To become a probation officer you will need to complete the trainee probation officer programme, also known as the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP).
PQiP blends theory and practice, in the classroom and in a work setting, to give you the best possible preparation for life as a probation officer.
When you start your training, you’ll be a probation services officer, learning on the job and studying to gain your fully funded PQiP.
After successfully completing the programme, you’ll be able to become a fully qualified probation officer and work with a higher caseload of people on probation, along with opportunities to work in different settings, keep learning and developing through structured career paths. You will be recognised as a registered probation officer and added to the Probation Professional Register recognising the competence and commitment of probation qualified staff to high standards of professionalism and demonstrating your ability to assess and manage the risk of people on probation with the right qualifications, knowledge & skills to do so .
What to expect
About the PQiP training:
- 15, 21 or 27 months to complete (depending on your current qualifications)
- full time (limited part-time places may be available)
- Professional Qualification in Probation upon completion (level 6 qualification)
- get paid while you train
- work in a probation unit with time out for workshops and seminars
- e-learning
- assessed through exams, observations, professional discussions, witness testimonies and general competence
- support from an academic tutor plus your line manager and assessor
- as well as being given time to study at work, you’ll also be expected to do further study in your own time
This is a full-time course (37 hours per week) although there may be some part-time learning placements available in some regions for those on a 15/21 month programme. For the part-time option there’s a minimum hours requirement that learners will need to commit to weekly – a minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) (22.2 hours) and a maximum of 0.8 FTE (29.6 hours). There may also be a requirement to work specific days. The PQiP course will take up to 30 months if you do it on a part-time basis.
What you’ll learn on the trainee probation officer programme
When you complete the programme, you’ll gain a level 6 Professional Qualification in Probation. This is a combination of a level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice and a Diploma of Community Justice.
During your training you’ll learn about:
- the ethics, values and practices expected of probation officers
- critical analysis skills needed for interpreting complex information and making accurate and justifiable decisions and risk assessments
- how to prepare and present reports to justify your decisions and make recommendations in court and oral hearings
- creating offender-specific sentence plans that protect the public and encourage rehabilitation
- using social and criminal psychological knowledge and emotional intelligence to create an appropriate environment where people on probation can change
- how to identify evidence-based interventions based on each offender’s needs
Where you’ll work
While you are training for your PQiP you’ll also be working in either a Probation Delivery Unit (PDU), a prison, or a court team.
In all of these settings you’ll be working with people who have offended, and this includes violent and sexual offences.
Often the people you come into contact with will have complex needs and may be struggling with their mental health or substance misuse, which can lead to challenging behaviour. You’ll be supported throughout your training to develop the resilience and practical tools to challenge these behaviours in a constructive way.
Before qualifying, you’ll be contacted to discuss your probation officer role offer. It’s important to note that the location of your job offer may not be where you have completed your training (due to business need).
Watch our webinar
To support applicants for the PQiP 18 intake, we hosted a live webinar on 28 January. This webinar provided valuable information about the roles, featured insights from newly qualified probation officers, and offered practical tips for completing your application.
You can watch the PQiP 18 Webinar recording to find out more about the trainee probation officer programme.