Community Justice Learning (formerly Probation Qualification)

The Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) is the mandatory training route for all Probation Officers that are employed by the Probation Service (which forms part of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service) across England and Wales. As set out in statutory guidelines, all Trainee Probation Officers must undertake the Professional Qualification in Probation to qualify and perform the work of a Probation Officer. In context of the unification of the Probation Service and the new Target Operating Model for Probation, the time is right to review the PQiP.

The PQiP as delivered currently is a blend of:

• academic modules at Level 6 (and any required academic modules at Level 5 (as applicable)) to be delivered by the contractor,
• a Vocational Qualification at Level 5 delivered by the Authority;
• in-business Learning delivered by the Authority.

It is the academic qualification at Level 6 (and any foundation/access modules) that we will be contracting for through the upcoming procurement exercise. We anticipate that there will be large elements of the training scheme that will continue to be delivered by the Authority as trainees learn “on the job”.

At the point that we advertise the procurement, we will provide an outline of content that must be included in Level 6 modules. We will work with the appointed contractors (of which we anticipate there will be multiple) to agree a unified timetable for delivery of the course to ensure that academic and “on the job” vocational learning are well integrated, and manageable for learners.We therefore anticipate that there will be elements of the course that will need to be designed by the appointed learning providers and agreed with the Authority before first delivery. Interested parties may be aware that a previous procurement was advertised in January 2021 and later cancelled. Further information relating to this cancelled procurement can be found here [link]. Following the cancelled competition, we undertook a procurement to deliver the PQiP to intakes commencing learning in November 2021 and March 2022 with the option of a 1-year extension. These cohorts will be taught according to the current Community Justice Learning Matrix. Further information about this tender can be found here [link].

If you would like to receive the market engagement questions please register using the following link ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uklearning ↗ providers have the option to submit a written response to the market engagement questions or book a meeting with the Authority to discuss these questions. Please note the Authority will only be able to discuss the questions stated below in the market engagement questions. If you would like to book a meeting, please contact us by 13th October by midday via the Bravo/ Jaggaer system. Meetings will take place between 11th October 2021 and 22nd October 2021. If you would like to submit a written response, please submit this by midday on 22nd October 2021 via the Bravo/ Jaggaer system (link above).

The Authority reserves the right not to proceed with the market engagement meetings. This notice is for information only and the Authority reserves the right to not proceed to tender. Additionally, the Authority (MoJ) reserves the right to discontinue the tendering process and not to award the contract. The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the requirements, the estimated value, the service classification of this requirement or the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding and the Authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notice or notices or at any other time. The publication of this notice in no way obliges the Authority to commence any competitive tender process.The Authority is not/shall not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest