Meet Justin

Meet Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of Probation
Justin: I lead the whole of the Probation Inspectorate team. I sign off all of our reports and I make sure that our findings are heard by government, by the public and of course by the probation service itself.
Why is it important to have a diverse and inclusive workforce?
Justin: It’s very important to me as Chief Inspector that we have a properly diverse workforce. Not because we have to, but because I think it’s the right thing to do. The probation service works with people from a huge range of different background, right across England and Wales, and it needs to mirror the diversity of the communities that it serves. And it’s important that we, as an Inspectorate, mirror that diversity as well. That’s why we’re setting up a special shadowing scheme for probation and youth offending staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. That’s why I’d encourage people from every background to apply for the opportunities there will be in the Inspectorate in 2021.
What makes a good inspector?
Justin: When we recruit an inspector, we’re looking for three key things. Firstly, we need people with significant experience themselves of working in the probation service or youth offending service. Second, we need people with good people skills so they can build rapport with the service that they are inspecting and be a good representative of the inspectorate. And thirdly, we want people with curiosity- who are curious about how other services do things and keen to learn from services across the country and take things back to their own home organisations.
Why should you consider working for the Inspectorate?
Justin: Spending a couple of years with the Inspectorate is a great way to develop your career and to develop your own organisation as well. You’ll get to work on a wide range of inspections across the whole of England and Wales, and will take that knowledge back with you to your own organisation and into your own learning as well.
What does the year ahead look like for career prospects?
Justin: 2021 will be an exciting year for recruitment for the Inspectorate. We have a number of our colleagues who are reaching the end of secondments, so sadly we’ll have to say goodbye to them. But that means the opportunity to a recruit a new tranche of experienced probation and youth offending staff to come and join our friendly inspection teams, and come and work with us for the next couple of years.
Sum up the Inspectorate in three words
Justin: Three words for which to describe working for the Probation Inspectorate: friendly, fulfilling and impactful.
If you’re interested in working at HM Inspectorate of Probation, go to the careers page and register for more information. www.justiceins...