Key points
- Oxford man urges career changers to consider probation work
- Former teacher in Africa highlights transferable skills for probation roles
- He stresses importance of empathy, resilience and communication
- Probation service faces staffing challenges in 2026
- He calls for more mid‑career professionals to join the sector
Oxford (Oxford Daily News) 10 February 2026 – An Oxford man who spent years teaching in Africa has urged people considering a career change to look at probation work, arguing that skills built in classrooms and international settings are highly relevant to supporting offenders in the community. Speaking in 2026, he said the probation service is in need of more experienced, compassionate professionals willing to shift from other sectors such as education, social care and the private sector.
The man, James Holloway, 48, taught in secondary schools across Kenya and Tanzania before returning to the UK and retraining as a probation practitioner. He now works with the National Probation Service (NPS) in Oxfordshire and has become a vocal advocate for recruiting more mid‑career professionals into the justice system.
As reported by Sarah Bennett of the Oxford Mail, Holloway stated: “If you’ve worked with young people, managed teams, or dealt with difficult situations abroad, you already have many of the skills probation officers need.”
What prompted his call to career changers?
Holloway’s appeal comes at a time when the probation service is under pressure to stabilise staffing levels and rebuild public confidence after years of restructuring and high turnover.
According to figures cited by the Ministry of Justice in early 2026, the NPS has been working to fill hundreds of frontline roles across England and Wales, with particular demand in urban and semi‑urban areas such as Oxford. The department has also highlighted the need for staff with strong interpersonal and risk‑assessment skills.
In an interview with Emma Clarke of BBC Radio Oxford, Holloway explained that his own journey into probation began when he realised that the qualities he had developed as a teacher—patience, boundary‑setting and the ability to build trust—were directly applicable to working with people on licence.
He said: “In the classroom, you’re constantly managing behaviour, understanding what’s behind it, and trying to guide someone towards a better path. That’s exactly what you’re doing with offenders, just in a different setting.”
How his time in Africa shaped his approach
Holloway spent over a decade teaching in East Africa, first in Nairobi and later in Dar es Salaam, working with students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
As reported by Kwame Mensah of the East African Standard, Holloway described how those years taught him to adapt quickly, manage uncertainty and work with limited resources experiences he now draws on when dealing with complex cases in Oxford.
He told the paper: “In Kenya and Tanzania, you learn to listen deeply, to read body language, and to respond calmly in tense situations. Those are all critical when you’re meeting someone who’s just been released from prison.”
Holloway also highlighted the cultural sensitivity he developed while living abroad. In a feature for The Guardian’s “Life After Teaching” series, he argued that understanding different worldviews helps probation staff avoid making assumptions about offenders’ backgrounds.
He said: “Many of the people we work with have experienced trauma, poverty or exclusion. If you’ve lived in another country and seen how systems can fail people, you’re less likely to judge and more likely to ask, ‘What happened to you?’”
Why he believes probation work suits career changers
In several public appearances in early 2026, Holloway has outlined why he thinks mid‑career professionals are well placed to enter probation.
Speaking at a careers event in Oxford organised by Oxford Brookes University’s Centre for Criminal Justice and Criminology, he told an audience of students and job‑seekers: “You don’t need to be a criminologist or a lawyer to work in probation. What matters is that you can build relationships, stay calm under pressure, and keep detailed records.”
He pointed out that many skills are already present in other fields:
- Teachers, youth workers and social workers bring experience of safeguarding and mentoring.
- Managers and HR professionals understand performance, accountability and conflict resolution.
- Nurses and counsellors are used to dealing with vulnerability and mental‑health issues.
In an article for The Times Education Supplement (TES), Holloway wrote: “If you’ve managed a classroom, supervised staff, or supported vulnerable families, you’re already halfway there. The probation service can teach you the legal and procedural side.”
He also stressed that the role offers a clear sense of purpose. In an interview with Lucy Turner of the Oxfordshire Guardian, he said: “Every day, you’re helping someone avoid reoffending and rebuild their life. That’s not something you get in every job.”
The realities of probation work in 2026
Holloway is careful not to romanticise the job. In conversations with local media, he has been candid about the challenges probation officers face in 2026.
As reported by Tom Davies of the Oxford Mail, he described caseloads that can be demanding, paperwork that is often time‑consuming, and the emotional toll of working with people who may repeatedly breach their licence conditions.
He said: “It’s not all breakthrough moments and happy endings. Sometimes you feel frustrated, even heartbroken, when someone you’ve worked with for months ends up back in custody.”
How the probation service is recruiting in 2026
The Ministry of Justice has been running a national recruitment campaign in 2026 aimed at attracting more staff to probation roles, including those looking to change careers.
As reported by Daniel Wright of The Guardian, the campaign highlights flexible working options, training bursaries and structured development pathways for new recruits. The government has also introduced targeted outreach to sectors such as education, social care and the armed forces.
In an interview with Natalie Khan of Sky News, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We are actively encouraging people from a range of backgrounds to consider probation. We recognise that lived experience and transferable skills are just as important as formal qualifications.”
Holloway has been involved in local elements of this drive. In January 2026, he appeared at an open‑day event hosted by Oxfordshire County Council’s adult social care and justice partnership, where he spoke alongside representatives from the NPS and local charities.
As reported by Claire Mitchell of the Oxfordshire Guardian, he told attendees: “We need people who can listen without judgment, challenge behaviour firmly but fairly, and stick with someone even when progress is slow. That’s a skill set many people already have.”
