Probation service officer

Probation service officers work within the criminal justice system, supporting probation officers in the supervision of criminal offenders. They work in prisons, courts, hostels and day centres throughout the country.

Also known as:

Probation assistant

Work activities

The probation service works with offenders to make changes to their lifestyles and challenge their offending behaviour. Probation service officers support probation officers in the supervision of criminal offenders. Before an offender receives their sentence, probation service officers (PSOs) assist probation officers in court. They make sure that pre-sentence reports (PSRs) are available when court officials need them. Written by the probation officer, PSRs tell the court about the crime and the offender’s personal circumstances and make recommendations for the type of sentence that should be given.

Probation service officers also prepare their own reports, for example, on individuals who cannot afford to pay their fines. Probation service officers help probation officers with the supervision of court orders. This could mean seeing offenders in the office, visiting them in their own homes or visiting them in prison. When accompanying probation officers on prison visits, PSOs may discuss and plan after-care for the prisoner for when they are released. For example, PSOs may help offenders to get a hostel place or find work or training. When planning after-care for prisoners and in supporting offenders on community sentences, PSOs provide advice and support to help stop re-offending. They work closely with local authority housing and social services departments, to make sure the offender has all the support they are entitled to.

To help with an offender’s rehabilitation in the community, PSOs arrange any appropriate support services. For example, they may arrange counselling or treatment for offenders who have a drug or alcohol dependency. Most probation services run hostels (known as “approved premises”) where some offenders have to live as a condition of probation orders (meaning that they must report regularly to a probation officer). Although probation officers manage hostels, most of the residents’ day-to-day contact is with assistant wardens, who are often of PSO grade. These PSOs help to provide a structured and supportive environment, giving residents the chance to change their lives while being under close supervision. The hostel environment gives residents the opportunity to challenge and change their offending behaviour. For example, PSOs organise group activities to encourage offenders to relate to one another and develop their social skills. They may also help to run anger management courses or arrange for counsellors to visit the hostel. Hostels have strict house rules. Probation service officers may have responsibility for monitoring the residents’ behaviour and making sure they do their share of domestic activities.

Personal qualities and skills

As a probation service officer, you need:

Good communication and interpersonal skills.
The ability to ask the right questions.
The ability to establish a constructive relationship with offenders.
To be good at managing groups of people and maintaining authority when necessary.
Administrative and organisational skills.
Teamworking skills to work closely with probation officers, other probation service officers and professionals within the criminal justice system.
IT and writing skills, to produce reports.
Resilience, so you don’t become burdened by the problems you encounter.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Probation service officers earn in the range £22,000 to £29,000 a year.

Probation service officers work 37-39 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with some early starts and late finishes. Part-time opportunities are also available.

Opportunities for probation service officers occur throughout the UK. Officers are employed in the National Probation Service and work in the community, courts, hostels, day centres and prisons.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on local Probation Service websites, on the Government’s Find a Job service. Probation service officers are recruited locally rather than nationally.

Entry routes and training

Entry requirements vary depending on the individual probation service. However, it is likely that you will need to have some GCSEs (grades 9-4) (or equivalent). Most probation services are likely to ask for experience of working with people, either as a volunteer or in paid employment. This experience should have involved supervising people or giving direct long-term assistance to individuals in difficult personal circumstances.

Once employed, probation service officers work towards the vocational qualification level 3 diploma in probation practice, which is the nationally recognised qualification for this career. Regular in-service training is available to develop probation service officers’ skills in relevant areas.

Some probation service officers undergo further study and training towards becoming a probation officer.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

There is no strict qualification requirement to enter this career. However you will probably need GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

A responsible approach is viewed positively by employers. Many only recruit people who have relevant experience, preferably including some time spent in a supervisory role.

Related careers

Community worker
Police officer
Prison officer
Probation officer