Do you want a career that is worthwhile and will make a real difference to people's lives as well as protecting our communities?

Do you want to be part of an organisation that is at the centre of one of the finest Criminal Justice Systems in the world?

There is a range of exciting careers in the world of Probation to suit individual abilities and strengths. Join us and you join a team of professionals

The most rewarding occupations are those that change other people's lives for the better. Working with offenders in the Probation Trust is one of those occupations.

If you are thinking of a job in the Probation Trust you will be joining an organisation that is well respected and where the training and investment in individual members of staff are recognised as key to its long-term success.

As a result of recent changes, you will also be joining a larger family and working within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).

As a part of NOMS, you will cross boundaries which were once barriers. You will be able to call upon or coordinate with other professionals, like the prison staff and health or education professionals. You will be able to share information and innovations, for instance with the police, that can improve the whole system's success and effectiveness in reducing re-offending.

Working with offenders is all about working with people as individuals. From the first-hand accounts of recently recruited staff contained in this brochure, you will read that not only is an individual's background there to be respected, but that - when talking about members of staff - diversity strengthens the organisation and its overall work.

A qualified Probation Officer has successfully gained the Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS), which is a recognised professional qualification. The two-year training for the qualification is managed across England and Wales through nine consortia of Probation areas working with higher education institutions and NVQ assessment centres.

The Diploma in Probation Studies is an integrated award made up of a BA (Hons) degree in Community Justice and a National Vocational Qualification in Community Justice (NVQ) at Level 4.

Entry requirements

There is no age restriction for applicants. As general guidance only, the educational qualifications required are below, but details of requirements should be checked with the individual consortium for the relevant district (Details of the individual consortia are on page 28).

Candidates under 21 years

2 passes at A level and 3 at GCSE or 3 at A level and 1 at GCSE.

Candidates over 21 but under 25 years

5 passes at GCSE.

Candidates over 25 years

no formal qualifications required but academic potential will be tested in a written exercise. To meet the requirements of its work the NPS seeks to recruit people with the following skills and attributes. Can you tick the following?

• . Ability to Relate to Others
• . Work as part of a Team
• . Working with People
• . Communication
• . Planning and Organising
• . Self-Management
• . Motivation and Commitment
• . Values
• . Openness to New Ideas
• . Problem-Solving

Further details are available on the web site at www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk and these remain accessible via this route.