Community Payback Supervisor

Role overview

This post is based at NPS Cedric Fullwood House, Crewe (CW1 6YY) and is an operational community payback supervision role within the Probation Service. The role involves leading and supporting groups of people on probation while they complete unpaid work placements that benefit local communities.

The work is active, varied and people-focused. You may be supervising manual tasks such as clearing overgrowth, improving public spaces, restoring community facilities, planting trees, laying flowerbeds, litter picking and removing graffiti. In some cases, the job may also involve driving service vehicles to move people or equipment.

Working pattern and hours

The working pattern must include at least one weekend day. Community payback projects operate seven days a week, so regular weekend working is expected and you may also be asked to cover some evenings. A normal day can involve up to 7 hours supervising a group at an unpaid work placement. Rest breaks may not always follow a standard pattern because of the pace of the work, but wellbeing support is provided.

This role is designed to fit around people on probation who are in work or have caring responsibilities. Weekend work attracts an additional 50% rate for the days worked at weekends.

Pay and progression

If appointed, the starting salary is £28,064. New starters are placed at the minimum of the pay band. The Probation Service operates annual progression through a Competency Based Framework, subject to eligibility, which can move pay upwards as competence develops. Pay bands may also increase each year in line with Civil Service Pay guidance.

Probation Employment Pathway eligibility

This vacancy is part of the Probation Employment Pathway (PEP), a scheme aimed at helping people with criminal convictions and related barriers to work. It is an exception to fair and open competition and is available only to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

To qualify, within the last 10 years you must have had one of the following:

• A custodial conviction followed by release from prison
• A conviction that led to a community sentence
• A conditional discharge
• An out-of-court disposal

Applicants who satisfy the assessment process can be offered an appointment of up to 2 years on a fixed-term basis under an accredited Exception 2 route in line with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Licences and right to work

A full UK manual driving licence is mandatory for this post. Applications from people who only hold an automatic licence cannot be accepted.

You must have the legal right to work in the UK and in the Civil Service. This role is not eligible for a new Skilled Worker visa. If you have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025, that will be reviewed during pre-employment checks under the applicable immigration rules and transitional arrangements.

About the role

Community Payback Supervisors work closely with a wide range of people, so confidence, empathy, clear communication and the ability to lead are essential. The aim is to support people on probation to complete their unpaid work responsibly while helping communities become safer and better maintained.

You will lead small teams, motivate service users, demonstrate good practice where needed and ensure work is completed to a high standard. The role is suited to someone who enjoys an active environment, varied tasks and making a practical difference every day.

Recruitment process

To apply, you will complete a short application form and provide answers to two Civil Service behaviour questions and one experience-based question. Applications will be reviewed after the closing date. Depending on application volume, assessment may focus on the lead behaviour, and progression to later stages is not guaranteed.

Selection behaviours

You will be assessed on the following behaviours during recruitment: communicating and influencing, managing a quality service, working together, and leadership.

Benefits

The role comes with access to learning and development, flexible working options that support work-life balance, an inclusive working culture, a Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, annual leave, public holidays and season ticket advance.

Additional information

The work is described as meaningful, challenging and secure, with opportunities for progression and a chance to make a real difference in communities. A day-in-the-life video and further recruitment guidance are referenced in the source material, but no external links are included here.

The source also notes that artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but any final application must be the applicant’s own work.