LONDON SEES RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR MINISTRY OF JUSTICE PROBATION ROLES

People in London are being urged to consider job opportunities to support offenders and join the 4,000+ people who have started a role in the Probation Service between March 2022 and March 2023*. From probation services officers to Community Payback (CP) supervisors, the rewarding roles will see applicants make a big difference to local communities and help offenders get their lives back on track.

Key new roles include case administrators and probation services officers, who support offenders on their rehabilitation journey, helping them to make better life choices and gain access to training, reducing the chances they will re-offend. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is also looking for CP supervisors, who work hands-on to oversee CP projects on the ground and for placement coordinators. Community Payback, previously known as Community Service, is an alternative to a prison sentence for people who have committed a crime.

The recruitment drive in London will support efforts to both reduce crime and help make safer places to live. The workforce of current Probation Service staff are calling for others to take up a role to support the 230,000 offenders serving community sentences and individuals who are pre or post-release from prison.

For armchair criminal justice advocates, inspired by recent shows like The Outlaws, Jury Duty and Annika, it’s a chance to help offenders get their lives back on track. All roles are challenging and rewarding, with great training, support and opportunities for progression. Specific roles currently include:

Case administrators play a key role, using their great organisational and communication skills to support their probation colleagues and help offenders turn their lives around. Eligibility requirements for the role include strong communication skills (verbal and written) and good IT and keyboard skills.

Probation services officers undertake the full range of work with offenders before and after sentence, and in the community – including, assessments, sentencing and managing people throughout their probation period. Eligibility requirements for the role include a minimum C-grade GCSEs or equivalent, or relevant work experience including sufficient writing skills.

Community Payback supervisors are at the heart of on the ground local community projects. They lead small teams to complete their unpaid work hours. They supervise and motivate them to complete a range of manual tasks to pay back for the harm they’ve caused. These tasks could include clearing overgrowth to make public spaces safer, restoring community facilities such as sports halls and playgrounds, planting trees or laying flowerbeds, and litter picking and graffiti removal.

Community Payback placement coordinator establish and maintain working relationships with a range of stakeholders – including local authorities and charities – to make sure there are sufficient numbers of CP work placements. The role also includes exploring opportunities for people to access on-the-job training and education to develop their skills and increase their chances of employment while they complete their unpaid work hours.

The new roles are open to a wide range of applicants and are ideal for those looking for a rewarding career where you can both motivate and inspire others to change for the better, and build better and safer places to live.

Andrea Richardson, a case administer from Wembley, says: “No two days are the same within the Probation Service – it’s a fast paced and incredibly interesting environment to work in. My favourite part of my job is communicating with people on probation and supporting them and my team to help them improve their lives. The role can be challenging as we’re helping people to navigate some of the most difficult times in their lives, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see people turn a corner and know I’ve played a part in that process. If you’re a strong communicator, capable of thinking on your feet and have good IT skills, then being a case administrator could be the right role for you.”

Donna O’Brien, a Probation Resourcing Delivery Lead from Harrow, London, said: “I’ve worked in the Probation Service for over 13 years, and during this time I’ve done well in my career, progressing and learning. It can be a challenging job and may involve working with people with complex needs – but it is a rewarding one with variety, training and the chance to support turning lives around. For anyone thinking about applying for a role, I’d say go for it! It opens up so many opportunities and gives you a real sense of purpose and you’re contributing to society.”

Evie Church, a Senior Probation Officer from London, says: “Humans are complex beings and this definitely comes across in the work we do with offenders as Probation Officers. It’s a very dynamic and exciting role. We need to support people on their journeys towards rehabilitation whenever needed. So if you are someone with a great passion for helping others, the Probation Service is the right place for you to find your next role!”

Career benefits of working in the Probation Service include progression, training, support, a good pension and generous annual leave allowance. Anyone interested in exploring the roles available should visit: https://probationjobs.co.uk/