Register Your Interest - Trainee Probation Officer

By investing in your future You could transform countless lives

Train to be a Probation Officer

What the role involves

By managing offenders in the community, our Probation Officers protect the public from the effects of crime, and give offenders the chance to turn their lives around. By earning your Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP), you have the chance to join them.

Even as you’re learning, you’ll make a positive impact as you encounter different situations over the course of a 15 or 21 month programme. The decisions and actions you take can be the turning point for offenders – and instead of being part of the system for years to come, you can help them leave criminal behaviour behind for good.

Day to day, you’ll handle everything from going to hostels, visiting prisons and attending courts – all to make interventions with offenders that enable them to understand their behaviour and want to change it. Throughout, you’ll be working with people to help them recognise the benefit of education, skills, treatment or maybe counselling to prevent reoffending.

What you’ll need

Our Probation Officers come from a broad range of backgrounds – and this breadth of experience helps us better serve those we work with. But while there is no single type of Officer, they all share essential qualities such as emotional intelligence, resilience and the ability to stay calm under pressure. You’ll need to be the kind of person who can build rapport quickly and de-escalate potentially volatile situations. You’ll be happy to self-manage, and have a passion and commitment to your work, while excellent report-writing skills are also a must. Lastly, you should have some experience in working with people who have demonstrated challenging behaviour.

To apply, you will need a recognised Level 5 qualification or above, such as an honours degree, a foundation degree, a diploma of higher education, a Level 5 vocational qualification or a higher apprenticeship. It doesn’t matter what subject your Level 5 qualification is in. If necessary, you can complete the following 4 required knowledge modules within the first 6 months of the course, followed by a 15 month PQiP qualification.

• The Criminal Justice System • Understanding Crime and Criminal Behaviour • Penal Policy and the Punishment of Offenders • Rehabilitation of Offenders

What we offer

In return, you’ll receive a competitive salary and benefits package. During your training you will earn £24,228  p.a. plus London Weighting Allowance  where this applies. We offer a generous annual leave allowance of 25 days plus eight public holidays and Local Government Pension Scheme.

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible to apply for a position as a qualified probation officer on a starting salary of £35,130 p.a. plus London Weighting Allowance where this applies.

You’ll also be part of a supportive, diverse and friendly team environment – the perfect place to study towards your Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP). We will sponsor and guide you through your studies, and we’ll give you the opportunity to make the most of your career as a Probation Officer.

Who we are

As part of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), The National Probation Service plays a vital role in the criminal justice system. As well as the management of offenders, we’re responsible for taking preventative measures that protect the public, support victims and reduce the risk of reoffending. Together with the police, prisons and courts, we help people turn their lives around and help our communities feel safer.