23453 - Approved Premises Residential Worker (Annualised Hours Working Pattern)

The Ministry of Justice is recruiting for two Approved Premises Residential Workers to join the Probation Service in Milton Keynes. The roles sit onsite at an Approved Premises and aren’t suitable for remote or home working. The posts are permanent, with an annualised hours pattern that can be 625 or 1250 hours a year, roughly one or two 12-hour shifts each week. This is a chance to build a meaningful career supporting people as they transition back into the community, while earning a solid annual salary and joining a team that values rehabilitation and public safety.

These opportunities are external vacancies within the Public Protection South West unit. The work will be carried out at one main Approved Premises, with the possibility of supporting other sites if required. Availability includes evenings and nights, across a mix of standard and unsocial hours over a seven-day cycle, with premium rates for working unsocial hours. The team emphasises working closely with colleagues and partner agencies to supervise residents, monitor compliance with license conditions, and help residents stay safe and on track with their milestones.

If you’re drawn to roles that combine practical support with clear impact on public safety, and you’re comfortable with rotating shifts and a challenging but rewarding environment, this could be a fit. The postings highlight a pathway for a professional career in probation services, with opportunities to develop through training and a supportive network of colleagues.

A day in the life at the Milton Keynes Approved Premises

As a residential worker, you’ll help manage residents’ wellbeing and supervision as they work toward successful resettlement. The day-to-day involves inspections, monitoring behaviour, and engaging with residents to encourage compliance with their license conditions, while coordinating with colleagues and partner agencies to address concerns and potential risks. The role requires a proactive approach to safety and well-being, with a blend of duties that balance supervision with supportive conversations and practical assistance. While the base is one main site, there’s a readiness to cover additional premises when needed, and you’ll be part of a team that keeps a 24/7 horizon in view.

Regular unsocial hours are a feature of the job, and shifts are designed to reflect that pattern. Residential Workers receive premium rates for the evening, night, weekend, and public holiday periods, with time off in lieu applicable for actual hours worked. The aim is to ensure residents receive consistent supervision and guidance at all times, across a schedule that includes both day and night coverage.

What you’ll bring to the role

The role doesn’t require a degree, but the right attributes and background help you hit the ground running. You should be comfortable working with people who may face social or personal difficulties, and you’ll need to bring empathy, patience and resilience to every shift. You’ll also need solid numeracy and literacy skills because reporting and record-keeping are part of the day, and you’ll be expected to contribute to written documentation that supports residents’ plans and license compliance.

• You must have the right to work in the United Kingdom and comply with Civil Service nationality rules.
• A degree is not required for this role.
• Empathy, patience and resilience are essential when supporting residents and handling challenging situations.
• You should have reliable numeracy and literacy skills suitable for writing reports and keeping clear records.

Nice to have: experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties would support your application, though it’s not an absolute requirement.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The salary for these posts is £28,064 to £33,549 per year. The role operates on an annualised hours pattern, with the option to work either 625 or 1250 hours per year, equating to roughly one or two 12-hour shifts each week. The position is based in Milton Keynes and is strictly on-site; hybrid or home working isn’t part of this arrangement. The work includes a main site with potential coverage across additional sites as needed, and shifts span standard and unsocial hours over a 24/7 cycle. Premium pay applies for unsocial hours: 30% extra for standard evening to overnight hours (7pm to 8am, Monday to Friday), 50% extra for weekend shifts (8am Saturday to 8am Monday), and 50% extra for public/bank holidays (8am to 8am with time off in lieu for actual hours worked).

Other practical details include that the contract is permanent and located in Milton Keynes, with the job commonly described as an external recruitment through the MoJ and the HMPPS. The business unit listed is Public Protection South West, and there are two vacancies available with a reserve list that may be held for up to 12 months. Interviews are planned to be held in Milton Keynes, MK8 9AL, and the role requires DBS Standard checks as part of pre-employment screening. The post also carries the usual Civil Service expectations around security and identity checks prior to taking up the role, and applicants must be eligible to work in the Civil Service and the United Kingdom.

In addition to the core salary, the MoJ offers a benefits package that includes 25 days of annual leave on appointment (rising to 30 days after five years) plus public holidays, with pro-rata leave for part-time posts. The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme via GMPF, with automatic enrolment considerations for new joinsers. The organization emphasizes training and development, employee networks for minority groups, and a wider package of family-friendly policies, flexible benefits, and support with childcare costs where applicable. Security and identity checks are a standard part of the process, and candidates should anticipate a rigorous recruitment pathway that may involve integrity and eligibility checks before a offer is made.

Hybrid working is described as a possibility in MoJ’s broader arrangements where business needs allow, but this specific role is framed as site-based and not suited to home working. The role will include some travel between sites if needed, and there is an emphasis on maintaining safety and supervising residents across multiple locations when required.

Interviewees should be prepared for face-to-face interviews in Milton Keynes and for assessments of behaviours such as Working Together and Making Effective Decisions. Strengths will also be assessed, though not disclosed beforehand. A DBS Standard check will be part of the process, and applicants should be prepared to discuss how they handle responsibilities that include reporting and interacting with residents and partner agencies.

Advice for applicants

Start your resume with a clear example that demonstrates Communicating and Influencing in a relevant setting, since the Statement of Suitability will look for these elements. Frame your experience around how you supported others, the outcomes you helped achieve, and how you kept lines of communication open with residents and colleagues.

When you describe your must-have skills, give concrete evidence. Cite a time when you used numeracy to record information or complete a report, and show how you maintained accurate records under pressure. Relate these examples to the role’s need for documentation alongside supervision and safety tasks.

For interviews, prepare to discuss how you work with others to achieve safe, collaborative outcomes. Expect questions about Working Together and Making Effective Decisions, and consider a few short anecdotes that illustrate how you handled complex situations with residents and partner agencies.

Finally, plan a thoughtful question to ask at the end of the interview. A good one could be about how coverage is coordinated when additional sites are required, or how the team collaborates with external agencies to support residents’ license conditions and progression.

How to apply

To apply, quote the job reference 23453. The closing date for applications is 11-Nov-2026. For assistance, you can call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm) or email [email protected]. When you apply, you will see the note to quote 23453 and to use the contact channels listed for support. For the HMPPS side of the process, you can also call 0345 241 5358 or email [email protected]. The vacancy is External, with two positions available, and a reserve list may be held for up to 12 months.