21571 - Probation Service Officer - Housing Support Service - HMP Peterborough and HMP Chelmsford


Company:	Ministry of Justice
Salary:	£28,064 - £33,549
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	CHELMSFORD, CM2 6LQ
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	24 Aug 2026
Closing date:	8 Sept 2026

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Summary

Probation Service Officer – Housing Support Services

The post holder will work with people on probation, in custody and community to assess, plan and support the housing and rehabilitation needs of participants within the criminal justice system. The role involves carrying out timely face to face accommodation assessments, developing and reviewing accommodation plans, and maintaining accurate case records to support risk management and positive outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Engage participants and referral agencies to facilitate access to housing.

Maintain regular, professional contact with participants, acting as a positive role model and identifying emerging risks or safeguarding concerns.

Record progress, outcomes and risks accurately using approved case management systems.

Work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders, attending meetings as required.

Promote participant involvement, rights, equality, diversity and rehabilitation outcomes.

Comply with probation, safeguarding, GDPR, information security, health and safety and organisational policies.

Helping to keep the public safe. Giving people the chance to turn their lives around. Building a rewarding professional career. There are many reasons to join the Probation Service. What will yours be?

We’re looking for empathetic, patient, and organised people to join us in this varied role, which offers the chance to make a difference, gain new skills and build a rewarding career within the Probation Service.

If this sounds like you, apply now.

If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £28,064 (Pro-rata for Part-time roles)

The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which if eligible, will see your pay increase. CBF is designed to enable you to move up through the pay band range as your competence grows.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Probation Service also increase their pay band ranges annually in line with Civil Service Pay guidance, which will also apply an increase to band pay ranges where applicable.

Overview of the job

The job holder will undertake the full range of work with people on probation before and after sentence. This will include assessment, sentence implementation, offender management and producing reports. The job holder will provide case management support to a full range of people on probation utilising service procedures and practice directions that underpin professional judgement.

For further information on the summary, responsibilities, activities, duties of the role and the Civil Service Success Profile Criteria which will be used in the assessment process, please refer to the full Job Description Attachment.

Right to work in the UK

You must have the right to work in the UK and Civil Service (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules).

Skilled Worker visa changes from 22 July 2025

In accordance with current immigration rules, this role is not eligible for a new Skilled Worker visa.

From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker visas. As a result:

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot consider sponsoring you to work as a probation services officer unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes.

If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your pre-employment checks and your eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you apply to be a probation services officer and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to 22 July 2025, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes.

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.

HMPPS will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules

Civil Service

This guide is intended to assist departments with managing their responsibilities on nationality rules related to Civil Service recruitment.

You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here (https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa)

About us:

By managing offenders in the community, the Probation Service protects the public from the effect of crime and gives offenders the chance to turn their lives around. Join us and you’ll be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise.

Successful applicants may be based a wide variety of office, court, team, or prison locations within the Probation Service region. Allocations will be made according to business need.

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