Probation officer training

Overview

As a probation officer you'll work directly with offenders in the community and in prisons to support them to make positive changes. Through your training you will gain the insight and skills to  support offenders on their rehabilitation journeys by challenging behaviour, helping them to make better life choices.

Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) / BA (Hons) Community Justice

The trainee probation officer programme supports you in becoming a qualified probation officer through achieving the BA (Hons) Community Justice, which, combined with the vocational qualification, is the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP). Our training is delivered by subject specialists and many of our academic staff have worked as probation officers in the past.

We hold contracts with the Ministry of Justice to train probation officers in England and Wales, and are contracted to deliver all aspects of the Community Justice Learning framework in the following Probation Regions:

• London Probation Region
• East Midlands Probation Region
• West Midlands Probation Region
• South West Probation Region
• South Central Probation Region
• Wales National Probation Region

The trainee probation officer programme (PQiP) is the only route to becoming a probation officer. Combining vocational training with higher education study the length of PQiP programme will be dependent on your previous education attainment. 

You’ll develop practical and academic learning skills to work as a probation services officer (PSO) while you study and become a probation officer when you qualify.

As a PSO, you'll complete various tasks including compiling in-depth reports for court, undertaking risk assessments and supervising offenders on a one-to-one basis. You will also have a range of placements such as working in court and prison.

The trainee probation officer programme is a full-time, 15-month, 21-month or 27-month work-based training course (length dependent on previous education experience). Part-time options are also available for the 15 and 21-month programmes. The academic study will be completed via distance learning and includes online seminars, engagement with online learning materials and regular contact with your personal tutor

Eligibility

You’ll need to have empathy and resilience to help people to make positive changes. 

You will also need to evidence your ability to connect with people in difficult situations. Whilst you do not need to have to have previously worked with people with convictions, you do need to demonstrate transferable skills.

Assignment to the 21-month or 15-month programme will be dependant on your ability to evidence studying the required knowledge modules. 

Required Knowledge Modules

To qualify for the 15-month pathway you will be a degree holder and have evidence of having obtained 3 of the following 4 required Knowledge Modules at level 5 or above:

• The Criminal Justice System 
• Understanding Crime and Criminal Behaviour 
• Penal Policy and Punishment
• Rehabilitation

These Knowledge Modules are available within the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Undergraduate Programmes.

If you are unable to evidence 3 or more of the required Knowledge Modules then you will be assigned to the 21-month PQiP programme.

Supporting you

As a distance learner on a professional programme there is more focus on independent study, but you'll get lots of support via video and phone from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

How to apply

Application is through HMPPS only. For further information about the programme and details on how to apply please refer to the information here.