Career spotlight
Probation officers
Average National Salaries (2020)
Age 20
£12,480
Age 35
£31,200
Age 50
£37,960
Average salary in the East Midlands: £20,280
What does this career do?
Probation officers work to rehabilitate offenders. They supervise, counsel and help them before trial, during any prison or community sentence and on release from prison.
Typical tasks
- produces pre-sentence reports to the court about an individual’s crime, their personal circumstances, the suitability of sentencing, the likelihood of re-offending and the future risk to the public
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enforces court orders and serves the public by providing a wide range of supervision programmes for those in receipt of a community sentence
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draws up probation plans with offenders and helps them follow it, advises them on any work and helps them with any family or social problems
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works with prisoners in giving advice on problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, addressing training needs, finding work and getting accommodation
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keeps accurate and comprehensive records.
Current entry requirements
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications or with relevant experience. In England and Wales all candidates must complete a two-year Diploma in Probation studies. There is a minimum age limit of 20 years to undertake training. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, entry requirements are the same as for social workers. Background checks including a CRB check are required.
Percentage in work
Due to insufficient sample sizes, some data was excised.
Predicted employment status in 2022
Predicted employment levels in the East Midlands
Career related courses available at West Notts
About the statistics
Data is powered by LMI for All and is sourced from labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Institute for Employment Research, the Department for Works and Pensions, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.