1. The Director (Probation and Parole), Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement invites applications for the post of Probation Officer in the Department of Probation and Parole, Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement.

2.1 This appointment is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year. 

2.2 The salary for the post of Probation Officer is Salary Scale 10, which in the year 2021 is equivalent to €21,267 per annum, rising by annual increments of €407.67 up to a maximum of €23,713.

2.3 A Probation Officer (Salary Scale 10) will progress to Salary Scale 9 (€22,633 x €447.33 - €25,317 in 2021) on completion of 4 years service in the grade of Probation Officer (Salary Scale 10), subject to satisfactory performance.

2.4 A Probation Officer (Salary Scale 9) will progress to Salary Scale 8 (€24,091 x €486.83 - €27,012 in 2021) on completion of 4 years service in the grade of Probation Offficer (Salary Scale 9), subject to satisfactory performance.

2.5 A Probation Officer (Salary Scale 8) will progress to Scale 7 (€25,656 x €531.17 - €28,843 in 2021) on completion of 4 years service in the grade of Probation Officer (Salary Scale 8), subject to satisfactory performance.

2.6 A selected candidate who is in possession of a Post-Graduate Diploma in Probation Services at an MQF level 7 or is in possession of a recognised and comparable qualification in the Human and Social Sciences at an MQF level 7, shall be placed on Salary Scale 8, which in the year 2021 is equivalent to €24,091 per annum, rising by annual increments of €486.83 up to a maximum of €27,012 and continue to progress in accordance with the provisions of the agreement pertaining to the Probation Class.

3.1 The job duties for the post of Probation Officer may be viewed in Annex A attached to this Circular.

3.2 Probation Officers must have an aptitude for effective communication and skills in building interpersonal relationships. They must have optimal interviewing and report writing skills.

3.3 Probation Officers may be required to perform duties as part of a 24-hour emergency service.

3.4 Probation Officers may be required to work irregular hours of the day and night according to the exigencies of the job.

3.5 Probation Officers will be expected to be in possession of, or are in the process of acquiring a valid driving license. They are expected to use their own transport for their work and will be entitled to the appropriate approved allowance.

3.6 The selected candidate may also be required to perform duties in Gozo.

4.1 By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

The advice of the Citizenship Unit within Community Malta Agency and the Expatriates Unit within Identity Malta Agency should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation.  Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue. 

(b) in possession of an official letter issued by the University of Malta or a competent recognised University/Institution, that the applicant has successfully achieved the level of MQF Level 7 (with a minimum of 60 ECTS/ECVET) Post-Graduate Diploma in Probation Services, or a recognised, comparable professional qualification but has opted to proceed to a recognised Masters level at MQF Level 7 (with a minimum of 90 ECTS/ECVET), or a comparable professional qualification.

* In the absence of documentary evidence as to the ECTS/ECVET credits or other system of measuring the course content, the selection board is to evaluate the submitted programme of study and determine that is comparable to 60 ECTS/ECVT credits. The advice of the MQRIC may be sought. 

4.2 (i) Qualifications at a level higher than that specified above will be accepted for eligibility purposes, provided they meet any specified subject requirements.

(ii) Moreover, candidates who have not yet formally obtained any of the above-mentioned qualifications will still be considered. Such candidates are to submit evidence that they have been approved for the award of the qualification in question.

(iii) Furthermore, candidates who are currently following a recognised programme of study at a higher MQF level than that requested above will also be considered.  Such candidates are to submit evidence that they have successfully completed the necessary ECTS/ECVETS credits, or equivalent, and attained the required MQF level, by the closing time and date of the call for applications.

4.3 Public Officers holding a grade in a particular stream, and who were granted Officer in Scale status by virtue of a Grievances Unit decision in the same scale as that of a higher grade in that stream, are eligible to apply for grades open to officers holding such higher grade within the stream that carries the same scale as that of the Officer in Scale status.

The years of service since the effective date of appointment as Officer in Scale are reckonable for the purpose of satisfying any requisite years of service stipulated in calls for applications. 

Any other eligibility requisites for the post must be met in terms of this call for applications.

4.5 Applicants must be of conduct which is appropriate to the post applied for. In the case of applicants who are already in the Malta Public Service, the GP 47 is to be requested by the HR Unit of the ministry /department issuing the call for application from the Director responsible for HR where applicants are serving, while those applying from outside the Public Service must produce a Certificate of Conduct issued by the Police or other competent authority not earlier than one (1) month from the date of application and state whether they have ever been in Government Service, giving details. 

4.6 Applicants must be eligible to take up their due appointment, in terms of 4.1 to 4.5 above, not only by the closing time and date of this call for applications but also on the date of appointment.

4.7 Applicants are obliged to immediately inform the Selection Board (if result has not yet been published, in which case the application should be withdrawn by the applicant) or the HR Unit within the issuing ministry / department (if result has been published) upon any change in the status of their appointment from the date of submission of their application until the closing date, or upon being called for appointment as a result, of this call for application, as the case may be. Non-observance of this instruction may lead to disciplinary action. On its part, at the start of the interview, the Selection Board will request the candidate to declare any changes in status of his/her current appointment from the date of submission of application.

4.8 Prospective applicants should note the requirement to produce MQRIC recognition statements in respect of their qualifications from MQRIC, or other designated authorities, as applicable, as per provisions applicable to this call for applications (see link below).