Community Payback placement coordinator

Ministry of Justice; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave 25–30 days

LGPS Pension

Training & development

Flexible benefits

Family friendly policies

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is seeking a Community Payback coordinator to build and maintain relationships with local authorities and partner organisations while ensuring high quality work placements.

The post involves weekend working, working across a range of voluntary and statutory organisations, and contributing to employment opportunities for participants through on‑the‑job training and education as they complete unpaid hours.

Responsibilities

• Support the CP Manager to ensure Community Payback placements meet policy objectives and comply with legislation.
• Arrange and maintain a pipeline of high‑quality work placements across partner organisations.
• Develop and sustain relationships with local authorities, charities and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate weekend work as part of the pattern of work to cover supervision and site visits.

Job description

Driving Licence Requirement

Candidates must hold a full UK Manual Driving Licence when applying for this role. We cannot accept candidates who hold an automatic Driving Licence only.

Role Responsibilities

The post holder will support the CP Manager to ensure that all Community Payback placements meet the policy objectives of the organisation and comply with relevant legislation. The post holder will ensure that sufficient work placements that meet the quality standards set out in the Community Payback Guidance are available so that the sentence of the Court can be carried out effectively. The post holder will support the CP Manager to ensure that all Community Payback placements meet the policy objectives of the organisation and comply with relevant legislation. Post holders may be required to undertake weekend working as part of their normal pattern of working. This is a high-profile role within PS responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with a range of current and future partner organisations, customers and stakeholders. This will involve working with a range of voluntary and statutory organisations. As a Community Payback placement coordinator, you'll be responsible for establishing and maintaining working relationships with a range of stakeholders – including local authorities and charities – to make sure there are sufficient numbers of Community Payback work placements. This will include exploring opportunities for people to access on‑the‑job training and education to develop their skills and increase their chances of employment while they complete their unpaid work hours.

Right to Work

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

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: HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot consider sponsoring you to work as a community payback co‑ordinator unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. 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 you apply to be a community payback co‑ordinator and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to 22 July 2025, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. 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.

About Us

The work is varied, challenging and meaningful and comes with job security, great benefits and career progression opportunities – not to mention the chance to make a real difference to people's lives and our communities.

Working Pattern and Hours

Post holders may be required to undertake weekend working as part of their normal pattern of working. You will be expected to work weekends when needed to cover for Community Payback supervisors or to visit project sites – such as schools which are not accessible on weekdays get paid a higher rate for any weekend days you do work. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. The post holder will be paid a higher rate for any weekend days you do work.

Location Preferences

If applicants provide multiple location preferences, reserve lists will be managed in accordance with location preference/s, as indicated in your application. We will appoint in merit list order for each location outlined in the vacancy and hold a separate locational reserve list for each of these locations. After appointments have been made using this locational appointment process, any remaining candidates who met the benchmark for the role will remain on a locational reserve list in accordance with their preferences for 12 months. The addresses listed in the job advertisement are not an exhaustive list of potential base locations, they give an indication of some of the potential locations you could be based at. We will therefore endeavour to offer you a vacancy within a 60‑minute commute of your home location.

Entry Salary & Pay Progression

If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £28,064. New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join at the entry point salary for the advertised band. Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Departments pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules. The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which if eligible, will see your pay increase. CBF is designed to enable you to move up through the pay band range as your competence grows. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Benefits

• Annual Leave Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays.
• Leave for part‑time and job‑share posts will be calculated on a pro‑rated basis.
• Pension The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information. Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Training The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax‑Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Eligibility and Compliance

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

Working for the Civil Service

If you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service Code 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.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The 'Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for veterans' initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.