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Under MCYS' Community Probation Service, Volunteer Probation Officers (VPOs) assist
Probation Officers who are full-time staff of MCYS. By befriending probationers and expanding their network of support, VPOs help to
guide and steer young offenders along the straight and constructive path. For many probationers who have succeeded and moved on with their
lives after probation, VPOs have provided a much needed positive influence.
There is a wide scope for volunteering under Community Probation Service. Depending on the Volunteer
Probation Officers' (VPO) availability, interest, skills and training,
they can be involved in any of the following:
- Guide and supervise a probationer and counsel the probationer's family
- Conduct time restriction checks on probationers
- Conduct group work for probationers
- Conduct parenting workshop for parents of probationers
- Conduct social investigation and prepare pre-sentence reports
- Plan and supervise community service projects
- Identify and network with community resources to support healthy youth development
- Assist in any other programmes that may be launched in order to complement the above
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Probationers put under VPOs are mostly young people, aged 16 to 19 years. They are either in school, ITE Centres, serving full-time National
Service or working. |
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Training for VPOs
Basic and on-going training are provided for VPOs.
The basic training includes:
- Visits to Juvenile Homes, Hostels and Prisons
- Basic communication and befriending skills
- Understanding today's youth and models of intervention (case study method)
- Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court and the Probation Service of MCYS
- Observation of community-based programmes in action
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Training is also provided to enhance VPO's skills in specific areas such as working with parents, running support groups, preparing pre-sentence reports, conducting group work on anger management and victim impact awareness. From time to time, visits
and practical attachments to various facilities are also arranged.
The basic training course consists of three to four sessions usually held in the evenings on Saturday afternoons.
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What is the commitment to be a VPO?
The minimum requirements are as follows:
| a) |
Casework
As time is needed to build good rapport with the probationer and the family, a VPO needs to commit at least four hours per week.
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| b) |
Conducting Time Restriction Checks
Most of the probationers are required to abide by curfew hours between 9.00pm to 6.00am. VPOs help to conduct physical checks on these probationers. If you are interested in this scope of volunteering, you are required to conduct
at least six checks per month. A special allowance is given to cover travelling expenses.
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| c) |
Ad Hoc Programmes / Projects
There are on-going programmes / projects for the rehabilitation of probationers. If you wish to be involved in any of
these programmes / projects, your commitment is required throughout the duration of the programme. If you have
other personal commitments or are on leave etc., suitable alternative arrangements will be made to accommodate your
needs. Your needs are also important to us.
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Eligibility criteria
Sign up to be a VPO if you believe in individual's capacity for change and
are not employed as a Police or Prison Officer. You should be 18 years old and above, have at least GCE 'N' level or equivalent
(academic / technical) and are able to spend at least four hours per week on voluntary work. Good Interpersonal skills will be
an added advantage.
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"Benefits"for VPOs
VPOs will get 'PAMPERed'!
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Personal growth |
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Awards such as Long Service Awards and Outstanding Volunteer Award |
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Multiple sharing sessions such as case conferencing and dialogue sessions |
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Perks like opportunities for local and overseas trips for deserving VPOs and allowance for VPOs who conduct curfew checks. |
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Enrichment
training programme to enhance your skills in volunteer
work. |
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Recognition and rewards such as 'Thank You' functions and other get-together. |
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Application to be a VPO
Interested persons can:
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Screening / interview process
Upon receipt of an application, we will process it and contact the applicant to arrange for an interview. Working with offenders
is one of the most challenging areas of volunteering. It is important that there be a good match between volunteer aspirations
and the scope of volunteering offered by Community Probation Service.
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| The community and volunteers are paramount as our partners and pillars of support in
rehabilitating the children and young persons in the Homes and Aftercare Service. |
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| 1) |
How volunteers can help us?
There are a few areas that volunteers could be involved in our work to rehabilitate and reintegrate these children and young
persons into society as socially responsible individuals.
The areas of voluntary work are:
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Befriending
What is the role of the volunteer?
The volunteer will provide the friendship, support and guidance to the residents in the Homes and aftercare supervisees to help
them grow and develop as responsible individuals.
What are the prerequisites?
The volunteer is required to:
| a) |
contribute at least 3 hours a fortnight; |
| b) |
be mature,positive, supportive and non-prejudicial;
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| c) |
have good interpersonal and communication skills; and |
| d) |
have the belief that youths can change to become socially responsible individuals. |
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Tuition
What is the role of the volunteer?
A tutor will teach, coach and guide the residents in the Homes and aftercare supervisees in their academic subjects.
In communicating with them, the volunteer also imparts and shares his knowledge and skills.
What are the prerequisites?
The volunteer is required to:
| a) |
contribute at least 2 hours per week; |
| b) |
have the patience and passion to teach; and |
| c) |
have good interpersonal and communication skills. |
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Organising Activities
What is the role of the volunteer?
The volunteer will plan, coordinate and conduct activities in the Homes and Aftercare Service. The volunteer will
help to organise both indoor and outdoor games such as camps, picnics, educational outings and other social,recreational and cultural activities.
What are the prerequisites?
The volunteer is required to:
| a) |
contribute at least 4 to 6 hours a month; |
| b) |
be pro-active in planning, organising and coordinating activities especially during the school vacations in June and December; |
| c) |
have good interpersonal and communication skills; and |
| d) |
have the willingness to work with other volunteers and staff.
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Time Restricted Checks
What is the role of the volunteer?
The volunteer will conduct time restriction checks by making random visits to the residence of the aftercare
supervisees. A special allowance is given to cover travelling expenses.
What are the prerequisites?
The volunteer is required to:
| a) |
conduct at least 6 checks per month;
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| b) |
make field trips after 10pm; and
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| c) |
be committed and responsible. |
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Ad-hoc Programs/Projects
What is the role of the volunteer?
Volunteers who are trained in their area of expertise can deliver lectures, talks and training sessions. Volunteers
can also share their knowledge and skills with other volunteers and act as resource persons. Volunteers who have vast
experience in counselling and/or social work can be para-counsellors to work with the residents and their families.
What is the commitment level?
Depending on the time availability of the volunteers, ad-hoc projects can be short-term, medium term and long-term.
Short-term projects will normally span a week to six months. Medium term projects will span more than 6 months to less
than one year. Longer-term projects will span more than a year.
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| 2) |
Eligibility Criteria
We are looking for individuals or groups who
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are at least 21
years and above; |
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have minimum GCE
'N' Level or equivalent or any ITE certificate; and |
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are able to contribute at least 2 hours per week. |
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| 3) |
What are the training programs in place?
Training of volunteers is conducted at different stages of their service. The training will take the form of an orientation, basic training and an
on-going advanced training.
| a) |
Orientation and Basic Training
The objective of the training is to share with the volunteers our work and to provide the volunteers with the necessary
knowledge and skills to work with the residents in the Homes and aftercare supervisees. The contents of
the orientation and basic training include:
- Functions and role of the Residential Rehabilitation Branchin MCYS;
- Juvenile Justice System and Children and Young Persons Act;
- Characteristics of the residents in the Homes;
- Roles and responsibilities of volunteers; and
- Basic communication and counselling skills.
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The orientation and basic training is normally scheduled for 5 sessions on Saturday afternoons.
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| b) |
Advanced Training
As volunteers progress on, a continuum of training programs are provided to further enhance the knowledge and skills of the volunteers.
Some of the training programs may include the techniques of mentoring, in-depth communication and counselling techniques
and drugs and gang-related issues in Singapore.
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| 4) |
What are the benefits of being a Home and Aftercare volunteer?
We make volunteers feel "GREAT" in volunteering
with us:
| a) |
We treat it as
our work to Grow and develop volunteers so as to bring out the best in them. We will provide volunteers
with the relevant training and a continuum of training programs to enhance their skills in volunteer work. Volunteers
may also be invited to some external courses sponsored or organised by the Ministry. |
| b) |
We give Recognition to volunteers for their work with us. Long service awards and Outstanding Volunteer Awards are given each year to volunteers for their invaluable contributions to the work
of the Ministry. |
| c) |
We value the volunteers'Empathy and passion in lending a helping hand to our boys and girls in their rehabilitation and reintegration
into society as socially responsible individuals. |
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We Appreciate volunteers for their time and commitment. Regular feedback and tea sessions are held with the volunteers to elicit feedback, address any issues and concerns find out how well they are progressing in their volunteer work. |
| e) |
We place emphasis on Teamwork in volunteering. The Rehabilitation Officers and the Aftercare Officers will work with volunteers as a team to supervise the cases assigned.
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| 5) |
Application to be a Home and Aftercare volunteer?
Interested individuals and groups can call the Community Liaison Officer at 63548072 for an application form. |
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