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 InterestWe offer an environment where all staff are welcome and are supported to achieve their potential. We aim for a workforce that is as diverse as the services we inspect, and that understands the challenging world of probation and youth justice.
Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell
What 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 offending 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 NPS 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
Thematic and Serious Further Offences (SFO) Project Support Officer
Overview
The Project Support Officer is responsible for supporting the quality assurance of Serious Further Offence (SFO) reviews undertaken by HM Inspectors; and supporting the project planning and delivery of the Inspectorate’s thematic programme.
The post is split between the SFO work (50%) and Thematic programme work (50%).
The post holder will be required to work with minimal supervision across two busy streams of work, with the ability to deal with competing priorities. The role requires regular communication with a range of staff and senior stakeholders and the post holder will be expected to troubleshoot and provide solutions to queries as they arise.
We offer flexible working arrangements for all staff with the ability to work from home. However occasional attendance at our offices will be required. In addition, travel may be required to support quality assurance and thematic inspection meetings and events, as well as staff conferences.
For further information, and to apply please visit the Ministry of Justice careers page.
Short-term placement with HM Inspectorate of Probation: thematic inspection of young adults in probation
HM Inspectorate of Probation promote excellence in probation and youth offending services across England and Wales.
We do this through independent inspections, research and effective practice guidance.
We carry out many thematic inspections examining different aspects of work with adults and children and young people. We work closely with colleagues form other criminal justice inspectorates and the inspectorates covering education, health and social care.
We are seeking two short-term placement inspectors with detailed knowledge of our inspection topic to be seconded into our inspection team for a period of up to seven weeks over a three-month timeframe to help plan, carry out and write up inspection findings.
We are seeking someone who can work as part of a team with proven experience in the following topic:
- Young adults in probation (18-20 years): placement to start January 2024 exact date to be confirmed with candidates (fieldwork between January and March 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 will require some travel within England and Wales and overnight stays away from home.
For further details of the post, including the application and selection procedure, please read the information sheet.
We particularly welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds.
For further information please contact Maria Jerram, Lead Inspector maria.jerram@hmiprobation.gov.uk (07889) 413422.
Closing date: 23:59 22 September 2023
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.
