Senior Probation Officer: Lead, Protect & Improve

Ministry of Justice; Bicester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave: 25–30 days depending on

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is seeking a Senior Probation Officer to lead an LDU or operational unit, guiding staff to deliver high-quality practice within policy and national standards. You will manage resources, monitor performance, and support colleagues across teams, while upholding equality and safeguarding responsibilities.

The role requires substantial probation experience, strong risk management capabilities, and the ability to work flexibly within a hybrid UK-based arrangement.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience with a proven record of good practice in offender risk assessment and management.
• Understanding of the Probation Service within the Criminal Justice System and multi-disciplinary settings.
• Experience with risk management and multi-agency procedures.
• Ability to evaluate practice and contribute to policy development.
• Ability to manage under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective management and leadership to the team.
• Ensure delivery of good practice and performance against standards.
• Deploy resources cost-effectively and manage budgets.
• Interpret and apply performance data to improve outcomes.
• Develop staff and address underperformance and health/safety issues.
• Maintain compliance with equality, diversity, and inclusion policies.
• Foster collaboration with partners and stakeholders.
• Represent the NPS and liaise with internal/external bodies.
• Contribute to safeguarding and child protection duties.

Skills

Leadership

Performance management

Risk management

Data analysis

Diversity and inclusion

IT skills

Education

Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma / Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice

Diploma in Probation Studies

Diploma in Social Work (Probation option)

CQSW (Probation option)

Tools

Office software

Job description

Ministry of Justice is seeking a Senior Probation Officer to lead an LDU or operational unit, guiding staff to deliver high-quality practice within policy and national standards. You will manage resources, monitor performance, and support colleagues across teams, while upholding equality and safeguarding responsibilities.

The role requires substantial probation experience, strong risk management capabilities, and the ability to work flexibly within a hybrid UK-based arrangement.