Probation Officer

Typical Salary

£22,250 To £40,000

Typical Hours

36 to 38 a week

evenings / weekends occasionally

How To Become a Probation Officer

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

criminology
sociology
psychology
youth and community work

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do a probation officer degree apprenticeship.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a probation services officer, then:

take the Level 3 Diploma in Probation Practice and further on-the-job training
get relevant experience
apply to join the Professional Qualification in Probation training programme

You may be able to apply for probation jobs if you already hold a level 5 or equivalent qualification approved by HM Prison & Probation Service. For example, a social work degree that includes a probation option.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
knowledge of psychology
to be flexible and open to change
the ability to work on your own
customer service skills
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

In this role you could:

interview offenders before sentencing or parole
make sure offenders attend supervision appointments and take part in group programmes
run programmes to change offenders' behaviour
assess risks and write reports to help prisons and parole review boards decide about early release
work with victims of violent or sexual crime when prisoners are being considered for parole
work with prisoners about to be released

Working Environment

You could work in a prison, in a court, in an office or in the community.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career Path & Progression

With experience you could become a senior probation officer.

With further training you could specialise in working with particular groups, like high-risk or sexual offenders.

Further promotion usually means moving into management and away from working with offenders. You could become an area manager.

Volunteering Opportunities

You'll be expected to have paid or voluntary experience of working with vulnerable people or people with challenging behaviour before you apply for training.

Tips & Information

Career tips

It will help if you have some knowledge of how the criminal justice and rehabilitation systems work.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Probation Institute for professional development opportunities.

Further information

You'll find more on how to become a probation officer from HM Prison & Probation Service.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults