Opportunity Knocks

Yes once again there's an opportunity for fed up and ground down qualified probation officers to escape the stultifying grasp of HMPPS and head off to somewhere that still practices probation as we used to know it:-

States of Guernsey Careers: Probation Officer x 2 (77697)
Requisition ID 77697 - Posted 20/07/2021 - Justice and Public Safety - Guernsey

Service Area - Probation Service

Grade: - EGIII - £42,206 - £44,969 or EGIV - £46,350 - £48,965 or EGV - £50,325 - £53,166 per annum

Full Time

The States of Guernsey are looking for two Probation Officers to join their team at the Probation Service.

Probation Officers are the operational staff of the Probation Service having the one to one contact with offenders to assess, monitor and provide therapeutic interventions to reduce and manage offending behaviour.

The main purpose of the post of Probation Officer is to:-

• Provide the Courts with quality information and assessment to assist in sentencing decisions;
• Supervise offenders in the community in order to reduce crime and so protect the public;
• Prepare prisoners for release and resettlement into the community;
• Work with offenders and deliver interventions to address factors that increase their likelihood of re-offending, including attitudes, thinking and behaviour;
• Manage high risk potentially dangerous offenders including violent and sexual offenders;

Given the nature of the work, the post requires flexible working which may include full or part time secondment to the Offender Management Unit at the Prison.

Whilst Probation Officers have responsibility to manage their own workload, they will have regular supervision with a Senior Probation Officer. The post requires the successful establishment and maintenance of a number of key professional relationships, including within the Committee for Home Affairs, the Judiciary, Law Officers, Advocates, Prison, Police, Court staff and Child Services, as well as within the Probation team.

Close links are also maintained with local voluntary and partner agencies that have a role to play in the management of offenders, victims and witnesses.

Please click on the link below to view a full job description for this role.

Job Description

Please click on the links below to find out more about living and working in Guernsey.

Living and Working in Guernsey

Getting to Know Guernsey

Employment Permit Information

Contact: Katherine Lockwood – Senior Probation Officer on tel. 01481 XXXXXXX or email: XXXXXX

We strongly advise that applicants speak to the contact named above before applying for this role.

Closing Date: 18 August 2021

Candidates should upload supporting information to demonstrate how they meet the key criteria for the role. This should be in addition to any CV supplied and should have clear examples of how each is met. The key criteria can be found within the job description which is available by clicking the job description link above. The information provided by candidates will be used by the shortlisting panel when selecting candidates for interview.

Note - Internal applicants are required to inform their Line Manager before applying for any States of Guernsey positions. Internal references may be taken up prior to interview.

Appointment to this role will be subject to the following pre-employment checks which will be completed following an offer of employment:

• Satisfactory references which must include one from the candidate's current line manager
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Satisfactory, Enhanced, Disclosure and Barring Service Check with Barred Listing Check. Convictions likely to be considered relevant to this post include crimes involving, but not limited to, theft, violence, dishonesty, fraud, vulnerable individuals and children
• Confirmation of required qualifications / registrations
• Possession of a valid Employment Permit

Should the successful applicant not meet the requirements sufficiently he/she may be appointed at a lower grade than stated. The successful applicant would then have the opportunity to progress to the grade advertised once the necessary skills and knowledge have been developed and they have demonstrated the ability to undertake the duties at the higher level.

Please note that the States of Guernsey is undergoing a significant period of change and transformation. The officer must acknowledge and accept that the nature and type of duties within the role are likely to evolve and change over time in the course of that transformation. In such circumstances and accordance with the relevant terms and conditions of employment the employer may require the transfer, and/or redeployment, of an officer to other suitable roles within the States.

All employees are expected to uphold the purpose, vision and values of Service Guernsey: one organisation, one purpose, one focus and, in particular, to exhibit behaviours that reflect the core values of teamwork, accountability, customer service and empowerment.

--oo00oo--

This from Napo on the other hand for those who may still feel being a PO could be worthwhile:- 

HMPPS has announced that their latest PQiP recruitment campaign (trainee probation officers) opens today, Monday 26 July.

The campaign is open to employees first, prior to extending it to external applicants.

HMPPS say:

"This campaign has option specifically designed for internal candidates with two new internal pathways. 

• New PSO progression for candidates with and without degrees (graduate and non-graduate)
• Part-time programme

We have committed to recruiting 1,500 trainee Probation Officers in 2021/22 and offering opportunities to existing staff to apply is an important part of this commitment."

There are two webinars for current staff:

• Wednesday 28th July - 6pm
• Thursday 5th August - 12pm

You need to register for these. Please check out the intranet link below if you are interested. Contact your manager, HR or Branch for more information in the first instance.