Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

The Work

Probation and Welfare Officers assist the Court in reaching its decision by supplying pre-sanction reports on persons who have committed offences. The reports outline the health, social, educational and vocational circumstances of the offender as well as the attitude of the offender to his/her crime.  
 
If an offender is placed on probation or under supervision, the Officer's duty is to assist, guide and befriend the offender in an attempt to lead him/her into a useful law-abiding life; to see that the conditions required by the Court are observed; to help with personal problems and to report progress.  
 
The Courts have power to order a person aged sixteen years or over, convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment, to perform unpaid work or service to the community. Probation and Welfare Officers are required to prepare reports satisfying the Court that the offender is a suitable person to perform work under a Community Service Order and advising the Court that arrangements can be made for him/her to perform such work.  
 
Voluntary organisations and statutory bodies are contacted by Probation and Welfare Service staff with a view to securing suitable placements for offenders; the Probation and Welfare Officer has the responsibility and duty of supervising the offender and ensuring that the order of the Court is carried out.  
 
Probation and Welfare Officers in prisons and other places of custody are concerned with helping people who are committed to custody to cope with their imprisonment. They help offenders to evaluate the significance of their sentence with reference to their own personal lives, to their families, to their communities and to their victims. They make themselves available in a counselling role to offenders and their families. Personal and social circumstances are assessed and programmes are devised to meet the offenders' needs in conjunction with other disciplines working in the custodial system.  
 
The Probation and Welfare Officer offers counselling on a wide range of problems and liaises with other disciplines both within the prison system and in the community in order to help an offender resolve personal difficulties. In some selected cases, the Service is available to offenders who serve out the remaining part of their sentence under the supervision of a Probation and Welfare Officer in the community. This enable

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
• Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
• Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
• Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
• Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
• Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seisure.
• Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
• Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
• Develop liaisons and networks with other parole officers, community agencies, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, and aftercare agencies to plan for helping offenders with life adjustments.
• Administer drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens of offenders, to verify compliance with substance abuse treatment programs.

Further Information

• Probation Officer - from: GradIreland
• Probation Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Probation Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Entry to the grade is by open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service and Commission for Public Service Appointments. The competition consists of an interview. Due notice of each competition is given in the national media. 

A relevant degree or postgraduate training is usually expected. Degrees in psychology, sociology, social policy, and administration, law, and youth and community studies provide relevant background knowledge. Courses are available throughout Ireland.  

Training & Development 

FET PLC Courses: Psychology, Sociology, Social Studies, Social policy and Administration, Law, Youth and Community studies at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Psychology, Sociology, Social policy and Administration, Law, Youth and Community studies NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development  

Postgraduate Study Options Social Work, Social Policy Social Work & Social Justice - Research, Social Science - Social Work, Social Work & Social Policy - Research, Social Work - Advanced Fieldwork Practice & Supervision, Social Work - Research, Social Work Studies, Social Work, Welfare and Justice, Social Care & Social Justice NFQ level 9

IASW Irish Assoc of Social Workers

The Irish Probation Service 

CORU

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €37k - €87k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Justice/ Payscale/ Indeed/ PAS

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth for this occupation was slightly below average, with employment declining slightly between 2021 and 2022. The share of non-Irish citizens at 29% is higher than the national average. A small number of new employment permits were issued in 2022 for social workers. Approximately 1,300 awards were made in 2021 at level 8 or higher in the broad social work field.

A report in 2022 by the Irish Association of Social Workers identified retention of social workers to be a key issue, particularly in areas of child protection and adult safeguarding. Despite issues with recruitment and retention of suitably qualified social workers remaining, the data does not currently point to a shortage.

• Prison Officers' Association

  • 18 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
  • (01) 662 5495
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Probation and Welfare Service

  • Haymarket, Smithfield, Dublin 7
  • (01) 817 3600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Association of Social Workers

  • 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 677 4838
  • Click Here

• Department of Justice and Equality

  • 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  • (01) 602 8202
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Prison Service

  • IDA Business Park, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co. Longford
  • (043) 33 35100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here