20996 - Probation Officer - within the Intensive Supervision Courts Team

20996 - Probation Officer - within the Intensive Supervision Courts Team

The Intensive Supervision Court (ISC) is one of the North East's most innovative developments in supporting people within the criminal justice system. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognised model defined by its trauma informed ethos, strong partnership working, and commitment to empowering individuals to make meaningful and lasting change.

As a Probation Officer within ISC, you will play a leading role in shaping and developing our area's approach to intensive supervision. This integrated, relational, and psychologically informed framework places individuals' voices, safety, and lived experience at the forefront of decision making. The work goes far beyond traditional case management: it is dynamic, creative, and rooted in an understanding of the complex and interconnected pathways that lead people into offending, including trauma, inequality, and social disadvantage.

You will operate within a fast paced, collaborative, problem-solving court, working closely with the judiciary, community organisations, health professionals, domestic abuse specialists, housing providers, and voluntary sector partners. Your professional judgement will inform sentencing, guide personalised support plans, and help individuals build stability, resilience, and hope.

ISC provides a robust, community-based alternative to custody for people whose offending is driven by multiple, overlapping needs. Through a trauma informed approach, the court delivers intensive supervision, structured interventions, and coordinated support from a multiagency team. The focus is on addressing the underlying causes of offending such as trauma, domestic abuse, mental health issues, substance misuse, and social disadvantage, while promoting safety, wellbeing, and long-term positive change.

People subject to ISC orders engage in tailored, holistic plans combining supervision with practical assistance, therapeutic interventions, and access to specialist services. Regular review hearings ensure consistency, accountability, and sustained engagement in rehabilitation.

Key Responsibilities 1. Court Work and Case Management

• Provide expert advice and updates to the Court, ensuring clear communication of progress, risk, compliance, and recommended interventions.
• Prepare high quality pre-sentence reports (PSRs), drawing on specialist knowledge of trauma, pathways to offending, and desistance.
• Manage a caseload of individuals on Community Orders, Suspended Sentence Orders, and other Court requirements.
• Develop personalised sentence plans that reflect the individual's needs, risks, strengths, and goals.

2. Risk Assessment and Public Protection

• Complete risk assessments using OASys, Delius, and approved structured tools.
• Respond proactively to safeguarding concerns including child protection, domestic abuse, exploitation, and self-harm.
• Collaborate with police, social care, and specialist services to build robust risk management plans.
• Continuously review and adjust plans in line with new information, engagement, and behaviour.
• Build safe, trusting professional relationships using a relational and psychologically informed approach.
• Recognise and respond to the impacts of trauma, coercive control, mental health issues, substance misuse, homelessness, and other barriers affecting people's lives.
• Champion strengths-based practice and empower individuals to participate actively in their own supervision and change journey.

4. Partnership and Multiagency Collaboration

• Work closely with community organisations, health partners, treatment providers, housing services, and voluntary agencies.
• Participate in multidisciplinary reviews, case conferences, and joint decision-making forums.
• Foster effective communication and information sharing to support holistic, coordinated approaches.

Overview of the job

Post holders will undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation under supervision including assessment, sentence implementation and producing reports; utilising service procedures and practice directions to underpin professional judgement.

Summary

To assess and manage the risk posed by people on probation to protect victims of crime and the general the public by:

• Providing information and advice to criminal courts, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.
• Supervise people on probation subject to community orders and licences and during custodial sentences.
• Contribute to the management of risk.
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and people on probation.

In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they undertake.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.