NPS Job Description (JD)
NPS Band 5
Directorate: National Probation Service
Job Description: Senior Probation Officer
Document Ref.
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
Document Type
Management
Version
4.0
Classification
Unclassified
Date of Issue
10/7/2019
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Head of Group
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
NPS Job Description
Job Title
Senior Probation Officer
Directorate
National Probation Service
Band
5
Overview of the job
This is a management role within the National Probation Service (NPS).
The Senior Probation Officer supports the Head of Operational Function to provide
management and a leading role within a Local Delivery Unit (LDU) or other
operational unit.
Summary
The job holder will be expected to manage and lead staff within the operational area
to the required standard, and will offer support and cover to other teams/functions
during periods of absence.
In line with NPS 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 adhere 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
Responsibilities,
Senior Probation Officers may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of
Activities & Duties
the duties and responsibilities set out below.
•
To provide effective management and leadership to the team
•
To be accountable for the quality delivery of good practice and team
performance improvement within policy and national standards
•
To ensure that all team resources, including interventions, are deployed cost
effectively and provide best value in terms of both budget control and realising the
organisation’s strategic aims
•
To ensure that staff can efficiently and effectively meet the requirements of
the NPS’ contract with HMPPS, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) and local
business plans as required
•
To access, interpret, analyse and apply performance data pro-actively in
order to maximise LDU/team performance, evaluate practice and deliver
organisational aims
•
To proactively manage staff development, issues of underperformance,
attendance, health and safety, employee relations and diversity matters. Adopt a
consistent, fair and objective standpoint when making decisions in relation to
individual staff issues
•
To ensure that offender managers manage risk appropriately, and meet all
public protection standards and targets
•
To contribute directly to public protection through multi-agency
arrangements and individual casework review, discussion and feedback
•
To promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement to service
delivery
•
To manage financial resources for your area of responsibility as required by
your Head of Operational Function and in line with HMPPS financial regulations and
policies. To authorise expenditure within financial limits
•
In accordance with the business plan, to provide a leading role and direction
in work with partners and key stakeholders, and represent the NPS as appropriate to
the role
•
To facilitate effective communication between the LDU/Operational Unit
management team and internal and external partners
•
To play an active part in the corporate management of the NPS as necessary,
as a member of the LDU/Operational Unit Management Team
•
To undertake specific areas of responsibility as delegated by the Head of
Operational Function.
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
•
Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social
behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes
•
Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the NPS statutory
responsibilities and agency policies
•
To work within the aims and values of NPS 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 Job Evaluation and shall be discussed
in the first instance with the Job Holder.
Behaviours
? Working Together
? Developing Self and Others
? Delivering at Pace
? Managing a Quality Service
? Making Effective Decisions
? Communicating and Influencing
? Leadership
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8
Essential Experience
? Substantial experience with a proven record of good practice in a variety of
settings (including offender risk assessment and management) as a
Probation Officer or from working within another criminal justice agency or
related work context
? Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice
System and in a multi-disciplinary setting.
? Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence engagement
with victims
? Experience of risk management and assessment, understanding of multi-
agency risk assessment and management procedures
? Evidence of ability to evaluate practice
? Evidence of ability to provide a practice perspective on policy development
? Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines
? Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve
performance targets
? Experience of contributing to the provision of effective administration and
information systems
? Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting
improvements in quality and efficiency
? Able to demonstrate well developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to
interpret and apply performance reports
? Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both
internally and externally
? Ability to implement the services health and safety policies
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium
of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh
Technical
? Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in
requirements
Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice.
? Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the
Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management
Act 2007.The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were
previously recognised as providing such eligibility:
? Diploma in Probation Studies,
? Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)
? CQSW (with Probation Option)
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
Ability
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up
post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal
candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a
probationary period within HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
Success Profile
Strengths
It is advised strengths
Behaviours
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Substantial experience with a
proven record of good practice in a
variety of settings (including
Probation Qualification Framework
offender risk assessment and
Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in
Working Together
management) as a Probation
Community Justice integrated with Level
Officer or from working within
5 Diploma in Probation Practice.
another criminal justice agency or
related work context
Or a qualification which was recognised
at the time of qualification by the
Secretary of State for Justice as per
Section 10 of the Offender Management
Act 2007.The following qualifications
Experience of risk management
gained in England and Wales were
and assessment, understanding of
previously recognised as providing such
multi-agency risk assessment and
eligibility:
Developing Self and Others
management procedures
? Diploma in Probation Studies,
? Diploma in Social Work (with
Probation Option)
? CQSW (with Probation Option)
? Diploma in Probation Studies,
? Diploma in Social Work (with
Probation Option)
? CQSW (with Probation Option)
Understanding of the role of the
Evidence of ability to evaluate
Probation Service in the Criminal Justice
Delivering at Pace
practice and provide a practice
System and in a multi-disciplinary
perspective on policy development
setting.
Experience of working under
Knowledge and understanding of the
Managing a Quality Service
pressure and fulfilling demanding
factors which influence engagement
deadlines
with victims
Experience of working flexibly as a
Able to demonstrate well developed IT
Making Effective Decisions
member of a team to achieve
skills, including evidence of ability to
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0
performance targets
interpret and apply performance reports
Experience of contributing to the
provision of effective
Communicating and Influencing
administration and information
systems
Demonstrable achievements in
managing/supporting change and
Leadership
effecting improvements in quality
and efficiency
Experience of proactively
championing diversity and
inclusiveness both internally and
externally
Evidence of ability to implementing
the services health and safety
policies
NPS-JES-0033_ Senior Probation Officer_v4.0