HM Prison and Probation Service
Trainee Probation Officer - Professional Qualification in Probation London (Intake 21 - External Campaign)
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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 organisations
- Supervising offenders subject to community orders and licences 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.
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).
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Eligibility And Study Requirements
We offer different learning programmes dependent 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.
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 be able 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.
For more information, visit Skills and qualifications you need - Prison and Probation Jobs.
Recruitment Process
The application process takes around 7-8 months to complete and includes completing an application form, online test, and half-day assessment centre. Further information is available through How to apply - Prison and Probation Jobs.
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Online assessment centres are scheduled for September & October 2026. Interviews may be available in Welsh, subject to Welsh-speaking assessor availability.
Qualification evidence
If you reach the online assessment centre, you must provide evidence of your completed qualification. Acceptable evidence may include:
- Your fully completed qualification certificate.
- An exit award showing at least 120 credits at Level 5, if you did not complete your degree.
- A valid transcript or confirmation of your pass mark from your education provider, if your certificate is not yet available.
Replacement qualification records requested through the relevant learning record service, where needed. You may be able to request them here.
If your qualification cannot be confirmed or does not meet the requirements, your place may be withdrawn.
Pre-employment checks and vetting
If successful, you must complete pre-employment checks, including Enhanced Level 2 vetting and DBS. This applies to existing HMPPS employees.
Trainee probation officers require access to the ViSOR database and must complete Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2. You must provide evidence of UK residency for the last 3 years.
If you do not pass NPPV2 vetting, you may be unable to access ViSOR, fulfil the role requirements, or complete PQiP. In some cases, redeployment may be considered; where this is not possible, employment may be terminated.
You are responsible for providing accurate, up-to-date documents promptly when requested. Delays may mean checks are not completed before the fixed start date.
All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, so spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and discharges must be declared, however long ago they occurred, more information is available here. Cases are considered individually, but failure to disclose relevant information may end your application; we expect a high level of integrity from all those who we employ.
The Probation Service welcomes applications from people with lived experience, and we believe this makes a difference to our service user outcomes. A conviction does not necessarily prevent you from becoming a probation officer.
Location, allocation, and standards
You will rank your preferred Probation Delivery Units (PDU) within your chosen region. Please consider your choices carefully, as moves to other PDUs or regions may not be possible once training begins.
Allocations are based on business need, assessment merit, and PDU preferences. You may be allocated to a community or prison setting, including a public sector prison or privately run prison by secondment.
Your starting location may not be your final base due to estate modernisation work taking place.
Artificial Intelligence
We understand that AI tools can be useful when preparing your application. However, it’s important that anything you submit reflects your own skills and experience. Applications may be reviewed for AI-generated content during initial screening. Using AI to generate false or misleading information is not acceptable and may result in your application being withdrawn.
For full guidance on appropriate use of AI during the recruitment process, visit: [Artificial intelligence
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