Professional Qualifying Awards

It is a goal of the NPS to ensure that ultimately all staff working with offenders and victims will be professionally qualified. Presently Probation Officers must hold the Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS) Award or an equivalent qualification. 

The DipPS Award has been constructed to demonstrate a combination of academic and practice competence. The academic component entails an Honours Degree and practice proficiency is demonstrated by achievement of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 4 in Community Justice.

Probation Service Officers (PSOs) who often work in Hostels, Court Settings, Community Payback schemes, or delivering group programmes for offenders are offered a combination of in-service training and lower level accredited awards such as the NVQ level 3 in Community Justice. In the South West Region some Areas offer PSOs the opportunity to work towards academic credits through the Practice Development Portfolio which is an award developed by Portsmouth University. On successful completion of this award it may be possible (while still working full-time) to enrol with the University to work towards a full Certificate in Higher Education. 

Plans for the Future

Presently a National review is taking place with a view to creating a New Practitioner Qualifying Framework. The Review is well under way and has recently been subject to a consultation process. In the light of this review no recruitment for the DipPS has taken place or is planned to take place this year. It is nevertheless understood that the new framework will contain many of the elements of the DipPS Award, including a very similar curriculum content.

Once the new Qualifying Framework is known it will be detailed on this site as will the arrangements for future recruitment into the Service. This may well involve National campaigns leading to the employment of Cohorts of new staff. Until that time individuals interested in commencing a career in the Probation Service are advised to scan local job advertisements for PSO posts within local Probation Areas. It should also be noted that, in selecting new staff, the NPS has always been mindful of the value of transferable skills. Persons interested in applying for these posts should thus take note that opportunities for engaging with disadvantaged or socially excluded individuals, either through paid work or as a volunteer, could be of particular relevance and value. Recently a Website containing some useful information about the variety of volunteering opportunities available in the Criminal Justice system has been brought to our attention. The "What can I do?" Website may provide those interested in a career with the NPS with an insight into what options exist, although not all of these may be available throughout the South West Region.

Geunor Taverner
Qualifications  Manager

 

Helen Spurrell
Qualifications & NVQ Administrator

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