If you’d like to explore a career within the criminal justice or social services field and you are willing to make a positive impact in people’s lives then becoming a probation officer could be the perfect and exciting career for you to pursue as it provides unique blend of law, psychology and social work. This profession is often portrayed in films and TV shows but what does it entail?
At its core a probation officer supervises and supports individuals who have been convicted of crimes but are serving their sentence outside of prison, they would ensure that these individuals follow the conditions set by the court whilst working with them to reduce the chances of reoffending.
Some of the key skills and traits to excel in this type of role are
- Empathy & Patience
- Problem Solving
- Time management
- Conflict resolution skills
- Strong communication skills
- Critical thinking – Each case will present unique challenges and probation officers need strong critical thinking skills to assess situations, evaluate risks, and make decisions that ensure public safety , whilst also promoting rehabilitation
Probation officers experience dynamic and often unpredictable workdays, as all the individuals they deal with are unique and require a tailored approach. This is a role where no two days are the same; one day they could be conducting and balancing administrative task, and then the next day they could be going on field visits and individual meetings to ensure effective supervision and rehabilitation.
How can you prepare for a career as a probation officer?
Each employer will have slightly different expectations, however, all probation officer roles require a reasonable amount of proficiency in completing administrative work.
One essential skill for this role is conflict resolution, this helps to de-escalate conflict, therefore maintaining safety a d promoting positive outcomes. To get hands-on experience with these types of skills, you could undergo a workplace placement.