CHELMSFORD SEES RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR COMMUNITY PAYBACK ROLES
- Role gives opportunity to support people on probation to make improvements to local communities and help them make positive changes to their lives.
- Chance to lead groups carrying out a range of tasks from grounds maintenance to litter picking and supporting charities.
People in Chelmsford are being urged to consider Community Payback job opportunities to support people on probation to make positive changes to their lives while improving neighbourhoods.
The recruitment drive in Chelmsford comes off the back of the government’s commitment of £93m extra to increase Community Payback from 5 million to 8 million hours per year, which will see 500 new roles across the country.
Community Payback (CP), previously known as Community Service, is an alternative to a prison sentence for people who have committed a crime. The Ministry of Justice is looking for supervisors, who work hands-on to oversee Community Payback projects on the ground.
Working in a Community Payback role gives individuals the opportunity to support people on probation to make improvements to local communities and make positive changes to get their lives back on track. No specific experience or qualifications are required.
Community Payback supervisors lead small teams, helping to motivate them to complete projects that will impact the community – from restoring community facilities like sports halls and playgrounds to planting trees or graffiti removal. Currently in Essex, there are 26 working in Community Payback roles.
Projects in Chelmsford have helped uncover a grave of a WW1 veteran, identified by the war graves commissioner, at St Magdalene Church; and improved the site at Woodcroft Nursery School.
The new roles are open to a wide range of applicants and are ideal for those looking for a rewarding career where you can both motivate and inspire others to change for the better, and build better and safer places to live.
Bethany Nice, Community Payback Supervisor from Essex, commented, “Being a community payback supervisor is an extremely diverse and rewarding role. It’s great being able to work with an array of different people, work outside most days and visit various sites in and around our local communities where our groups carry out their work. No two days are ever the same!
I get a real sense of job satisfaction when I see my groups excelling and being proud of the work they are doing.
Recently one of my groups spent the day repurposing old wood and palettes to create a play boat for a school. The next time we attended the children had made and left them a picture to say thank you for what they had done! It was wonderful for both me as a supervisor and for the group themselves, to see their hard work being appreciated by the community they were giving back to. This role is perfect for anyone who wants to work with a variety of people from all kinds of backgrounds, in many settings and be a part of helping people on probation rehabilitate while giving back to the community.”
Steve Claxton, currently a Community Payback Coordinator, commenting on his previous role as a CP supervisor said, “I had a person on probation who, on his first day, had some concerns and was really anxious about coming in to complete his unpaid work. Upon speaking with him and giving him some reassurances that unpaid work can be a positive thing, he was able to relax and worked really hard. That night the person in question texted me to say thank you for being supportive and that he was glad I made the day productive and enjoyable and that I helped alleviate any anxiety about his unpaid work, that he didn’t have any concerns with coming back the next week now and that he would work hard every week.”
David from St Mary Magdalene Church, Wethersfield, commented, “We benefit greatly from people on probation who come and cut the churchyard grass and generally keep it tidy. We are very thankful for the excellent way in which their Community Payback supervisor Mo interacts with us and gets the job done. I’ve had several comments from villagers as to how nice the churchyard is looking.”
Ferliene Willis, Headteacher at Woodcroft Nursery School Great Baddow, Chelmsford, commented, “We are very grateful to the Community Payback team for the work they have been completing for us at Woodcroft Nursery School. They have taken real pride in the work they have undertaken (and we certainly have a lot of work to do on the site!).”
All new staff are given robust training to help them work effectively and safely with people on probation, from learning about the principles of Community Payback to training on health and safety, risk awareness, and dealing with challenging behaviour. New staff will also have full training on any tools used and will work alongside and shadow an experienced colleague before taking responsibility for supervising a group on their own.
Anyone interested in a career in Community Payback should visit: Community Payback – Ministry of Justice
Please download images of the projects here.