HM Prison and Probation Service

Trainee Probation Officer - Professional Qualification in Probation East of England (Intake 21 - External Campaign)

Lincoln

£28.1k/yr

Posted about 15 hours ago

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East of England

Job Summary

To assess and manage the risk posed by offenders to protect victims of crime and the general public by:

Providing information and advice to criminal courts, other criminal justice agencies, and partner organizations
Supervising offenders subject to community orders and licenses and during custodial sentences
Contributing to the management of risk
Working 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.

Job Description

Trainee Probation Officer - Professional Qualification in Probation (Intake 21 - External Campaign)

Please note that this campaign is targeted to external candidates not currently employed by the Ministry of Justice. If you are directly employed by the Probation Service or wider Ministry of Justice, you may be eligible to apply to the PQiP 21 Internal Campaigns.

Train to be a Probation Officer - By investing in your future, you could transform countless lives.

Salary: £28,064 per annum. London Probation Delivery Unit roles attract an additional allowance of £4,505 per annum for eligible workplaces within the M25 boundary.

PQIP start date: 8th March 2027

Role And Programme Overview

Working in probation is a career like no other. The Probation Service, part of HMPPS, plays a vital role in the criminal justice system working with over 240,000 offenders. Probation officers protect the public, support victims, and help reduce reoffending by working directly with offenders in the community and in prison.

To become a probation officer, you’ll need to complete the Trainee Probation Officer Programme, also known as the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP).

The PQiP programme is a fully funded, work-based professional programme, combining university learning with practical experience, so it’s a great opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’. Through the PQiP programme, you’ll develop the resilience and practical tools to challenge behaviours and gain the skills to engage effectively to support lasting change.

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We’re looking for empathetic, resilient individuals who want to help people change. The role is both rewarding and challenging, working with individuals with complex and varied needs. From the start, you’ll make a positive impact, your decisions can help people move away from offending behaviour and build a better future. You’ll support individuals to access education, employment, treatment, or counselling to reduce reoffending.

You’ll join a supportive and inclusive team who will guide you throughout your training and support your career development. In addition, we offer a competitive salary, and benefits package, including 25 days’ annual leave, public holidays, and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

On successful completion, you’ll qualify as a Probation Officer with a starting salary of £37,238 (plus London Weighting where applicable).

Eligibility And Study Requirements

We offer different learning programmes depending on the level of qualification you hold, ranging from 15 months for Graduates with a level 5 qualification to 27 months for our non-graduate programme.

Graduates with a 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, will complete a 15 or 21 Month Programme

To be eligible for the 15-month Programme, you need to have studied knowledge modules on at least three of the following four topics as part of your degree (or equivalent):

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

If your L5 qualification doesn’t include these subjects, you’ll most likely study the 21-month PQiP programme where you will complete the required knowledge modules and go on to study the required level 6 elements to qualify as a Probation Officer.

Non-Graduates with a level 3 qualification e.g. A Level, Advanced apprenticeship, International Baccalaureate Diploma, or Level 3 NVQ will complete a 27-month Programme which will involve completion of a level 4 module and the required knowledge modules within the first 12 months, and in the final 15 months, you will complete your level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice and a Diploma in Community Justice as well as your level 6 Professional Qualification in Probation.

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This is a full-time post of 37 hours per week. You will also need to commit to some personal study time, which will vary depending on your learning style.

PQiP learning placements can be studied on a part-time basis, for those applicants who hold a level 5 qualification (or above). The working days are not fixed, but there will be a requirement for all learners to attend live University and Learning and Development events even if they fall on a non-working day.

Part-time learners must work at least 22.2 hours per week. The programme length will be extended to facilitate part-time hours - the standard 15-month programme will increase to a 21-month duration, and the standard 21-month course will take up to 30 months to complete.

(Learners who hold a Level 3 qualification are not eligible to be placed on a part-time programme)

To Apply, You Must:

Have some experience of working with challenging individuals in order to demonstrate your suitability for the post.
Have the right to work in the UK.
Be at least 18 years old.
Be NPPV vetted or be willing to undergo NPPV once in post.
Hold a minimum of Level 3 qualification or above, in any subject.

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Skills

Risk Assessment

Supervision

Communication

Empathy

Resilience

Teamwork

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Location

Lincoln, England, United Kingdom