programme facilitator

Ministry of Justice; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a Programme Facilitator to support individuals on probation. The role involves delivering group and one-on-one interventions, managing participant dynamics, and ensuring adherence to safeguarding principles. Candidates should have strong communication skills, experience with challenging behaviour, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Full-time hours include evenings and weekends, with travel across the region. Benefits include 25 days of annual leave and extensive training programs.

Benefits

Annual leave of 25 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Extensive training and development opportunities

Family-friendly policies

Paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Free annual sight tests for screen users

Qualifications

• Experience dealing with challenging behaviour from individuals with personal challenges.
• Experience collaborating with teams and maintaining effective relationships.
• Understanding of the criminal justice system and safeguarding principles.
• Experience assessing and analyzing information from multiple sources.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Planning and prioritising tasks effectively in a changing environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver interventions to individuals on probation.
• Maintain a therapeutic and safe working environment.
• Manage group dynamics and participant complexities.
• Continuously monitor risk, safety, and well-being during interventions.
• Liaise with Probation Practitioners and stakeholders regarding participant progress.

Skills

Strong communication and influencing skills

Ability to manage a quality service and work collaboratively

Strong self-development and ability to learn new skills

High literacy skills

Confidence in spoken English

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Programme Facilitator – Probation Service

Are you passionate about rehabilitation? Could you help people make meaningful and sustained changes in their lives? If so, then a career as a Programme Facilitator in the Probation Service is for you.

Responsibilities and Activities

• Plan and deliver Interventions in either group or one‑to‑one sessions to people on probation.
• Develop and maintain a therapeutic and safe working environment in line with operational manuals and learning needs of participants.
• Adhere to the Probation Service statutory safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults.
• Manage group dynamics and the complexities and needs of participants, ensuring that learning outcomes are achieved.
• Continuously monitor risk, safety and wellbeing throughout the intervention and provide informed, evidence‑based recommendations for sentence management.
• Maintain timely and accurate records of attendance, feedback, risk issues and produce reports that meet QA requirements.
• Liaise and provide timely communication of participants’ progress and concerns with Probation Practitioners, courts, criminal‑justice agencies and other stakeholders.
• Deliver workshops and briefings to Probation staff and external stakeholders about intervention content and purpose.
• Demonstrate pro‑social modelling by reinforcing positive behaviours and challenging antisocial behaviours.
• Participate in regular video‑monitoring feedback sessions to ensure audit standards are upheld and to reflect on own practice.
• Complete all programme‑specific training (approximately one week per programme) and pass the required assessment centre.
• Travel extensively across the region and work unsocial hours (evenings and weekends).

Qualifications and Requirements

• Experience
  • Experience dealing with challenging behaviour from individuals with a range of personal challenges.
  • Experience collaborating with teams and maintaining effective relationships.
  • Understanding of the criminal justice system, safeguarding principles and sentence types.
  • Experience assessing and analysing information from multiple sources to inform decisions.
  • Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Experience using Microsoft Office and similar IT applications.
  • Experience implementing new learning to improve performance.
  • Planning and prioritising tasks effectively in a changing environment.
• Skills & Abilities
  • Strong communication and influencing skills.
  • Ability to manage a quality service and work collaboratively.
  • Strong self‑development and ability to learn new skills.
  • High literacy skills – reading, interpreting policies, writing reports and correspondence.
  • Confidence in spoken English (and Welsh, where required).
• Technical
  • Pass an assessment centre before training.
  • Become an Accredited Programme Facilitator.

Assessment Process

The selection process includes a facilitation exercise and an interview. Applicants must arrange a presentation on a topic to be emailed once an interview slot is booked. Assessment will test behaviours of Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service and Developing Self and Others.

Working Hours & Travel

• Full‑time, 37 hours per week (unsocial hours – evenings and weekends).
• Travel across the region (travel expenses reimbursed).

Benefits

• Annual leave 25 days (increases to 30 after 5 years).
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Extensive training and development opportunities.
• Family‑friendly policies (reduced hours, job sharing).
• Paid maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
• Free annual sight tests for screen users.

Equal Opportunities

The Probation Service is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates.