Recruits needed to fill gaps in probation service

Surrey is a priority area for the recruitment and training of new officers

A recruitment drive has taken place to attract more people to the probation service.

On Wednesday a BBC investigation revealed a shortfall of 10,000 staff needed to manage offenders.

Surrey is a priority area for the recruitment and training of new officers, who supervise offenders after they are released from prison, check they follow the terms of their release and protect the public by assessing the risk of reoffending.

Lisa Kay, a senior officer with Surrey Probation Service, has described it as a career in which "every day is mentally stimulating".

She told BBC Radio Surrey she joined the service in 2000, when she was in her late 30s, because she had "a strong sense of right and wrong, and loves helping people".

"I really wanted to do something that was worthwhile and meaningful," she said.

"In 25 years I've not had one single day that's the same as any other day.

"I could be attending a professionals meeting in the morning, writing a report in the afternoon or arranging a prison visit. You can be working in a court, you can be working in a prison.

"You might have all the day planned and suddenly get a call from a service user who's in crisis.

"It's like working with all the pieces of a puzzle, trying to put it together and work out a plan of support."

Lisa Kay has been a probation officer in Surrey for 25 years

She said the most rewarding part of the role was being able to help people.

"Success for one person could just be that you managed to get them to their appointment at the right time. Success for another person is that they've found a job.

"It's really rewarding to see them through their journey."

'Crucial time'

The starting salary for a probation officer is £26,475, and new recruits are paid while they study for their Professional Qualification in Probation, which takes between 15 or 27 months depending on what other qualifications they hold.

David Moffitt, head of operations for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Probation Service, said: "We're looking for people with resilience, emotional intelligence and good organisational skills to join our team in Surrey.

"The Probation Service offers a challenging but incredibly rewarding career where you can make a genuine difference to public safety."