Approved Premises Residential Worker

Role overview

This post is based at NPS 45-48 Lower Meadow Court, Northampton, NN3 8AX. The role sits within an Approved Premises team and involves providing 24-hour coverage, including security, monitoring, and resident support. The job holder works with people staying at the premises and helps maintain their safety, the safety of staff and visitors, and the security of the building throughout the shift.

The position includes supporting risk management and sentence plan goals, noticing and reporting any significant changes in risk or potential reoffending, and responding to non-compliance through the agreed enforcement process. The role also requires active participation in equality, diversity and inclusion, along with strict handling of confidential and sensitive information.

Working pattern

This position includes substantial out-of-hours work, such as waking night duties and weekend shifts. The post holder may also need to cover duties at other Approved Premises when staff are absent. The role requires confident spoken communication in English, or Welsh where relevant in Wales.

Responsibilities, activities and duties

• Work closely with the wider team, sharing information clearly and helping maintain consistent working practices and a positive team environment.
• Pass on important risk information during handovers and across the shift, and when needed, liaise with Offender Managers, the stand-by manager, police, health professionals, and drug and alcohol support services.
• Inspect the building, including cellars and grounds, record damage or defects, and monitor CCTV equipment throughout duty hours.
• Keep a visible presence in the AP, interact positively with residents, and help ensure they are following their risk management plans and remain well.
• Observe and manage high-risk residents, encourage compliance, and respond appropriately to abusive or aggressive behaviour.
• Support residents’ risk management plans by identifying and reporting significant changes in risk, reoffending concerns, or non-compliance through agreed enforcement routes.
• Help residents progress against sentence plan goals by taking part in purposeful activities agreed with the AP Manager and Offender Manager.
• Make sure the AP is secured during curfew hours and confirm that all residents are present and safe overnight.
• Act as the first emergency contact point outside normal hours.
• Provide accurate observations, assessments, and situation updates to the Offender Manager, and escalate matters to the Out of Hours Manager when necessary.
• Support a safe environment by following health and safety rules, safe systems of work, and risk assessments, and reporting incidents to management.
• Carry out health and safety checks, fire alarm checks, curfew checks, and room curfew checks according to procedure.
• Conduct room searches when required because of risk concerns.
• Pack residents’ belongings when instructed.
• Help organise and deliver purposeful activities linked to residents’ sentence plan objectives.
• Supervise meal times for residents.
• Carry out resident induction processes effectively.
• Follow medication procedures, including issuing medication and completing weekly and nightly checks of medication records.
• Carry out drug and alcohol testing in line with the risk management plan, including when there is a concern that a resident may be under the influence and at increased risk.
• Provide first aid if a resident is injured or self-harms.
• Maintain records and files, complete data entry as needed, and contribute to incident reporting.
• Carry out safeguarding children duties in line with statutory responsibilities and agency policy.
• Handle visitors and telephone calls, and monitor contractors in line with health and safety requirements.
• Model pro-social behaviour, reinforce positive conduct, and challenge anti-social attitudes and actions.
• Work in line with the aims and values of Probation Service and HM Prison and Probation Service.

Additional information

The stated duties are not exhaustive. The employer may reasonably adjust duties or add similar tasks as needed. Any significant change may be reviewed under the Job Evaluation Scheme and discussed with the post holder first.

Selection and assessment

The recruitment process uses Success Profiles and will assess behaviours, strengths, and experience. The behaviours listed for assessment are: developing self and others, working together, communicating and influencing, making effective decisions, and delivering at pace.

Security and checks

Successful candidates must complete a criminal record check. People working with government assets must also complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Eligibility

This role is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, and nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, plus family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Benefits

• Access to learning and development opportunities
• A workplace that supports flexible working options to improve work-life balance
• An inclusive culture that encourages diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Season ticket advance

Artificial intelligence notice

AI tools may be used to support applications, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from the applicant’s own experience. Applications may be withdrawn if plagiarism or misrepresentation is identified, and internal candidates may face disciplinary action.