Stanley Jacobs Interview

How long have you been in the Probation Service at the Ministry of Justice?

I started as a Probation Officer in the summer of 2002, so I’ve been here 21 years. I’ve worked in many areas of Probation delivery, including Approved Premises, Community Payback, Magistrates and Crown Court as well as generic Probation delivery including the training of Probation students via the PQF scheme as a Senior Probation Officer. As an Assistant Chief Officer, I have worked in policy advisory roles in Integrated Offender Management (IOM) for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) where I was leading the IOM London-wide Framework working alongside senior leaders from other organisations. Given the successful implementation and rollout of the IOM London-wide Framework, I was then seconded from London Probation to the Public Protection Group at the then National Offender Management Services (NOMS) now known as ONEHMPPS where I have contributed to the development of probation practice and policy in working with this IOM offenders as a priority group.

I am delighted to share that I recently received a long service award as a recognition of reaching this important milestone. From joining London Probation and gaining a wealth of experience in different operational roles and settings which include MOPAC, NOMS and the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) and more recently, securing the positions as Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Senior Policy Manager within the PWP since the Probation Service unification in June 2021.

Some of my key highlights and achievements throughout the course of my career inclusive of the London Probation Service Winners Award 2014, Finalist & Runner Up for the National Probation Awards 2015 for my contribution to the development of the IOM National Practice Standards for England and Wales and the Butler Trust Certificate recognition in 2017.

What did you do before the Probation Service?

Prior to the joining the Probation Services in the UK, I was working for the Correctional Services (Public Sector Prisons) as a Probation Officer and subsequently a contracted prison (G4S) as a Senior Probation Officer in South Africa for more than 5 years. I grew up in South Africa where I developed my passion of ‘people caring for people’ where I completed my first degree (BSc in Social Work) in 1997.  

Can you tell us about a career highlight that you’re proud of?

When I started to work with persistent prolific offenders which was rebranded by the Home Office since 2009 as IOM offenders was one of the reasons where I really found my purpose. And it is that purpose that has inspired me to take on more responsibility as a leader in later years in my career to pursue an MSt in Penology, Criminology and Management at Homerton College at the University.

As a leader and practitioner, I’ve learned that when we work together and are connected as an agency, that’s when innovation happens, especially in the current climate. I believe together, we are stronger and better, and that benefits everyone.

I have many experiences I’m proud of, and I don’t think I’ve achieved anything alone, it’s the support of the people around me that always sees me through challenges that I might encounter along the way. However, representing London and Thames Valley CRC as a keynote speaker at the 35^th Annual Crimestoppers International Conference in Cape Town in 2014 has got to be right up there!

What advice would you give a person or your younger self starting out in your career?

Don’t try and ‘fit in’, be yourself and stay true to your values. Own your difference and celebrate it, for it is your strength. I believe how we feel influences what we think and do, and our well-being is the single most important factor in high performance that drives performance, productivity, and innovation. I believe psychological safety in my view is where everyone feels included, safe to learn, safe to contribute, and safe to challenge the status quo in a constructive way to benefit the desired outcomes.

A few weeks ago, I was marking the end of my first experience as a lecturer delivering multiple lectures supported by two brilliant teaching assistants for the Homerton International Programme (HIP) at University of Cambridge. It was absolutely amazing to be part of such an enthusiastic team who helped me to teach bright students from universities in China, Singapore, Japan, and the USA about Global Leadership.

What do you do in your spare time? 

As a former keen rugby player and rugby coach for the Under 14 and 16 girls at my local rugby club, I’m gracious enough to have two teenage daughters who both are keen rugby players. My youngest daughter was recently selected to represent Kent U16 Girls for the 2023/2024 rugby season. As a rugby fan, I was chuffed to have recently met my favourite rugby player, the South African Captain, Siya Kolisi who played in a match against Wales in Cardiff a few weeks ago. My Welsh colleague and Cambridge University friend in the photo unfortunately didn’t speak to me since the match as the Welsh team was demolished by the Springboks 😊

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?

I’ve been a friend and volunteer at the Tutu Foundation UK Ubuntu (https://tutufoundationuk.org/) in London since 2016. I support the Ubuntu Round Tables Project which is about helping young people manage conflict with the Police by creating safe spaces and opportunities for them. An essential element of the Ubuntu Round Tables Project is that it is Youth-Led. The project management framework provided by the Tutu Foundation and Youth Futures Partnership is designed to enable and empower young people to take control and to organise. The project creates opportunities for young people who have a mistrust of police officers to gain training and then work as facilitators mediating between groups of local young people and local police officers.

The project provides formal, apprenticeship and informal training opportunities for young people to learn facilitation, public speaking, and leadership skills. We train our facilitators through shadowing, mentorship programs and formal accredited training. We create opportunities for trainee facilitators to work with experienced facilitators. The initial training receives a small payment, and the formal apprenticeship, facilitator and project leadership roles are all paid. Through this project the young people who are leading and facilitating it have worked with over a hundred police officers, over 200 young people and presented their work at a Parliamentary symposium alongside David Lammy MP, demonstrating the importance of community policing and the importance of nurturing relationships and common ground between police and those that are being policed.

The Ubuntu round Table Project has helped young people who do not trust the Police to gain a better understanding of the purpose, hopes and fears of the Police, and understand that behind each uniform there is a person. Likewise, through the discussions and by listening, the Police understand the perspective, hopes and fears of our young people, and learn to see them as individuals rather than a homogenous group.