Community Payback Officer - Advertised on behalf of BeNCH CRC

Job Introduction

Are you looking for a career that makes a difference? Then a Community Payback Officer role could be the right career move for you. Community Payback Officers work with local communities to identify work placements for our service users. Work is undertaken by our service users by way of reparation for their wrongdoing and their labour really does make a difference. Examples of our work include working alongside a not for profit organisation to open a homelessness hostel, ground and garden clearance for a School for children with learning difficulties, as well as running our own allotment to grow fruit and vegetables for local food banks and soup kitchens.

As well as identifying new work opportunities, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of all operations, including planning the maintenance of vehicles and tools, ordering stock and scheduling groups to meet the demand for the service coming from Courts.

Experience in criminal justice is not essential but an interest in justice and a willingness to learn is, as well as a friendly and confident personality, coupled with good planning and organisational skills.    

If you’re still not sure about a career in Community Payback, why not contact us to arrange for an informal visit to find out more. Contact doug.de-st-aubin@probation.sodexogov.co.uk       

Role Responsibility

• Manage and develop all aspects of placement finding in line with the community payback operating model and CRC policy and unpaid work manual.
• Quality assure all placements in line with CRC policy and health and safety legislation.
• Where required, organise staffing resources on a day to day basis to deliver the service provision.
• Manage the upkeep and organisation of all physical resources for effective delivery and health and safety.
• Ensure key performance targets for community payback are met.
• Liaise with NPS updating on suitable provision for high risk cases.
• Offer advocate, advice and guidance on all aspects of community payback including promotion of services.
• Attend and participate in local area and regional meetings including partnership meetings as directed to develop community payback and secure work opportunities.
• Manage and develop all aspects of placement finding in line with the community payback operating model and CRC policy and unpaid work manual.
• Quality assure all placements in line with CRC policy and health and safety legislation.
• Where required organise staffing resources on a day to day basis to deliver the service provision.
• Manage the upkeep and organisation of all physical resources for effective delivery and health and safety.
• Ensure key performance targets for community payback are met.
• Liaise with NPS updating on suitable provision for high risk cases.
• Offer advocate, advice and guidance on all aspects of community payback including promotion of services.
• Attend and participate in local area and regional meetings including partnership meetings as directed to develop community payback and secure work opportunities.

*full job description attached

The Ideal Candidate

A current, clean driving license and will be expected to undertake a competency assessment to drive a minibus.

• Strong organisational skills
• A strong team ethic
• Ability to demonstrate and instruct others
• Ability to be a positive role model
• Excellent communication skills with a range of audiences including use of IT systems
• Committing to improve the service delivery, efficiency  and overall performance of Community Payback
• Knowledge and implementation of  Health and Safety of service delivery
• Encourages others to progress and develop
• Displays resilience and does not take set back personally
• Anticipates and adapts to new circumstances , constantly looking to create value and growth
• Openly encourages new thinking and perspectives
• Excellent IT, communication and presentation skills

Package Description

Starting salary £23,268 per annum, subject to annual pay award negotiations, this will increase to £27,784 as you become more experienced

37 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Defined contribution pension scheme, company sick pay, 27 days (increasing to 33 days) annual leave + Bank Hols and staff discount scheme incl. money off shopping and cinema tickets.

Reimbursed travel will be required from time to time, usually no more than an hour. Lone working may also be required occasionally but supported by our lone working arrangements and Health & Safety Policies.

About the Company

The role of BeNCH CRC is to rehabilitate service users, reduce reoffending and protect the public and we are one of six CRCs operated by Sodexo Justice Services in the UK.  We work with service users both in the community and in custody to deliver the sentence of the court, to rehabilitate them and to provide a range of programmes and interventions to turn their lives around.  We deliver effective offender management and rehabilitation services to low and medium risk service users and our highly skilled staff work in a range of disciplines to make a real difference.  Our aim is to create a better future for the people we work  with - service users, victims and their families and local communities.  We are proud to have strong relationships with other criminal justice agencies, local authorities, health trusts, employment and training providers, and work with contracted partners to enhance delivery to our service users. 

We serve the counties of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire from: Hemel, Stevenage, Cheshunt, Kettering, Northampton, Wellingborough, Luton, Bedford, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and Wisbech.  BeNCH CRC is an Equal Opportunities employer. All applicants are considered on the basis of suitability for the post, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion.