24076 - Approved Premises Residential Worker

Ministry of Justice; Reading; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in Reading is seeking a Residential Worker at an Approved Premises to support offenders transitioning from custody to the community and to assist with wellbeing, supervision, and compliance with license conditions while engaging with colleagues and partner agencies.

The role involves working across sites with regular unsocial hours and premium pay; annualised hours patterns offer flexibility and a rewarding career within the Probation Service.

Qualifications

• No degree required.
• Experience with people facing social or personal difficulties preferred.
• Strong numeracy and literacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise residents and support resettlement in the community.
• Carry out inspections and monitor behaviour.
• Support residents to meet license conditions and stay safe.
• Liaise with partner agencies and staff.

Skills

Empathy

Patience

Resilience

Numeracy

Job description

This position is office based at St Leonards Approved Premises in Reading and is not suitable for home working.

This vacancy is for a full time Residential Worker. In addition, this campaign will be used to create a 12-month merit list, that may be utilised to fulfil future permanent, full-time/part-time and/or annualised hours positions.

Helping to keep the public safe. Giving people the chance to turn their lives around. Building a rewarding professional career. It’s an extraordinary role. There are many reasons to join the Probation Service. What will yours be?

About Approved Premises

Approved Premises are primarily for offenders who have been released on licence and who require a high level of supervision.

About the role

As a residential worker in an Approved Premises, you will play a crucial role in supporting the management of offenders in their transition from custody into the community, to achieve successful resettlement. You will assist with the well-being and supervision of Approved Premises residents, helping them to stick to their license conditions and supporting them to keep themselves and others safe. You will carry out inspections, monitor behaviour and positively engage with residents, working closely with colleagues and partner agencies.

The role will entail working at one main Approved Premise with the requirement to work across additional sites should the need arise.

Residential Workers are required to work regular unsocial hours which attract premium rates of pay in addition to advertised annual salary.

Monday to Friday: 7pm to 8am premium payment of 30%

Public/Bank Holidays :8am to 8am premium payment of 50%: in addition, time off in lieu for actual hours worked is applicable

Overview of the approved premises role - Prison and Probation Jobs

About you

You do not need a degree for this role. We are much more interested in your personal qualities. Ideally, with experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties, you will be empathetic, patient, and resilient. A good level of numeracy and literacy is also required as the role involves some report writing.

About us

The Probation Service works with offenders who are pre-release or post-release from prison or serving community sentences. Our role is to support their rehabilitation and protect the public. People come from all walks of life to form one team in the Probation Service. Join us and you will be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise.

Annualised Hours Working Pattern

These are part time vacancies with the opportunity to work flexibly to an annualised hours contract for either 625 or 1250 hours per year, the equivalent of one or two 12 hour shifts each week. These shifts are a mix of standard and unsocial hours over a 24-hour period, 7 days a week with unsocial hours worked attracting additional allowances. Applicants applying will be expected to have a good range of availability to cover day and night shifts 24/7. Availability will be discussed at provisional offer stage.

Sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and Civil Service (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules).

Skilled Worker visa changes from 22 July 2025

In accordance with current immigration rules, this role is not eligible for a new Skilled Worker visa.

From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker visas. As a result:

If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your pre-employment checks and your eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If your application is successful, you will need to ensure that you have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

HMPPS will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules

This guide is intended to assist departments with managing their responsibilities on nationality rules related to Civil Service recruitment.

You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here (https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa)