Probation Officers

Ministry of Justice; Wakefield; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK seeks a leader to manage and support staff in probation services, ensuring quality practice in line with national standards. Candidates should have experience in offender management and a relevant qualification. This role offers opportunities for hybrid working and robust professional development, alongside 25 to 30 days of annual leave, depending on tenure.

Benefits

Annual leave increase with service

Local Government Pension Scheme

Extensive training opportunities

Employee-run networks

Qualifications

• Substantial experience as a Probation Officer or within a related field.
• Understanding of the Probation Service within the Criminal Justice System.
• Ability to champion diversity and inclusiveness.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead staff within the operational area.
• Ensure quality delivery of good practice and team performance.
• Contribute to public protection through multi-agency arrangements.

Skills

Staff management

Risk assessment

Team leadership

Communication

Performance evaluation

Education

Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma

Honours Degree in Community Justice

Tools

IT skills

Job description

The post holder will be expected to manage and lead staff within the operational area to the required standard, and will offer support and cover to other teams/functions during periods of absence. In line with NPS policies and procedures, the post holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.

Responsibilities

• To provide effective management and leadership to the team
• To be accountable for the quality delivery of good practice and team performance improvement within policy and national standards
• To ensure that all team resources, including interventions, are deployed cost effectively and provide best value in terms of both budget control and realising the organisation's strategic aims
• To ensure that staff can efficiently and effectively meet the requirements of the NPS' contract with HMPPS, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) and local business plans as required
• To access, interpret, analyse and apply performance data pro-actively in order to maximise LDU/team performance, evaluate practice and deliver organisational aims
• To proactively manage staff development, issues of underperformance, attendance, health and safety, employee relations and diversity matters
• To ensure that offender managers manage risk appropriately, and meet all public protection standards and targets
• To contribute directly to public protection through multi-agency arrangements and individual casework review, discussion and feedback
• To promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement to service delivery
• To manage financial resources for your area of responsibility as required by your Head of Operational Function and in line with HMPPS financial regulations and policies
• To provide a leading role and direction in work with partners and key stakeholders, and represent the NPS as appropriate to the role
• To facilitate effective communication between the LDU/Operational Unit management team and internal and external partners
• To play an active part in the corporate management of the NPS as necessary, as a member of the LDU/Operational Unit Management Team
• To undertake specific areas of responsibility as delegated by the Head of Operational Function
• To demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes
• To carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies
• To work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS

Qualifications

• Substantial experience with a proven record of good practice in a variety of settings (including offender risk assessment and management) as a Probation Officer or from working within another criminal justice agency or related work context
• Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi-disciplinary setting
• Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence engagement with victims
• Experience of risk management and assessment, understanding of multi-agency risk assessment and management procedures
• Evidence of ability to evaluate practice
• Evidence of ability to provide a practice perspective on policy development
• Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines
• Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve performance targets
• Experience of contributing to the provision of effective administration and information systems
• Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvements in quality and efficiency
• Able to demonstrate well developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports
• Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both internally and externally
• Ability to implement the services health and safety policies
• An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh

Technical Requirements

• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice
• Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007
• Diploma in Probation Studies, Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option), CQSW (with Probation Option)
• And a qualification gained in England and Wales previously recognised as providing such eligibility

Benefits

• Annual Leave – 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays
• Pension – Covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF)
• Training – Extensive range of training and development opportunities offered by the Ministry of Justice
• Networks – Employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disabilities, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTQ+

Hybrid Working

Hybrid Working arrangements will be available where business need allows. This informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s).