Probation Officer - Personality Disorder Projects

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Lancashire OPD for a Senior Probation Officer (SPO) role on a part-time basis (0.6). The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Partnership brings together Health and Probation to work with some of the most complex, high-risk men and women who meet the OPD criteria, and to support those working with them. In Lancashire, there is also a strong connection with Enhanced Reconnect and services from across the Third sector. The role is structured as a split post, with three days per week (0.6 FTE) dedicated to the OPD Pathway and two days per week (0.4 FTE) focused on developing and maintaining external partnerships. The post-holder's base will be negotiable, though there is an expectation that the team will come together regularly - usually at Diadem House. You will be line managed by the Regional OPD Senior Leader and be part of an environment that is committed to learning and developing together, with support from colleagues working in OPD services across the North West., Operational Leadership

• Manage and provide leadership to specialist Probation Officers and other staff within OPD services.
• Ensure cases are allocated appropriately and workloads are managed effectively.
• Maintain oversight of high-risk and complex cases.
• Ensure compliance with probation policies, safeguarding requirements and public protection procedures.
Clinical and Psychological Partnership Working
• Work closely with Clinical Leads and NHS partners in delivering the OPD pathway.
• Support the use of psychological formulations to inform sentence management and risk management.
• Promote psychologically informed approaches across probation services.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making regarding PiP and PoP.
Risk Management and Public Protection
• Provide management oversight for individuals assessed as high or very high risk of serious harm.
• Ensure robust assessment and management of risk.
• Support staff in managing challenging behaviours, safeguarding concerns, and public protection issues.
• Participate in MAPPA and other multi-agency forums where appropriate.
Consultation and Workforce Development
• Support delivery of case consultation and formulation processes.
• Facilitate reflective practice and psychologically informed supervision.
• Develop practitioner confidence and capability in working with personality difficulties.
• Deliver or coordinate learning and workforce development activities.
Quality Assurance and Professional Standards
• Review casework, reports and assessments.
• Provide feedback and coaching to practitioners.
• Ensure management oversight frameworks are applied consistently.
• Monitor performance and service outcomes.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
• Develop productive relationships with NHS providers, Approved Premises, prisons and community agencies.
• Contribute to service development and pathway improvement.
• Represent OPD services within local and regional governance structures.
• Work alongside OPD Senior Co-Commissioners to develop and deliver quality services in the Lancashire sub-region.
The post holder will also be required to undertake the following:
• Oversee multi-agency partnership arrangements within the three Lancashire MASH hubs, supporting HMPPS safeguarding activity across Lancashire.
• Support the training and development of probation staff in relation to local child and adult safeguarding procedures and processes.
• Attend monthly MASH operational meetings and participate in multi-agency audits.
• Oversee arrangements for the delivery of MARAC.
• Support PDUs and Court Teams by providing advice and improving referral pathways and communication.
• Support the Business Manager in the management and deployment of Case Administrators working within partnership locations.
• Work collaboratively with the Health and Justice Team, EPOP, and Regional Commissioning and Contracts Team to strengthen pathways and relationships with third-sector organisations across Lancashire.
• Support developments relating to neurodiversity and chair the Lancashire Autism Justice Board.
• Lead partnership work relating to women in the justice system and chair the Female Justice Partnership Board., 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.

Essential
• Existing Senior Probation Officer.
• Extensive experience of managing complex, high-risk individuals.
• Knowledge of personality disorder, trauma-informed practice and risk management.
• Experience of leading staff and providing professional supervision.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, MAPPA, and public protection processes.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication, decision-making and leadership skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to working compassionately and relationally with colleagues and people on probation.
Desirable
• Experience within OPD, PIPE, IIRMS or psychologically informed services.
• Experience of reflective practice, consultation, or formulation-led approaches.
• Knowledge of personality disorder theory and psychologically informed environments.
• Experience of collaborative working with psychology and health professionals., A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Making Effective Decisions Working Together Developing Self and Others Leadership Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods, Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice. Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007.The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility: Diploma in Probation Studies, Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option) CQSW (with Probation Option) Specific qualification requirements You must have the mandatory Qualification for the role. Applicants who do have any of the following qualifications will be withdrawn : Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice. Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007.The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility: Diploma in Probation Studies, Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option) CQSW (with Probation Option), Written Exercise Level of security checks required DBS Standard

The MoJ offers a range of benefits: Annual Leave Annual 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 www.gmpf.org.uk 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. Eligibility 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 www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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 Transformative Business Services (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• 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 TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos. Diversity & Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. 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: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.