Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many vacancies for roles in the probation delivery units within the probation service there are in the areas covering Greater London as of 29 November 2023.

As of September 2023, there were 150 FTE vacancies across Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) in the London Probation Service region. This is a net figure across Probation Service grades with surpluses in some grades and PDUs and deficits for others. This figure excludes surpluses and deficits in non-Probation Delivery Unit business units within the London Probation Service region.

Recruitment and retention remain a priority across the Probation Service. We have accelerated recruitment of trainee Probation Officers (PQiPs) to increase staffing levels, particularly in Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) with the most significant staffing challenges. As a result, over 4,000 PQiPs joined the service between 2020/21 and 2022/23 which we anticipate will start to directly impact reduction of caseloads. We continue to run centralised recruitment campaigns in priority regions to help bolster the number of applications and improve time to hire for key operational roles.

The Probation Service is in its second year of a multi-year pay deal for staff. Salary values of all pay bands will increase each year, targeted at key operational grades to improve a challenging recruitment and retention position.

Notes

1. Vacancies have been calculated as the difference between Target Staffing and Staff in Post (FTE - Full Time Equivalent).

2. Staff in Post data has been taken from an internal data source, completed by regions each month. This is subject to error as a result of the manual nature with which returns are completed.

3. Staff in Post data have been taken from internal management information and as such, may not align exactly with published quarterly statistics.

4. Data shows the net number of vacancies, with surpluses in some grades taken into account alongside vacancies for other grades.

5. Data shows the average number of vacancies across the month, adjusted for joiners and leavers within the month.

6. September 2023 is the most recent time point for which we have vacancy level information available.

7. Greater London has been interpreted as meaning the London Probation Service region. No Probation Delivery Units have been included from other Probation Service Regions.

8. Data presented does not factor in surpluses or deficits for those working in non-Probation Delivery Unit business units in London.

9. In calculating vacancies, Trainee Probation Officers have been included as full FTEs (Full Time Equivalents).

10. Data does not take into account long-term absences / loans / temporary cover / agency staff or sessional staff.