GENERAL INFORMATION

Salary
£26,475 - £31,650
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Aylesbury, Bicester, Bracknell, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading, Slough
Region
South Central
Closing Date
24-Feb-2025
Business Unit
AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Other
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
2844

DESCRIPTIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Job description
This role sits within the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) partnership team. The IIRMS (Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service) is commissioned to work with some of the most complex service users from across the Thames Valley Area of the South Central Probation Service.
The intervention service works directly with men and women who screen into the OPD pathway and require a higher level of support to successfully integrate into the community. The work starts pre-release, continues through release and for a significant period tafter. You will work directly with the service users, using a collaboratively developed ‘formulation’ and sentence plan, actively supported by a multi-disciplinary team from both the NHS and the PS.
Your formal base will be a Probation Office near your home location but you will be expected to travel to work in Probation Offices in the 4 Thames Valley PDU’s. You will be line managed by a Senior Probation Officer within local OPD partnership. You will work in a multi-disciplinary team alongside probation officers, psychologists and skills facilitators. Support will be provided in working effectively with people with personality/relational difficulties. T will be opportunities to develop areas of expertise with benefits, housing and/or substance misuse. We welcome applications from existing or new PSO’s with backgrounds in any of these areas.
The role requires a high degree of motivation and commitment to a relational, compassionate, attachment-based approach with clients. The IIRMS team works with client’s pre-release whilst in prison, including collaboratively developing support plans for release, then into the community for an extended period. Tfore, the role will require some work in Prisons and at local Approved Premises. It may also require supporting and accompanying clients to external appointments such as GP registration, bank account set up, benefits assessments or to pursue hobbies, sports activities. As such a flexible approach is required, with a willingness to travel. Responsibility for case management of IIRMS clients remains with the community practitioner so this is generally an interventions focused role.

SUMMARY

To assess and manage the risk (including risk management plans and escalation) posed by people on probation to protect victims of crime and the general public by:

• Liaising, providing information and advice to criminal courts, criminal justice agencies and other partner agencies.
• Supervise and manage risk of those people on probation subject to community sentences, during and after custodial sentences.
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and people on probation.

In line with PS 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 do.
The post holder must ad to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.
If relevant to the role, some out of hours working may be required (i.e. Courts, Approved Premises, programmes, evening reporting etc.).

EXPERIENCE

• Experience of helping and/or supporting people who have experienced a range of social and/or personal difficulties
• Experience in planning and coordinating work
• Experience of working with groups or individuals in order to motivate and change behaviour
• An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity good practice
• Understanding of factors related to offending e.g. substance misuse, accommodation issues and being able to emphasise constructively with a range of people
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles of case management
• Knowledge and understanding of risk management/risk assessment as pertaining to offenders and the impact on victims of crime
• Understanding of Health & Safety legislation in the workplace
• Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System and Probation Service
• Knowledge of the aims and objectives of the Probation Service

JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHMENT

• 
  PS-JES-0031 Probation Services Officer v7.0.pdf (Job Description Attachment)

EXPERIENCE

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Evidence of Experience
Experience Questions

ABILITIES

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing, written communication assessed across application form and verbal communication assessed in the interview.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Working in partnership with HMAPS colleagues in the delivery of services as part of IIRMS and the Core OM work to people on probation, both face to face and outside of office environments as required.
Ensuring that risk management stays at the forefront of all interventions whilst delivering the OPD pathway services as part of IIRMS or in APs.
Working directly with service users with complex needs in a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary context.
Contribute to developing psychologically informed regime within APs in the locality.
Participate in the development and delivery of the Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (IIRMS), including the staffing of the community “Hub” and delivering group work in Approved Premises, or the Hub, as required with other HMAPS colleagues.
Employing a relational, compassionate and warm, empathic, boundaried approach with service users and modelling this approach to other PS staff.
Communicating with PS staff in relation to the OPD pathway, referrals and access to services
Working to innovate and develop the service w required
Working ly with colleagues across the partnership, to ensure effective service delivery.
Ensuring the aims, objectives and values of the pathway underpin all work delivered
Contributing to improving probation staff’s understanding of the OPD pathway and the people it supports.
To engage in weekly team supervision and regular Reflective practice

RESPONSIBILITIES, ACTIVITIES & DUTIES

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation assessed as low or medium risk of harm and to support the Probation Officer grade in high risk cases.
• When providing case manager support, to contribute to the delivery of the Risk Management plan and report significant changes relating to risk of harm and/or of reoffending or any non‐compliance within agreed enforcement procedures.
• To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
• Ensure effective referrals to services and facilities and communicate with offender management staff, interventions staff, service providers and external agencies to review progress and associated risks.
• To undertake prison, home or alternate location visits as required in accordance with service procedures and policies.
• To undertake work in the court setting, including the completion of appropriate reports on cases and prosecution of breaches.
• To provide cover within teams as required.
• To deliver and co-lead accredited programmes commensurate with grade.
• To conduct mandatory alcohol and drug tests as required, and to follow prescribed medication procedures.
• Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the PS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
• Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
• To work within the aims and values of PS and HMPPS.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (w specified in Wales) Welsh.