A new role within the Probation Service
In late 2023, the Probation Service introduced probation assistants, a brand-new grade to the Service designed to bolster the work it does in building safer communities by supporting probation officers. It is an important and innovative role with huge potential to expand and diversify the talent pool working in the Probation Service and increase our effectiveness as a national service, explains Mark Wilson, Director of the Probation Service.
The Probation Service, like all organisations across the civil service, has encountered numerous challenges, particularly in recruiting staff and maintaining our commitment to delivering essential services. However, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity: How can a century-old organisation innovate and adapt to the needs of the 21st century?
One vital way we are addressing this is through the introduction of probation assistants. This new role, operational since late 2023, is instrumental in opening our organisation to a diversity of talent and experience while complementing the work of probation officers. While the Probation Service remains rooted in social work, we recognise the importance of embracing diversity and adapting our roles to support the work we do in offender rehabilitation and desistance.
The probation assistant role is neither new nor unique as it has been firmly established in several jurisdictions across Europe. In fact, rolling it out had been examined previously in Ireland, but in the last few years the Probation Service approached the idea with a new sense of urgency, openness and commitment.
The new probation assistants, already recruited since late 2023 along with additional recruits in 2024, bring fresh ideas and energy to the Service. By the end of 2024 we expect to have 30 probation assistants working across the Service. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, both within and outside the Service, they assist us in our mission to work with our partners across the criminal justice system and in the community to foster safer communities and adapt to the changing landscape.
Appetite for change
The appetite for the new role within the Probation Service was matched by the appetite from candidates; we received 600 applications from the first round of recruiting and those applicants displayed a rich array of skills, talents, and experience.
While the role is still very much new and in the beta phase, already probation assistants are working alongside probation officers on community service teams, young people’s probations teams, and in court. As the numbers of new recruits expands and more probation assistants join the Service they will become integral members in Probation Service teams across the country.
Probation assistants complement and add to the work we do by engaging with Probation Service clients providing initial reporting instructions, overseeing community service assessment, and supporting people who have offended. Probation assistants also assist with court attendance and handle administrative tasks. What is not changed is a commitment to upholding standards of professionalism while contributing to safer communities and supporting the rehabilitation of individuals within the criminal justice system by addressing offending behaviour and its causes.
A role full of potential
In its totality, probation assistants are an integral part of what our community teams do within courts, delivering community service, managing lower risk cases, working in prisons, assisting with care and resettlement. On a daily basis, their complementary work goes to the heart of what we do, building safer communities across Ireland.
But it is important also that we recognise that with this new role there will be challenges and with that the opportunity to adapt and grow. We will accomplish this through feedback from our new probation assistants, as well as probation officers, and with all our stakeholders.
Together, we will continue to explore how the role of the probation assistant could be a pathway to further career progression. Likewise, we’ll explore how the role could eventually be adapted to include people with lived experience and how they could enrich and enhance the work we do through their insights and experience. By fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds, we can transform the probation assistant position into a dynamic platform for professional growth and societal impact.
Similarly, the new role shows our commitment to evolve and innovate as we continue to be an employer of choice, to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving labour market, and above all to realise our vision for “safer and more inclusive communities where offending and its causes are addressed”.
Originally from Poland, Agnieszka (Aga) Bates moved to Ireland in 2006. She completed a degree in banking before joining the Probation Service as a clerical officer in 2018, and later moving to the International Protection Office in 2023. When recruitment for the new grade of probation assistant opened in 2023, Aga applied as she was excited about the opportunity to return to the Service and work in a more hands-on role.
Describe a typical day like in your role as a Probation Assistant?
No two days are the same. For example, in the office, I usually have supervision appointments and a range of administration duties. Outside the office, I work closely with our Community Based Organisations, linking in with our female clients and developing supports for them; other days I might have court duties. A significant part of my day involves linking in with homeless services, keeping in regular contact with our clients. I also help my senior probation officer (SPO) with administrative duties, so it is very much a complementary role and one full of potential, room for growth and delivering positive outcomes for our clients.
For more information:
T: (0)1 817 3600
E: psinfo@probation.ie.
W: www.probation.ie
W: www.linkedin.com/company/the-probation-service/
