Careers
Welcome to HM Inspectorate of Probation Careers.
Here you’ll find information about our current vacancies, a chance to meet our staff, and why we’re committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Our Expressions of Interest page provides information about the relevant roles and how to sign up to receive vacancy notifications for HM Inspectors and HM Assistant Inspectors.
Expressions of InterestWhat the job entails
A career at HM Inspectorate of Probation is varied and challenging. As an inspector or assistant inspector, you will be part of a team working to improve probation and youth offending services through professional and rigorous assessment.
You will help us to build up a picture of each service by conducting interviews and focus groups with senior leaders, staff and service users; analysing samples of cases and other sources of data; and writing/contributing to inspection reports. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to thematic inspections that address key national issues.
If you have relevant experience, coupled with empathy and curiosity, read on!
Mentoring scheme
We are pleased to launch our Mentoring Scheme for inspection staff vacancies. All applicants for Assistant Inspector and HM Inspector posts who are invited to attend our assessment centre will be contacted by one of our recruitment mentors. Our recruitment mentors are current members of our inspection staff team. They will offer one-to-one support and guidance to candidates throughout the assessment centre process and be on hand to answer questions – about the recruitment process or the job role itself. We are committed to recruiting the best people into our organisation and to enabling candidates to give their best throughout the recruitment process.
Meet our staff
Want to know what it’s like to transfer from probation and youth justice services to the Inspectorate? Or how you can juggle working as an inspector and having a family? Or learn more about our commitment to diversity? Click on the videos below to find out more.
- Avtar
- Simi
- Julie
- Paulette
Meet Avtar, one of our experienced HM Inspectors…
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to join the Inspectorate. It’s an organisation that is working so hard to improve probation service delivery…
Disclaimer: we use an external platform to host our videos. Recommendations for further viewing may appear at the end of the video and are beyond our control.
Meet Simi, our Head of Probation Inspection Programme…
I became involved in driving service delivery improvements at a local level when the opportunity arose for me to join HM Inspectorate of Probation.
Disclaimer: we use an external platform to host our videos. Recommendations for further viewing may appear at the end of the video and are beyond our control.
Meet Julie, retired HM Inspector, who discusses her career during her time at the Inspectorate…
I’ve had time since I retired to reflect on what working for them meant for me. It was hard work, it was fun there were lots of positive teamwork going on and I enjoyed the travel. And I can confidently say it’s one of the best jobs I ever had…
Disclaimer: we use an external platform to host our videos. Recommendations for further viewing may appear at the end of the video and are beyond our control.
Meet Paulette, one of our newest HM Assistant Inspectors…
This is the only job I’ve done so far in my career where I’ve been afforded the opportunity to really reflect on how to actually improve practice…
Disclaimer: we use an external platform to host our videos. Recommendations for further viewing may appear at the end of the video and are beyond our control.
Current jobs
Short-term placement with HM Inspectorate of Probation: Thematic inspection of the recruitment, retention and training of frontline probation practitioners
HM Inspectorate of Probation promote excellence in probation and youth justice services across England and Wales.
We do this through independent inspections, research and effective practice guidance.
We carry out thematic inspections examining different aspects of work with adults and children. Many are undertaken jointly with colleagues form other inspectorates.
We are seeking a short-term placement with detailed knowledge of our inspection topic to be seconded into our inspection team for up to seven weeks over a five-month timeframe to help plan, carry out and write up inspection findings. The work will mostly be undertaken in two-week blocks. When not inspecting the candidate will return to their place of work.
We are seeking someone who can work as part of a team with proven operational and strategic experience in the following topic:
- Recruitment, retention and training in probation: placement to start June 2024 with inspection fieldwork between August and October 2024
Short-term placements provide an excellent opportunity to learn about inspection, gain more knowledge about the inspection topic and contribute to improving practice. Guidance will be provided in inspection skills and procedures.
Applicants should be aware that the role may require travel within England and Wales and overnight stays away from home.
We particularly welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds.
For further information please contact Noreen Wallace, Lead Inspector noreen.wallace@hmiprobation.gov.uk (07967) 792256 or Helen Davies, Head of Thematic and Joint Inspection: helen.davies@hmiprobation.gov.uk (07919) 490 420
Closing date: 23:59 Tuesday 23 April 2024
Expressions of Interest
If you would like to subscribe to our mailing list and be notified about future recruitment campaigns for HM Inspector and HM Assistant Inspector positions, please visit our Expressions of Interest page.
