I Want to Work In … the Probation or Prison Service

 

Probation Service

PROFILE: Probation Officer

INVOLVES: Supervising offenders in the community on community sentences (probation/community service orders), providing information & reports to courts, supervising prisoners released on parole & licences.
EMPLOYERS : 42 Area Probation Services in England & Wales
RELATED JOBS: Social Worker - Youth Justice Teams; Youth Worker; Connexions Personal Adviser
SATISFACTIONS: Developing positive & constructive working relationships, contribution to crime prevention & rehabilitation of offenders, working with like minded colleagues.
NEGATIVES: Government interference, shrinking resources, reactionary media perspective on crime.
SKILLS : spoken communication, persuading, negotiating, listening.
ADVANCEMENT: Senior Probation Officer (middle management) then Chief Officer Grades (senior management)
DEGREE: A degree in Criminology, Community Justice, Criminal Justice or Police Studies leads to shortened training.
STUDY: See below
SALARIES: Trainee salaries are in the range of £17,191 - £18,406 (July 2007).
TIPS: Recruitment is often not extensive. Need relevant work experience in order to apply for Probation Service training scheme. This could be experience gained as a Probation Assistant or from Social Work or any other legal/welfare background.

Becoming a Probation Officer

To date the qualification to become a Probation Officer has been the Diploma in Probation Studies. This qualification route is no longer available.

The qualification to be eligible to apply for Probation Officer posts will be an Honours Degree in Community Justice plus the Vocational Qualification Diploma in Probation Practice Level 5. The Honours Degree will be compiled of both Vocational and Academic credits and will be achieved whilst employed as a Probation Services Officer

From 1 April 2010 the primary route will be through employment within a Probation Trust. To undertake the new qualification, Probation Services Officers who successfully apply to undertake the qualification leading to Probation Officer status will:

 

Each stage of the training is by a selection process in the Area.

From 1 April 2010 there will be an alternative route for those holding an Honours Degree in:

Candidates with one of the above relevant degrees may apply to their Probation Trust to a compressed programme of study leading to the Graduate Diploma in Community Justice and VQ level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice. Whilst undertaking this training, employment would be as a Probation Services Officer. Again selection to a Probation Officer post would apply once the award was achieved.

To see who is recruiting go to www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk. 

South East Probation Trust has vacancies at the moment including Probation Services Officer posts (Oct 2010)

FURTHER INFORMATION

VACANCY SOURCES:

Prison Service

PROFILES:

Prison Governor

INVOLVES: Management of a prison, remand centre or young offenders institution & its inmates & staff. A range of responsibilities for managing people & resources, including education, welfare, security, budgeting & liaison with outside bodies. Possible to move into position at Prison Service HQ or Home Office.
SATISFACTIONS: Working with people; helping them to resolve the issues which led to their imprisonment & to avoid reoffending; protecting society; responsibility; variety.
NEGATIVES: Working with people who by definition are there against their will; tense environment with potential dangers ever-present; often based in overcrowded, decaying Victorian buildings; political dimension; mobility necessary for promotion.
SKILLS: You must be a good leader, and able to motivate both staff and prisoners. You need get on with people, build-up teams and work well with them. You must be sensitive to the needs of staff and prisoners, and able to deal with any unrest or difficult situations. In this job you have to make responsible decisions and take disciplinary action. You must be able to remain calm under pressure. Listening and good spoken and written communication skills are a must. A sense of humour is useful.
DEGREE: Any subject: an interest or background in human resources or institutional management, law, psychology, criminology or social sciences is helpful but not essential.
TRAINING: Graduates may join the Prison Service on the Intensive Development Scheme for potential governors. Although this is a national scheme, it does take into account your preference for a particular location. The first two years spent as uniformed Prison Officer; normally appointed as Deputy Governor on completion of training period; promotion thereafter involves Deputy Governor of larger or higher-security prisons; similar promotion pattern after Governor level reached.
TIPS: Voluntary experience as prison visitor, with Probation Service or voluntary bodies such as NACRO useful.

Prison Officer

INVOLVES: supervising prisoners and helping with their rehabilitation. Escorts prisoners. Performs security checks and patrols. Advises and gives information to prisoners. Writes reports. Assists in reviews of prisoners.
EMPLOYERS: H.M. Prison Service. Private prisons e.g. Group 4 Securicor
RELATED JOBS: police officer, probation officer, social worker, solicitor.
SKILLS: spoken & written communication, leadership; negotiating; persuading; planning & organising; sensitivity; listening.
DEGREE: degree not required, but law, criminology, social policy, social work, personnel, psychology are relevant.

Prison/Forensic Psychologist

INVOLVES: piloting and implementing treatment programmes; modifying offender behaviour; responding to the changing needs of staff and prisoners; reducing stress for staff and prisoners; providing hard research evidence to support practice; undertaking statistical analysis for prisoner profiling; giving evidence in court; advising parole boards and mental health tribunals; crime analysis.

SEE ALSO:

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

 

Last fully updated 2011