Approved Premises

As a residential worker you will work as part of a wider team to provide 24-hour cover at an Approved Premises (AP) site.

You will play a key part in offenders’ rehabilitation by encouraging individuals to make positive changes in their lives and successfully reintegrate back into their communities.

This is an opportunity to build a rewarding professional career while helping people to turn their lives around. You’ll gain experience of working with offenders, making a real difference to residents, the public and the wider community.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to effective team practice, communicating effectively with team members and passing on key information.
• Maintaining an active presence at the AP, regularly engaging with residents and ensuring their safety at all times.
• Escalating any matters of concern to the AP manager to ensure enforcement and/or compliance with court orders, licences and AP rules.
• Supporting and creating a safe working environment for staff, residents and visitors.
• Arranging purposeful activities for residents within the premises.
• Reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.

You’ll find more details in the full job description when you apply for a role.

About you

If you enjoy learning and are looking for a role that can make a long-lasting difference to people’s lives, this could be the role for you.

We are looking for people with the empathy, patience and resilience to help people change. You will be interested in protecting communities, victims and offenders’ families. Having a curious nature is an advantage.

You may already have an understanding of factors relating to offending such as substance misuse and mental health problems. You might have some knowledge and/or previous experience of working in the criminal justice system and/or in working with people to support them to change.

You will have good interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate others in a diverse and challenging environment.

Essential criteria for applying

To apply for a role as a residential worker, you will need:

• to be at least 18 years old at the time of employment
• the right to work in the UK
• to confidently communicate in fluent English
• and a minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above (including English and Maths), or equivalent qualification, or relevant work experience where basic English and Numerical skills will have been used.

Skills needed:

• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals, including those who may present difficult or aggressive behaviour.
• An ability to use and work on your own initiative.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, equality and diversity.

Salary

The initial starting salary, including unsocial hour enhancements is around £27,500 in Greater London and £23,637 nationally.

Training 

You’ll receive full training in the management and rehabilitation of offenders, including:

• an induction programme, including procedural training such as room searches, drug/alcohol testing, safeguarding, fire safety and working with offenders
• a minimum of three weeks of shadowing shifts
• and first aid training.

We will also develop a training programme designed for your specific needs.

Benefits 

As part of the Probation Service, you’ll be entitled to a range of Civil Service benefits:

• 25 days’ annual leave, plus 8 public holidays and service days, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• other Civil Service benefits including an occupational pension scheme, childcare vouchers, cycle-to-work scheme, and travel season ticket loans
• career development and progression opportunities.

Simply follow the links on this page to view our latest jobs and apply today.

Once you have selected a specific vacancy, you will be asked to complete an online application form. You will need a valid e-mail address to log in and apply for the post, as all communication from us will be via e-mail.

Information you’ll be asked to provide

• personal details including your full name, address, contact numbers and proof of your right to work in the UK
• past experience in previous jobs, or if a recent college leaver, your college experience.

You will receive an e-mail from us to confirm that we have received your application. If you are subsequently invited for interview, you will be able to book into a time slot that suits you.

Who we are

The Probation Service, as part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), supervises high and medium risk people on probation in the community and in custody. We are here to protect the public, support victims and prevent re-offending wherever possible. We believe everyone deserves a second chance, and we help offenders make the most of theirs.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone. We strive for a workforce that is representative of our society and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice.

The ‘Making the Civil Service a great place to work for veterans’ initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to provide eligible HM armed forces service leavers an opportunity to secure a career in the Civil Service. If you are a service leaver, you can find out more from the Career Transition Partnership.

Read about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

For any queries on the application process, please contact our recruitment centre on 0345 241 5359 (option 1) or by email to MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.