Recruitment drive for ministry of justice probation roles
NEWS
The MoJ is recruiting through a bespoke scheme which gives Armed Forces service leavers and veterans a chance to continue playing a vital role in the criminal justice system.
Service leavers and armed forces veterans are being sought for range of roles to support the rehabilitation of offenders
Dedicated routes into roles working in the Probation Service through the 'Advance into Justice' program
Service leavers and armed forces veterans are being urged to consider job opportunities to support offenders and join the 4,000+ people who have started a role in the Probation Service between March 2022 and March 2023*. From probation services officers to Community Payback (CP) supervisors, the rewarding roles will see applicants make a big difference to local communities and help offenders get their lives back on track.
The MoJ is recruiting through a bespoke scheme which gives Armed Forces service leavers and veterans a chance to continue playing a vital role in the criminal justice system. Advance Into Justice offers access to a range of rewarding roles working in the Probation Service, including probation services officer and Community Payback supervisor roles, alongside access to paid prison officer training and other prison roles.
Key new roles include case administrators and probation services officers, who support offenders on their rehabilitation journey, helping them to make better life choices and gain access to training, reducing the chances they will re-offend. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is also looking for CP supervisors, who work hands-on to oversee CP projects on the ground and for placement coordinators. Community Payback, previously known as Community Service, is an alternative to a prison sentence for people who have committed a crime.
For armchair criminal justice advocates, inspired by recent shows like The Outlaws, Jury Duty and Annika, it’s a chance to help offenders get their lives back on track. All roles are challenging and rewarding, with great training, support and opportunities for progression. Specific roles currently include:
Case administrators: Play a key role, using their great organisational and communication skills to support their probation colleagues and help offenders turn their lives around. Eligibility requirements for the role include strong communication skills (verbal and written) and good IT and keyboard skills.
Probation services: Officers undertake the full range of work with offenders before and after sentence, and in the community – including, assessments, sentencing and managing people throughout their probation period. Eligibility requirements for the role include a minimum C-grade GCSEs or equivalent, or relevant work experience including sufficient writing skills.
Community Payback: Supervisors are at the heart of on the ground local community projects. They lead small teams to complete their unpaid work hours. They supervise and motivate them to complete a range of manual tasks to pay back for the harm they’ve caused. These tasks could include clearing overgrowth to make public spaces safer, restoring community facilities such as sports halls and playgrounds, planting trees or laying flowerbeds, and litter picking and graffiti removal.
Community Payback: Placement coordinator establishing and maintain working relationships with a range of stakeholders – including local authorities and charities – to make sure there are sufficient numbers of CP work placements. The role also includes exploring opportunities for people to access on-the-job training and education to develop their skills and increase their chances of employment while they complete their unpaid work hours.
The new roles are open to armed forces service leavers, veterans and their spouses or civil partners and are ideal for those looking for a rewarding career where you can both motivate and inspire others to change for the better, and build better and safer places to live.
Ben Fisher, Resourcing Manager in the Probation Services, said: “As a veteran, I understand the challenges many of us face when reintegrating back into civilian life. It can take time to find a sense of purpose or a similar camaraderie in the civilian workplace compared to the military. However, the prison and probation service can offer you just that. This is why I would wholeheartedly encourage fellow veterans to explore the Advance into Justice programme within the Probation service, which has been developed specifically for Ex-Forces.
The AIJ programme gives you an opportunity to defer your start day, which eliminates the anxiety that often accompanies finding a job that aligns with a military departure date. The role also brings a huge sense of satisfaction. Working in this field, you can find a clear sense of purpose as you help rehabilitate people and get their lives back on track.”
Del King, Probation Officer Trainees from Shrewsbury, said: “I joined the probation service a couple of years after leaving the military and felt it was the right fit for me. My skillset already matched what any good probation officer needs: commitment, discipline, analysis, mentoring and great time management. Which is why I would highly encourage other fellow veterans to seek opportunities within the Probation Service.
When I just started out the Advance into Justice programme was only in its development, but now service leavers have a brilliant opportunity to launch a new career with an option to defer their start date. This flexibility is beneficial as it allows you to defer the date to align with when you leave the military, so you can go straight into a second career. Working in the Probation Service can be so rewarding as a service leaver as you can similarly make society a safer place and support people with tough backgrounds.”
Career benefits of working in the Probation Service include progression, training, support, a good pension and generous annual leave allowance. Anyone interested in exploring the roles available should visit: https://probationjobs.co.uk/
