How to apply

Check if you’re eligible

Pre-employment screening is a series of checks we carry out to ensure we comply with current legislation and to help us make informed employment decisions.

If your application is successful, you will need to undergo HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Enhanced Level 2 vetting (opens in a new tab).

You must declare any convictions, cautions and absolute or conditional discharges (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab) regardless of how long ago they occurred. All our roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, which means we check all spent and unspent convictions during the vetting process.

This should not deter you from applying, as we consider everyone on their individual merits before making an employment decision. Having a conviction does not necessarily mean you cannot work for the Probation Service. However, failure to disclose information will halt your application as we expect a high level of integrity from our employees.

The Probation Service encourages applications from people with lived experience, as we believe they can make a positive difference to the outcomes of the people on probation we work with.

The application process

1. Complete a short online application form
2. Your application will be reviewed and sifted shortly after applications close
3. If you pass the sift, you’ll be invited to an interview and sent some top tips to help you prepare

If you cannot see a suitable vacancy, you can register your interest (opens in a new tab) and we’ll notify you when new vacancies open.

Tips for applying

Applying for any job can be difficult. We’ve put together some tips to help you:

• do your research – find out about the Probation Service and familiarise yourself with our work
• watch our webinar recording (opens in a new tab) to find out a bit more about the role
• read the job profile and pay particular attention to the job purpose and the skills needed – show how your abilities match what we’re looking for
• tailor your answers to meet the specific requirements outlined in the job description, rather than copying and pasting from another application
• think about how you can demonstrate, from your past experiences, that you have the qualities needed to become a case administrator – such as collaborating with others or meeting difficult deadlines
• after you list your formal qualifications and experience, you can provide details of any other relevant training or experience you have had – make sure to explain why these will help you in your role as a case administrator
• check and check again – use a spell checker, get a friend to read your application and give yourself time to proofread and edit your application
• plagiarised applications will not be progressed

Learn more about the Success Profiles recruitment framework (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab) we use as part of the application process.