Probation Officer
What is the work like?
Probation officers work with people who have committed an offence. As a probation officer, you would work with offenders before, during and after sentencing. It would be your aim to protect the public by helping offenders not to re-offend, and making offenders aware of the effect of their crimes on their victims and the public.
Your duties might include:
- interviewing offenders and other relevant people before sentencing
- preparing pre-sentence reports (PSR), to advise magistrates and judges on the most suitable sentence
- enforcing Community Orders – making sure offenders go to regular supervision appointments and take part in group programmes and/or unpaid community work
- running specialist group programmes to help to change offenders’ attitudes and behaviour
- providing reports and risk assessments to help prisons and parole review boards decide on early release
- working with prisoners during and after their sentence to help them back into the community
- working with victims of crime
- managing bail hostels.
In this job you would work closely with a range of other agencies such as the police, social services, substance misuse services and Youth Offending Teams.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Probation service employers value any previous experience working with people, whether voluntary or paid. This could include experience with offenders or another vulnerable group. Life experience is also highly valued by employers, and many people enter this profession as a second career.
At present, to qualify as a probation officer in England or Wales, you must first be employed by a probation service as a trainee probation officer. As a general guideline, you would need the following academic qualifications to apply:
- if you are under 21 – three GCSEs (A-C) and two A levels, or one GCSE (A-C) and three A levels
- over 21 but under 25 – five GCSEs (A-C)
- over 25 – you may be accepted without formal qualifications.
The selection process would include a written exercise to test your ability to study at degree level, and you would also need to pass a CRB check.
However, the recruitment and training process for probation officers is under review, so these criteria may change once the new process is finalised in late 2008. You should check with your local probation consortium for the latest information.
Experience in other types of paid or unpaid work with offenders, such as a Probation Service Officer (PSO), community supervisor or hostel worker, would be an advantage if you apply to become a trainee probation officer. Contact local probation offices for information.
To be a probation officer in Northern Ireland you must be a qualified social worker. Contact the Probation Board for Northern Ireland to find out about entry requirements.
What further training and development can I do?
As a trainee probation officer in England or Wales, at present you will study for the Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS) through your regional training consortium.
The DipPS is a two-year training programme, which includes both:- the NVQ Level 4 in Community Justice, and
- a degree in Community Justice (Probation Studies).
However, the training process for probation officers is under review, and a revised qualification should replace the DipPS from October 2008.
As a qualified probation officer, you will be encouraged to continue your professional and personal development throughout your career. With experience, you could specialise in areas such as hostel or prison work, or you could progress into management.
Where can I go for more information?
Horseferry HouseDean Ryle Street
London
SW1P 2AW
Atlas Way
Sheffield
S4 7QQ
Belfast
BT1 1LD
Tel: 028 9026 2400
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Trainee probation officers earn £17,191 to £18,406 a year.
- Qualified probation officers earn £26,229 to £34,239 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work around 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may sometimes need to cover night and weekend work, usually with extra time off to make up for working unsocial hours. You may have some freedom to organise your own working patterns.
You would have an office base, but also spend time travelling around your local area to visit prisons, court and community programmes.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- the ability to relate to a wide range of people
- confident spoken communication skills
- a fair, objective and non-judgemental approach
- a mature and responsible attitude
- the ability to to gain people’s trust and confidence
- the ability to cope with stressful situations
- report writing skills
- good organisational skills, with the ability to plan your own workload
- the ability to work well as part of team and also on your own initiative
- creative problem-solving ability
- motivation and commitment.
What opportunities are there?
In England or Wales you would be employed by the National Probation Service (NPS), which is split into 42 local service areas.
Jobs for trainee probation officers have traditionally been advertised in the local and national press in March and April each year. However, you should check with your local probation consortium for the latest information about the revised recruitment and training process.
You may find the following links useful for further reading (links open new window):
London Probation
East of England Probation Training and Development Consortium
Midlands Consortium
North West Training Consortium
South East Probation Training Consortium
Wales Probation Training Consortium
Yorkshire and Humberside Consortium
Probation Bulletin
National Offender Management Service
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
