may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.

• To provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to courts, the Parole Board, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations
• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders assessed at all levels of risk of serious harm including high and very high.
• To use computer-based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales
• To ensure timely and effective referrals to, and relationships between, offender management, court teams, victim contact units, interventions, Approved Premises, prisons and external agencies to enhance positive outcomes, manage risk and reduce reoffending
• To attend professional meetings and represent the NPS at appropriate partnership forums e.g. MAPPA, MARAC
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, maintain effective team relationships and provide professional guidance and support to Probation Services Officer (PSOs) and other staff as appropriate
• To provide cover within your team and to other teams as required
• To undertake prison, home or other alternate location visits as required
• Respond to risk escalation requests raised by Community Rehabilitation Companies, determine risk level and if high risk (endorsed by a manager) decide on how this will be managed
• 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 NPS 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 NPS and NOMS

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 Job Evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.