General Information on Working for Durham Probation

Information for Trainee Probation Officers

NOTE: An Info for Trainees page has now been added to our website. (2/2/2006)

As a trainee, you are appointed on a two-year contract and will work to obtain the Diploma in Probation Studies. This is an integrated award made up of a degree in Community Justice and a National Vocational Qualification, or NVQ, in Community Justice - level 4. The degree is achieved via a distance learning programme delivered by Portsmouth University.

A trainee's principal objective is to undertake the academic work and gain the experience necessary to meet the competencies required by the degree and NVQ. During the training, Trainee probation officers will undertake work on behalf of the employing probation area. Trainees are required to work in accordance with the rules, national standards, Probation Board policies and all other relevant enactments.

The salary for Trainees can typically be expected to be around £14,000 to £15,000 and the normal working week is 37 hours. Leave entitlement is 20 days, plus 8 public holidays. Recruitment takes place once per year; beginning in March and normally continuing into April.

For more information about this year's recruitment, please visit our Info for Trainees page. For further background about working in the Probation Service, you may find some valuable information via our Links page.

Information for Volunteers

The probation service began as a voluntary organisation and has constructively used the services of volunteers throughout its existence. Volunteers possess a wide range of skills, developed from their employment or general life experience, and can make a valuable contribution to the service.

Work with higher risk cases will be undertaken by probation staff, but we recognise the need to help offenders reintegrate with the community in which they live. Following on from intensive, offence-focussed problem-solving programmes, a citizenship programme of nine separate modules is available. This deals with issues such as Money Management, Constructive Use of Time and Accommodation, and there are roles for volunteers in mentoring and supporting offenders in such modules.

Work with offenders could include offending behaviour work; budgeting skills advice; general advice on drugs and alcohol; directing offenders to local community providers; accompanying offenders in various situations; and general office administration. Some volunteers will have specific skills which can be included in one to one work with individual offenders.

Volunteers can be used for a couple of hours per week and although most of our work is carried out during the normal working day, opportunities may be available for some evening or weekend work. Weekend work is particularly applicable to our Community Punishment and Programmes Teams. An induction programme is available for volunteers and some training can be provided. Expenses are available where applicable.

To apply for an information and application pack, please complete the form below and post it to the address given on the form. If you prefer to request this information via email, please ensure you have included all the information that was requested on the form.
Volunteer Information/Application Pack [vol-form.pdf]

For further information, please contact our Darlington office on (01325) 486-231 and ask to speak to the Volunteer Coordinator. Alternatively, you can email us at the address below:
info@durhamprobation.gov.uk