HM Prison and Probation Service
Probation Officer - HMP Highpoint (Ref: 19518)
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Probation Officer - HMP Highpoint (Ref: 19518)
HM Prison Highpoint, Newmarket (CB8 9YG)
Probation Officer – Job Description
Overview of the Role
Post holders will undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation under supervision, including:
- Assessment of offenders
- Sentence implementation
- Report production
Operations will be underpinned by service procedures and practice directions, guiding professional judgement.
Key Summary
The role involves risk assessment and management to protect victims and the public by:
- Providing legal, advisory, and justice-related information to courts, agencies, and partners
- Supervising individuals under community orders, probation licences, and during custodial sentences
- Acting as part of a risk management team
- Collaborating with external agencies to prevent future offending and meet the needs of victims and supervised individuals
Duties align with HM Prison and Probation Service (PS) policies, ensuring equality, inclusion (including duty of confidentiality around sensitive cases).
Core Responsibilities & Activities
Probation Officers may be required to undertake (alone or as a combination) the following:
Offender Management Core Duties
- Produce court reports, Parole Board assessments, and advice for criminal justice agencies and external partners
- Manage high/very high-risk offenders, conducting risk assessments and tailored intervention planning
- Maintain computer-based case records (probation, prison, victim contact) within required deadlines
Triage, Referrals & Collaboration
- Ensure timely proactive referrals to specialised wider service teams/interventions (e.g. victim liaison, prison visits, drug treatment)
- Actively participate in partnership forums (MAPPA – Multi-Agency Public Protection, MARAC – Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
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Supervisory & Mentorship Role
- Provide direct and indirect support for Probation Service Officers and junior team members
- Offer professional advice, coaching, and cover shifts across internal teams (including prison visits/homework engagements)
Additional Task Delivery
- Accredited offence-related programmes per grading requirements
- Mandatory alcohol/drug testing, following prescribed medication protocols
- Safeguarding children obligations aligned with statutory duties and appendix 8 responsibilities
- Model pro-social values, anti-social behaviour enforcement
- Uphold HM Prison and Probation Service values
Note: Duties may adapt as necessary. Significant modifications could require job evaluation scrutiny with Clear Review and discussion with the job holder.
Key Skills & Qualifications
-
Prove professional qualification status as a Probation Officer:
- PQF Honours Degree/Graduate Diploma in Probation
- Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice or equivalent
- OR Diploma in Probation Studies
- OR CQSW qualification with Proof of Probation track path
-
Communication proficiency: All orally-engaged duties fulfilled in English or (where applicable) Welsh per role geography.
Skills & Behaviour Framework Assessed in Recruitment
Behaviours (evaluated throughout selection):
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills (specific for assessment):
- Please refer to the Civil Service Success Profile assets page for full articulation.
Working Life & Offered Benefits
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Organisational support:
- Access to learning and development, including career progression pathways
- Flexible working options to promote work-life balance
Competitive packages:
- Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution
- Standard annual leave and Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Loan Advance scheme (fast-track annually)
Culture & Policy alignment:
- Diversity and inclusion promoted and incentivised
- Participation in Veterans initiative ("Great Place to Work for Veterans")
- Disability Confident scheme eligibility (for compliant disabled candidates)
Civil Service values & compliance:
- See Civil Service Code and recruitment principles
- Fairness, transparency, and inclusion-driven hiring processes
Security & Eligibility
-
Required senior checks:
- Basic criminal record clearance
- Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks for classified duties
-
Citizenship/employment eligibility: UK nationals, Republic of Ireland/EU(vested) or Similar Work Settings nationals are eligible. Full nationality guidance here includes exceptions/further detail.
Updated Acknowledgements
- AI support discouraged unless submissions reflect directly translated live experiences.
- Plagiarism prohibition (any AI-generated content may disqualify applicants).
- Full candidate guidance on submitting authentic experiences.
Contact or further guidance: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk (0345 241 5358).
Vacancy Definition Closing Note
Once advertised, the full position page may be archived, so applicants are advised to download the latest version locally for future reference.
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