Jobseekers in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to consider careers in the probation service, as new polling shows a growing appetite for work that delivers a positive impact on society.
Recent polling reveals that more than one in three adults (39 per cent) are considering a job change in the next 12 months, with 78 per cent of those career changers saying they want roles that make a positive difference to others.
Against this backdrop, justice roles are being promoted as offering both purpose and long-term career opportunities, with probation salaries starting at £25,000.
Among those championing the sector is Sean Logan, 56, from Oxford, whose unconventional career path eventually led him to community payback work in Oxfordshire. Sean now works as a Community Payback Supervisor, overseeing unpaid work projects that help improve local spaces while supporting people on probation to turn their lives around.
Before joining the probation service nearly a decade ago, Sean built a varied career that included bricklaying, roofing and prison work. His most unusual chapter came while travelling across Africa by motorbike, where he decided to settle in Gambia and became a college lecturer advising doctors and nurses.
“I love working in Community Payback. It’s the right balance for me. I enjoy the physical nature of the job and having real contact time with the people I’m working with. You’re not sitting in an office – I’d rather be digging a ditch alongside someone and getting the graft in as well,” he said.
Sean believes the hands-on nature of the work encourages meaningful conversations and personal reflection.
“In Community Payback, you get the chance to really talk – properly talk. You learn more about the people you’re working with, but you also learn a lot about yourself.”
His work has included a range of projects across Oxfordshire, including schemes delivered in partnership with organisations such as the Canal and River Trust.
“The people on probation feel a real sense of achievement – they’ve done a hard day’s graft and can actually see the difference they’ve made to somewhere people use every day,” he added.
Sean says community payback roles suit people from all backgrounds who are seeking a purposeful career change. “You have to be kind, calm and curious. I always say hire the character and teach the skills later.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has also urged jobseekers to consider justice roles, as new TV adverts launch nationally to promote careers in probation.
“People across the country are looking for more than just a pay packet – they want purpose. In our prisons and probation service, that purpose is clear: helping people rebuild their lives and making our communities safer,” he said.
“So if you’re searching for a new direction this year, I’d urge you to consider one of these extraordinary careers. You’ll be making a real difference where it matters most.”
The Probation Service is currently recruiting across Oxfordshire.
