My Career: Working in the probation service

Name: Ita Burke

Age: 49

Lives: Cork city

Job title: Probation Assistant, the Probation Service

Salary bracket: €33,000 - €56,000

Education background: After leaving school, I worked in many different jobs, but mostly in the hospitality industry for a few years. Then, in my late 20s I got a job on a Community Employment Scheme with Cobh Youth Services and this is where I found my calling. I really enjoyed working with young people. I knew that I wanted to study this area and applied and got a place in UCC as a mature student. I completed a BA in Social Science, Youth and Community from 2003-2006.

In 2019, I decided I wanted a change so I left my job. However, the dreaded Covid pandemic arrived and I ended up having an extended break from work, and so I decided to return to college and get and study for a Masters in Health and Society.

This gave me a great insight into the whole area of public health and how there are many different external forces that can impact the health and wellbeing of people, and whole communities. 

This in turn impacts what opportunities they are afforded in their lives.

Hobbies: I really enjoy swimming in the summer months as it’s a great way to relax and unwind.

I also have two dogs and I walk them twice daily all year, so that keeps me busy.

I have a keen interest in current affairs and enjoy debating politics with anyone who is willing.

Describe your job in five words: Supportive, Engaging, Evolving, Practical, and Empowering.

Describe yourself in five words: Helpful, Determined, Committed to change, Practical and Caring.

Personality needed for this kind of work? I think you need a caring nature to be a Probation Assistant, however, you must be able to make tough decisions which will impact people’s lives. For this, you need to be able to build relationships with people and be in a position to offer practical advice. 

This empowers the individuals under our supervision to make changes and positive choices that will in turn have a positive impact on their lives, and keep them from re-offending.

How long are you doing this job? Since the beginning of 2024.

How did you get this job? I really enjoyed working with young people and I knew that I wanted to study in this area and applied and got a place in UCC as a mature student. While still in my last year of my degree, I applied for a job with Foróige (formally Ógra Chorcaí) in Ballyphehane, and continued to work there for the next 13 years. In this time I was involved in many different projects and worked with many young people and their families.

In 2019, I decided that I wanted a change so I left my job and I took some time out to see where I wanted to go with my life.

My previous roles and experience helped me in my successful application to become a Probation Assistant as I had some experience with young people who have caused harm but it was minimal, and in a support worker role. I really enjoyed that type of work so when this position came up, I jumped at it. At the time of applying I didn’t know it, but it was an entirely new grade within the Probation Service. While I had limited knowledge of the service, I was excited to see what I could achieve in the role.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

Like myself, many of the new Probation Assistants have experience working in social care, in youth work, court experience or working with different voluntary organisations in the community. This experience is desirable, but not essential. However, some of my new colleagues come from administration and clerical work backgrounds in the civil service, so it really is a wide mix.

However, I do feel that because of my previous roles with young people and supporting them at difficult times in their lives, this played a huge part in helping me get the job.

Describe a day at work: I work within the Young Persons Probation team and it has many different aspects to it. At the moment, I am making connections with the community support services that specifically deal with young people, places such as training and education services, addiction services, homeless services, mental health services and with Tusla to ascertain what supports they offer to young people and how to access their services.

I also work with community-based organisations funded by the Probation Service to design and deliver different programmes that challenge young people’s attitudes and behaviours around offending behaviour, i.e, car crime and knife crime to name a couple.

Finally, I supervise clients that are coming to the end of their sanctions and during interviews try to see if they need any additional support after this ends. If there is a need for additional support, I guide them in that way. It’s all about supporting people to make positive choices that will change their lives, and those around them, for the better.

How many hours do you work a week? 35.

What do you wear to work? Business casual.

Is your industry male or female dominated? It’s just over 65% women and nearly 35% men working in the Probation Service.

Does this affect you in any particular way? Not at all. It’s all about equality.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: When I started first, I would have said about 8 as I was new to the Probation Service and it was a brand new environment for me. 

Now that I am settled in, I’m a lot more comfortable meeting clients, meeting new community workers and other staff within the Probation Service. They are a very caring bunch and have helped me to settle in very well.

Do you work with others or on your own?

I work as part of a seven-member team. The team is divided between Cork and Limerick. I am based in the Cork office.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I only just got back to work after four years so I’m good to go for a while yet.

Best bits: It’s a new role so there is great scope for developing it. I work as part of really dedicated team and I get to see the different community services and see the great work being done in the city and county. I’m learning a new way of working that is needs-focused, while adhering to the directions of the courts.

Worst bits: When things go wrong for the people under our supervision and you see them present back in court.

Advice to those who want your job? I would say become aware of the criminal justice system. Be very dedicated to working with young people with challenging attitudes and behaviour. Having a thick skin also helps, but a thick skin will serve you well in life!

Any other comments? It’s a great job. No two days are the same. The staff are all in it to do the very best to help and support their client.