Probation Officers

Ministry of Justice; Watford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom seeks a Probation Services Officer to assess and manage risk posed by people on probation, supporting victims and providing information to courts and partner organisations.

You will supervise offenders on community orders and licences, contribute to risk management, and work with agencies to prevent crime and reduce reoffending. Strong collaboration and report-writing skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Assess risk and manage offender risk, including high and very high levels of risk.
• Provide information and advice to criminal courts, other agencies and partner organisations.
• Supervise people on probation subject to community orders and licences.

Responsibilities

• Provide written reports to courts, the Parole Board and partner organisations.
• Attend professional meetings and collaborate with partner agencies to manage risk and support victims.
• Undertake offender management tasks across risk levels and use systems to maintain records and referrals.

Job description

To assess and manage the risk posed by people on probation to protect victims of crime and the general the public by:

• Providing information and advice to criminal courts, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.
• Supervise people on probation 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 people on probation.
• 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 people on probation 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 PS 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 Officers (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.
• 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. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.