Ministry of Justice

Trainee Probation Officer - Professional Qualification in Probation (Intake 21 - External Campaign) 

Please note that this campaign is targeted to external candidates not currently employed by the Ministry of Justice.  If you are directly employed by the Probation Service or wider Ministry of Justice, you may be eligible to apply to the PQiP 21 Internal Campaigns. 

Train to be a Probation Officer - By investing in your future, you could transform countless lives. 

Salary: £28,064 per annum. London Probation Delivery Unit roles attract an additional allowance of £4,505 per annum for eligible workplaces within the M25 boundary. 

PQIP start date:  8^th March 2027 

Role and programme overview 

Working in probation is a career like no other. The Probation Service, part of HMPPS, plays a vital role in the criminal justice system working with over 240,000 offenders. Probation officers protect the public, support victims and help reduce reoffending by working directly with offenders in the community and in prison. To become a probation officer, you’ll need to complete the Trainee Probation Officer Programme, also known as the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP).  

The PQiP programme is a fully funded, work-based professional programme, combining university learning with practical experience, so it’s a great opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’. Through the PQiP programme, you’ll develop the resilience and practical tools to challenge behaviours and gain the skills to engage effectively to support lasting change.  

We’re looking for empathetic, resilient individuals who want to help people change. The role is both rewarding and challenging, working with individuals with complex and varied needs. From the start, you’ll make a positive impact, your decisions can help people move away from offending behaviour and build a better future. You’ll support individuals to access education, employment, treatment or counselling to reduce reoffending.  

You’ll join a supportive and inclusive team who will guide you throughout your training and support your career development. In addition, we offer a competitive salary, and benefits package, including 25 days’ annual leave, public holidays and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme 

On successful completion, you’ll qualify as a Probation Officer with a starting salary of £37,238 (plus London Weighting where applicable). 

Eligibility and study requirements 

We offer different learning programmes dependant on the level of qualification you hold, ranging from 15 months for Graduates with a level 5 qualification to 27 months for our non-graduate programme.  

Graduates with a level 5 qualification, or above, such as an honours degree, a foundation degree, a diploma of higher education, a Level 5 vocational qualification or a higher apprenticeship will complete a 15 or 21 Month Programme 

To be eligible for the 15-month programme, you need to have studied knowledge modules on at least three of the following four topics as part of your degree (or equivalent): 

• Understanding Crime and Criminal Behaviour 
• The Criminal Justice System 
• Penal Policy and the Punishment of Offenders 
• Rehabilitation of Offenders  

If your L5 qualification doesn’t include these subjects, you’ll most likely study the 21-month PQiP programme where you will complete the required knowledge modules and go on to study the required level 6 elements to qualify as a Probation Officer.  

Non-Graduates with a level 3 qualification e.g. A Level, Advanced apprenticeship, International Baccalaureate Diploma or Level 3 NVQ will complete a 27-month Programme which will involve completion of a level 4 module and the required knowledge modules within the first 12 months and in the final 15 months you will complete your level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice and a Diploma in Community Justice as well as your level 6 Professional Qualification in Probation. 

This is a full-time post of 37 hours per week. You will also need to commit to some personal study time, which will vary depending on your learning style. 

PQiP learning placements can be studied on a part-time basis, for those applicants who hold a level 5 qualification (or above). The working days are not fixed but there will be a requirement for all learners to attend live University and Learning and Development events even if they fall on a non-working day. 

Part-time learners must work at least 22.2 hours per week The programme length will be extended to facilitate part time hours - the standard 15-month programme will increase to a 21-month duration and the standard 21-month course will take up to 30 months to complete.  

(Learners who hold a Level 3 qualification are not eligible to be placed on a part-time programme) 

To apply, you must: 

Have some experience of working with challenging individuals in order to be able to demonstrate your suitability for the post. 

• Have the right to work in the UK.  
• Be at least 18 years old. 
• Be NPPV vetted or be willing to undergo NPPV once in post. 
• Hold a minimum of Level 3 qualification or above, in any subject. 

For more information visit Skills and qualifications you need - Prison and Probation Jobs 

Recruitment Process 

The application process takes around 7-8 months to complete and includes completing an application form, online test and half day assessment centre. Further information is available through How to apply - Prison and Probation Jobs 

Online assessment centres are scheduled for September & October 2026. Interviews may be available in Welsh, subject to Welsh-speaking assessor availability. 

Qualification evidence 

If you reach the online assessment centre, you must provide evidence of your completed qualification. Acceptable evidence may include: 

Pre-employment checks and vetting 

If successful, you must complete pre-employment checks, including Enhanced Level 2 vetting and DBS. This applies to existing HMPPS employees. 

Trainee probation officers require access to the ViSOR database and must complete Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2. You must provide evidence of UK residency for the last 3 years. 

If you do not pass NPPV2 vetting, you may be unable to access ViSOR, fulfil the role requirements or complete PQiP. In some cases, redeployment may be considered; where this is not possible, employment may be terminated. 

You are responsible for providing accurate, up-to-date documents promptly when requested. Delays may mean checks are not completed before the fixed start date. 

All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, so spent and unspent convictions, cautions and discharges must be declared, however long ago they occurred, more information is available here. Cases are considered individually, but failure to disclose relevant information may end your application, we expect a high level of integrity from all those who we employ. 

The Probation Service welcomes applications from people with lived experience, and we believe this makes a difference to our service user outcomes. A conviction does not necessarily prevent you from becoming a probation officer. 

Location, allocation and standards 

You will rank your preferred Probation Delivery Units (PDU) within your chosen region. Please consider your choices carefully, as moves to other PDUs or regions may not be possible once training begins. 

Allocations are based on business need, assessment merit, and PDU preferences. You may be allocated to a community or prison setting, including a public sector prison or privately run prison by secondment. 

Your starting location may not be your final base due to estate modernisation work taking place.  

 Artificial Intelligence 

We understand that AI tools can be useful when preparing your application. However, it’s important that anything you submit reflects your own skills and experience. Applications may be reviewed for AI-generated content during initial screening. Using AI to generate false or misleading information is not acceptable and may result in your application being withdrawn.  

For full guidance on appropriate use of AI during the recruitment process, visit:  Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers  

A Great Place to Work for Veterans 

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. 

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK 

Working for the Civil Service 

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and aim to build a diverse, inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to belong. 

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles, you can raise a formal complaint in the following order: 

1)      Shared Services Connected Ltd: call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com 

2)      Ministry of Justice Resourcing Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com 

3)      The Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service Commission 

Right to work in the UK 

You must have the right to work in the UK and Civil Service (Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules - GOV.UK). 

Skilled Worker visa changes from 22 July 2025. In accordance with current immigration rules, this role is not eligible for a Skilled Worker visa. 

If your application is successful, you will need to ensure that you have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom. 

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing 

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: Equality and diversity - Ministry of Justice - GOV.UK   

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.  

Disability support 

As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ offers reasonable adjustment support so candidates can demonstrate their skills and abilities. 

Please request adjustments in good time before online tests or assessment centres. Assessors cannot usually accommodate requests made on the day. 

Select ‘yes’ on the application form if you think you may need reasonable adjustment support. 

Additional opportunities 

The PQiP university study begins twice yearly in March and September, although there may be an opportunity to join as a trainee Probation Officer before the course begins. 

A bespoke Public Interest Transfer scheme may support certain relocation costs for eligible applicants open to a permanent move to: 

- Kent Surrey & Sussex  

- East of England  

- London   

- South Central 

Further details will be shared at the appointed time. If interested, select ‘Yes’ on the application form. 

If you are not successful:  You will automatically be considered for a probation services officer role if you attend the assessment centre and do not successfully pass the PQiP application process. If you do not wish to be considered select the ‘opt out’ box on the application form. 

Due to candidate volumes and wider policy, individual feedback is not available at sift stage. 

The Technical Requirements section of the attached job description does not apply to this trainee probation officer campaign. 

 Campaign live date: Monday 13^th July 2026 

 Closing date: Monday 10^th August 2026 (23:55 pm) 

If you require assistance, please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail  MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk. Please quote the job reference 19502.