Senior Probation Officer (Ref: 23191)

Overview

In this management role you lead a Local Delivery Unit to deliver high-quality probation practice in line with national standards. You will supervise staff, allocate resources, and ensure performance targets are met while upholding equality, inclusion, and safeguarding. You’ll use performance data to drive improvements and collaborate with partners to support public protection. The role offers leadership across teams, with opportunities to shape policy implementation and service delivery. This is a mission-driven position within the National Probation Service focused on outcomes and continuous improvement.

Pay / Benefits

• learning and development
• flexible working options
• inclusion and diversity
• Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution
• annual leave
• public holidays

Responsibilities

• Provide effective management and leadership to the team
• Ensure quality delivery of good practice and performance improvement within policy and national standards
• Deploy resources and interventions cost-effectively to meet budget and strategic aims
• Ensure compliance with contracts with HMPPS, CRCs, and local business plans
• Analyze and apply performance data to maximise team performance and evidence-based practice
• Develop staff, manage underperformance, attendance, health and safety, and diversity issues
• Manage offender risk and ensure public protection standards and targets
• Contribute to safeguarding duties and multi-agency arrangements
• Promote innovation and continuous service improvement
• Oversee financial resources within policy and regulatory limits
• Engage with partners and stakeholders and represent NPS as needed
• Participate in management team activities and delegated responsibilities
• Demonstrate pro-social modelling and challenge anti-social attitudes
• Uphold NPS and HMPPS aims and values
• Accept reasonable changes and additional tasks as required

Key requirements

• Substantial experience with good practice in offender risk assessment and management
• Understanding of Probation Service role within the Criminal Justice System and multi-disciplinary settings
• Knowledge of factors influencing engagement with victims
• Experience of risk management and multi-agency risk procedures
• Ability to evaluate practice and contribute to policy development
• Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines
• Flexible team player with a track record of achieving performance targets
• Strong IT skills and ability to interpret performance reports
• Experience championing diversity and inclusivity
• Ability to implement health and safety policies
• English language proficiency (or Welsh where specified)

• Leadership
• Communication and influencing
• Decision making
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/Honours Degree in Community Justice with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice
• Knowledge of probation-related qualifications (Diploma in Probation Studies, Diploma in Social Work with Probation Option, CQSW)

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