14375 - Probation Officer - HMP Peterborough
As a Custody Probation Officer at HMP Peterborough the post holder will be primarily responsible for managing high risk female, plus a small number of high risk male offenders. They will be expected to work to the new Offender Management in Custody Model (OMIC) as it is introduced over the coming year and will be responsible for ensuring that sentence plans are up to date, as well as preparing a variety of reports and assessments.
Based within the Offender Management Unit within the prison, the successful candidate will be working alongside one other NPS Custody Probation Officer. The remaining Unit is comprised of, Administrators and Prison Managers, Prison Offender Supervisors.
The successful candidate will be supervised by a Prison Manager from HMP Peterborough who will be responsible for day to day supervision activities. The post holder will remain accountable to NPS via an identified contact during the secondment period.
After a period of 2/3 years, the post holder will be rotated to a community or other chosen position within NPS South East and Eastern Division.
Specific/additional duties and responsibilities which may be required for this role. These are set out below:
• To supervise NPS cases assessed as presenting a high/very high ROSH, or deemed to be of high complexity.
• To motivate offenders to ensure compliance with the requirements of their sentence plan and to promote positive outcomes for offenders.
• To undertake structured one to one supervision work with offenders to aid engagement with programme interventions and to address offending behaviours when programmes are not available/suitable.
• To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain reports, assessments, case records and other documentation within agreed timescales and in accordance to HMPS and NPS policy and practice.
• To ensure effective referrals to, and relationships between the offender and agencies within HMPS to enhance adherence to the sentence plan, manage risk and needs, and reduce reoffending.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues and partnership agencies to ensure the Through The Gate resettlement function is delivered effectively.
• To provide advice and guidance to HMPS Band 4 Offender Supervisors, including countersigning OASys.
• To actively attend/contribute to Assessment, Care in Custody & Teamwork (ACCT) reviews.
• To ensure recalled NPS prisoners are effectively managed within required timescales, including facilitating meetings with the Offender Manager and undertaking work required to achieve a safe, early re-release.
• To engage in the Enhanced Behaviour Monitoring process to effectively manage risk, in line with HMPS/NPS policy.
• To engage in the Restricted ROTL process to effectively manage risk, in line with HMPS/NPS policy.
• To work collaboratively with relevant agencies to promote and implement the Preventing Extremism Strategy within your establishment.
Overview of the job
Post holders will undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders under supervision including assessment, sentence implementation and producing reports; utilising service procedures and practice directions to underpin professional judgement.
Summary
To assess and manage the risk posed by offenders to protect victims of crime and the general the public by:
• Providing information and advice to criminal courts, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations
• Supervise offenders subject to community orders and licences and during custodial sentences
• Contribute to the management of risk
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and offenders
In line with NPS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they undertake.
The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
Probation Officers may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.
• To provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to courts, the Parole Board, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations
• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders assessed at all levels of risk of serious harm including high and very high.
• To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales
• To ensure timely and effective referrals to, and relationships between, offender management, court teams, victim contact units, interventions, Approved Premises, prisons and external agencies to enhance positive outcomes, manage risk and reduce reoffending
• To attend professional meetings and represent the NPS at appropriate partnership forums e.g. MAPPA, MARAC
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, maintain effective team relationships and provide professional guidance and support to Probation Services Officer (PSOs) and other staff as appropriate
• To provide cover within your team and to other teams as required
• To undertake prison, home or other alternate location visits as required
• Respond to risk escalation requests raised by Community Rehabilitation Companies, determine risk level and if high risk (endorsed by a manager) decide on how this will be managed
• To deliver and co-lead accredited programmes commensurate with grade
• To conduct mandatory alcohol and drug tests as required, and to follow prescribed medication procedures
• Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies
• Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
• To work within the aims and values of NPS and NOMS
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under Job Evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.
Competencies
The following competencies from the Civil Service Competency Framework will be used for selection purposes:
• Making effective decisions
• Building Capacity for all
• Showing drive and resilience
• Delivering at pace
• Persuading and influencing
• Collaborating and partnering
Essential Skills, Qualifications, Accreditation & Registration
You must hold a Probation Officer qualification or be a qualified Probation Officer. In addition, successful candidates must hold the following:
Qualifications
Essential
PQF Honours Degree/Graduate Diploma and Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice; or Diploma in Probation Studies; or Diploma in Social Work (Probation option); or CQSW (Probation option)
Experience
Essential
• Experience of working with a wide variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties.
• Experience of working with diverse communities including promoting equality and valuing diversity.
• An understanding and appreciation of equality
• Experience of working with individuals and groups in order to motivate and change offending behaviour.
• Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System and the Probation Service.
• A working knowledge of relevant legislation and National Standards.
• Knowledge of Evidence Based Practice and risk/needs assessment tools.
• Experience of working with people who have committed offences.
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours)
37 Hours a Week
If relevant to the role some out of hours working may be required
Environmental Allowance of £675.00 per annum, pro rata
Standard working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.
HMPPS offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. Additional paid time off for public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.
Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
30/11/2017, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 30th November 2017 at 23:55 hours
For further information about this post or to arrange a visit, please contact Senior Probation Officer Paul Doran via email paul.doran01@noms.gsi.gov.uk.
If you require any assistance please call SSCL Recruitment 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm).
Candidate Information
You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
- An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
- A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
Effectiveness in this area means listening to each other, using reason and cooperation to reach agreement. We must all seeks to understand others’ perspectives whilst following through on agreements. Those who work in establishments must take time to understand the prisoners’ point of view and encourage prisoners to understand own / establishment’s perspective. At a senior level it is about promoting a culture of open interaction and effective consultation across all levels of the organisation. It is about influencing and involving the right people necessary to get things done.
Effectiveness in this area is about being consistently motivated, committed and able to perform duties in all situations. People who are effective maintain a personal conviction when faced with resistance. Those who work in establishment must retain a professional approach when confronted by aggression and strong emotion from prisoners. At senior levels, it is about remaining focussed on achieving objectives in the face of resistance, organisational constraints or unforeseen problems.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.