Probation officer

madison's_mum

Hi,

My local area is advertising for probabtion officers. The pay is really good as are the long term prospects so i am really interested, HOWEVER everyone i have mentioned it to has said "OMG you'll be dealing with criminals!". Well duh thats the point! Would like to know if there are any probation officers out there who could advise what the job is really like.

Thanks

shameless-about-money

I have a friend who was a Probation Officer and I know a number of serving Probation Officers.

The job can be very stressful. You have to remember that for some of these ex-offenders they know nothing else. They may have been in Detention Centres as children/youths and then have ended up in prison. So, a lot of them want to go back to prison. You find that they beg and plead with you to go back to prison, which you cannot do. They go and commit another crime to get back inside asap. They know nothing else - in prison they are told what to do and when to do it, their food is put on the table in front of them and they have nothing to worry about. Put them in the "real" world and they cannot cope.

Then there are the homes you have to visit - house calls - flea/mice infested, filthy conditions. My friend - a man - couldn't hack the house visits. He left after two years.

A lot of Probation Officers end up alcoholics. In my own work as a therapist I have dealt with numerous PO's with alcohol problems - all caused by the ex-offender wanting to be back in prison.

As part of your interview you will undergo psychological tests to ascertain your suitability to the role.

In some ways it is easier working IN the prison rather than when the offenders have been released.

Not a positive reply for you but you have to know what you are letting yourself in for.

CJ2405

I have applied for this post twice before, ok I didn't get the job but the application is always the same, and I found the area briefings are quite interesting...you didn't mention if you had an application pack, but details of the interview process are with this.

The applications are sifted, then those applicants are invited to a written exercise as the course that goes with it is to degree level with an NVQ also as I recall. This is usually a scenario where you have to write a report

Then if you get to this you are invited to a interview day, where you do a group exercise, usually discuss a scenario someone watches your input etc, then a structured interview and a semi structured and a presentation...it is set for you, i have always been given the following title "a practical example of a step i took to solve a specific problem" this is done in front of 2 assessors, then they ask you questions about what you could improve about the presentation etc

Anyhow, my application pack is here so think I will give it a go again.....!

Just apply, you've got nothing to lose, and if you dont get through the day assesment they give you feedback to improve on!!

Best of luck! x

madison's_mum

Thanks for that, i do have the application pack, i think i will apply for it, it actually looks easier to fill in than the internal job apps i have done before for the bank i work for at the mo!

loopy_lass

dont worry about "criminals" they are people too u know :-) some are risky but read their risk assessment, keep safe and use ur common sense & you will be ok. Ive worked on the streets with young drug using offenders, i am now working in a prison and love it.....

go for it and remember some criminals are victims of circumstances... dont judge people till youve walked in their shoes! obviously some people are just down rite evil.. ya pays ya money and takes ya chances in this world ....


loops