87834 - Approved Premises Residential Worker - Thames Valley, Reading, Oxford (South Central)

Number of jobs available 5

Detail of reserve list 12 Months

Region South East, South West

City/Town Oxford , Reading , Windsor

Building/Site NPS 112 ABINGDON ROAD OXFORD, OX1 4PY, NPS 2 SOUTHCOTE ROAD READING, RG30 2AA, NPS 7 CLARKS ROW OXFORD, OX1 1RE, NPS 8 STRAIGHT ROAD WINDSOR, SL4 2RL

Grade Other

NPS Pay Band 3 National

Post Type Permanent

Working Pattern Full Time

Role Type Operational Delivery

Will the successful applicant have line manager responsibilities? No

Salary: £25,310 to £30,208 plus unsocial hours allowances

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

About Approved Premises

Approved Premises are primarily for offenders who have been released on licence and who require a high level of supervision.

About the role

As a residential worker in an Approved Premises, you will play a crucial role in supporting the management of offenders in their transition from custody into the community, to achieve successful resettlement.

You will assist with the well-being and supervision of Approved Premises residents, helping them to stick to their license conditions and supporting them to keep themselves and others safe. You will carry out inspections, monitor behaviour and positively engage with residents, working closely with colleagues and partner agencies.

About you

You do not need a degree for this role. We are much more interested in your personal qualities. Ideally, with experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties, you will be empathetic, patient, and resilient. A good level of numeracy and literacy is also required as the role involves some report writing.

About us

The Probation Service works with offenders who are pre or post-release from prison or serving community sentences. Our role is to support their rehabilitation and protect the public.

People come from all walks of life to form one team in the Probation Service. Join us and you will be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise.

Band:  Band 3

Overview of the job 

The job holder will work as part of a team providing 24 hour cover at an Approved Premises (AP) including security and monitoring services. The job holder will undertake a full range of work with the people on probation whilst resident at the Approved Premises. This will include; providing support in contributing to the risk management and sentence plan objectives and reporting any significant changes relating to risk and/or re-offending to any non-compliance within agreed enforcement procedures to ensure that people on probation resident at an AP and the fabric of it are kept safe and secure throughout their shift.

Summary

The job holder will assist in the well-being and supervision of residents, maintaining discipline, adherence to Approved Premises rules, licence conditions, sentence plan objectives specific to residency in the Approved Premises and court orders. In addition, will contribute to the management of residents’ risk. This post will involve substantial out of hours work, both waking night duty and weekend work. The post holder may be required to cover duties at other Approved Premises at times of staff absence.

In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties 

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Contribute to effective team practice, communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues to ensure consistency of work practices and positive working environment.
• Effectively communicate key risk issues to colleagues at handover and throughout the shift. It will also, at times, require communicating with Offender Managers, Stand-by Manager and partner agencies e.g. Police, Health professionals and drug/alcohol services.
• Undertake regular inspections of the building, including cellars and grounds throughout the period of duty, recording any occurrences/damage or defects, and monitor CCTV equipment.
• Maintain an active presence in the AP at all times. Regularly engage with residents in a pro-social manner. Contribute towards the protection of the residents through observation to ensure adherence to their risk management plans and general wellbeing.
• Actively engage with and monitor behaviour of high risk residents and motivate residents to ensure compliance. Challenge and manage appropriately abusive or aggressive behaviour.
• Contribute to the risk management plans of residents by observing and reporting any significant changes relating to risk and/or re-offending to any non-compliance within agreed enforcement procedures.
• Contribute to the sentence plan objectives of the residents through active engagement in purposeful activities as agreed by the AP Manager and Offender Manager.
• Ensure that the AP is locked and secure during curfew period. Confirm the presence and wellbeing of all residents overnight.
• Facilitate the function of the AP as a first/emergency point of contact out of hours.
• Through observation and/or engagement with residents, provide accurate information, analysis of situation and risk assessment to the Offender Manager and/or escalate to Out of Hours Manager, which may lead to enforcement and/or compliance with court orders, licences, AP rules.
• Support, create and maintain a safe working environment for staff, residents and visitors by adhering to Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) and Risk Assessments are followed reporting incidents to Manager.
• Undertake Health and Safety, fire alarm, curfews and room curfew checks in line with procedures.
• Undertake pre-arranged or initiate room searches based on concerns around risk.
• Pack up residents’ possessions as directed.
• Set up and/or deliver purposeful activities linked to residents’ sentence plan objectives as agreed by the Offender Manager and AP Manager.
• Undertake effective induction of residents.
• Follow prescribed medication procedures including the issuing of medication to residents and both weekly and nightly audit of medication sheets.
• To carry out drug and alcohol tests in line with risk management plan which may include times when job holder believes that the resident maybe under the influence and therefore increase in risk.
• Undertake First Aid if a resident is injured or self-harms.
• Maintain Approved Premises records and files as required, including data entry as necessary and contribute to the completion of incident reports.
• Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the PS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
• Deal with visitors and telephone calls, and monitor the work of visiting contractors in accordance with health and safety.
• Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
• To work within the aims and values of PS and HMPPS.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace 

Experience

• Experience of working with a diverse range of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties.

Technical

• Minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above (including English and Maths), or equivalent qualification, or relevant work experience with the ability to evidence high level numeracy and literacy skills required to read, understand and interpret policies and the ability to write reports and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders.
• IT Skills: Microsoft: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37

Additional payments are made for working unsocial hours.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. 

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

A nnual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices . You can determine your eligibility at  .
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here )

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please  click here for further guidance .

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.

Behaviours

Working Together - 250 word limit

Experience

Q) Was there a time when you were unsuccessful in building a relationship with a person with challenging behaviours. How did you overcome this? - 250 word limit

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

Behaviours

Working Together

Delivering at Pace

Making Effective Decisions

Communicating and Influencing

Developing Self and Others

Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit :

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) 

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service