AWARD WINNER 2024-25

This nomination was completed by Nina Kane (Head of Gloucestershire PDU)

Introduction

Chloe Causier has consistently provided excellent professional and personal support to staff members, ensuring they feel well-supported and able to make decisions that align with Probation’s core values. Her attention to detail and caring attitude towards colleagues and others is commendable. Chloe’s support goes beyond her busy schedule, going above and beyond for every staff member, including those she doesn’t manage. Her cheerful demeanour and caring attitude make her a valuable asset to Gloucestershire’s probation service.

Nomination Details

Kirsty Weaving – Probation Officer – Cheltenham

Chloe goes above and beyond for the individuals she manages and for the Gloucestershire Offices in general. Chloe really cares about staff wellbeing and the vital work Probation do, she shows great passion within the Integrated Offender Management model, raising the positives, but is also not afraid to raise things that are not working so well, looking for alternatives and asking our opinions – I feel valued as an employee.

On many occasions, Chloe has fitted in last minute case discussions with me (including gone 5pm!). Chloe is always available via Teams and will respond to the many queries I have instantly. This makes managing my caseload so much easier as I can discuss my concerns without delay which in turn helps with risk management. Chloe knows my caseload nearly as well as I know my own.

This year I had a prison release that I was particularly worried about, Chloe took the time to ask me how I was feeling about things and reassured me that I had put everything in place needed. Sometimes in the work we do, it can feel like you are managing a caseload alone, but when you have an SPO like Chloe, you feel well supported.

Chloe knows the answer to every question, she is like the encyclopaedia of Probation, and this is a consensus around the Cheltenham Office. Whenever someone asks me something I don’t know, I always joke to “ask Chloe”. She will also make the effort to go away and research something for you and come back to you with the answer, which during this busy time, is greatly appreciated.

Hannah Palmer – Probation Officer – Gloucester

As a Senior Probation Officer (SPO) on a daily basis I feel that Chloe goes above and beyond.  Her workload, like all staff, is demanding however, she will always make herself available to me and is very approachable when I ask, which is invaluable to me and makes me feel supported. It is noted that whenever Chloe is in Twyver House she is the one SPO that will without fail wander around and talk to all staff checking in with how they are doing.  In times where staff are stretched this may seem like a small gesture but it is greatly appreciated. There are a few specific examples in which I feel Chloe has really demonstrated the above values in recent months.

1. There was an occasion in June in which an incident had come in about one of my cases late in the day on a Wednesday. Chloe was at Twyver and I was aware that she was getting ready to leave and finish work for the day when I approached her. Instead she remained with me in the office until 8pm that evening supporting me to manage the issue and ensuring we had the situation safeguarded as best as we possibly could. It is not an expectation of her role to stay and support me in that manner but she could see I was feeling overwhelmed by the situation and her staying and supporting me through it was invaluable to me.

2. In August following a recent transfer of a case, PPCS (Public Protection Casework Section) advised us that a Part B report was due in 2 days – they apologised on their part for the short notice but were firm that the deadline could not be moved. As Chloe is such an engaged manager she was fully aware of my workload and other deadlines I had over those two days without me having to tell her. Without me asking, Chloe saw the stress that this additional task would place on me and supported me by gathering all the information needed for the part B report so that my part in the report was minimal.

This is not something I have ever experienced with any of my previous SPOs and demonstrates Chloe’s understanding of her individual staff. This removed a significant amount of pressure and meant I did not have to work out of hours to fulfil the task. I acknowledge that Chloe has many tasks in her role as SPO apart from line management and undoubtedly supporting me with this task will have likely increased pressure on her own workload. But as Chloe demonstrates daily the welfare of her staff is important to her, and her actions really show that. Probation is in a difficult period and I am unsure if I would be as resilient or managing without having Chloe as my manager.

Jason Montgomery – Probation Service Officer – Cheltenham

Chloe Causier-Bayliss has been my SPO since October 2022 and in that time she has consistently provided me with excellent professional and personal support. Chloe is always available to answer my questions, however complex or more often, however simple, despite her having an incredibly busy schedule. The knowledge that I can TEAMS her with a question or an issue at any time during the day and she will provide an answer, or find an answer, is invaluable. As a relatively inexperienced PSO, you don’t necessarily always have the strength in conviction with the decisions you make, however with Chloe as my SPO, I have always felt fully supported to make good decisions that align with Probation’s core values.

Considering Chloe has oversight of several other PP’s caseload, I am always impressed by how well she remembers smaller details about my cases and it is testament to her professionalism, attention to detail and hard work.

It is noted from the wider team that Chloe always makes an effort in the Cheltenham Office to check in on how everyone is doing, which whilst it may seem only a small thing, goes a long way for morale when PPs are having issues with their caseloads.

Layla-Jane O’Neill – Probation Officer – Cheltenham

Our jobs would be impossible without a supportive manager and Gloucestershire is truly blessed to have Chloe.

I recently had a traumatic experience with a person on probation being arrested during a late-night appointment, which resulted in the use of pepper spray. Upon having a debrief with Chloe about this incident, she changed the policy in the office immediately around arrests on site and police attending appointments etc. This immediate change truly made me feel like my welfare was put first and I felt fully supported in attending my future appointments safely. This will also help support future colleagues.

I can hands down say, I’m not sure how I would cope in this job without Chloe.

Angela Cossins – South West Regional Probation Director

Chloe is a Senior Probation Officer in Sentence Management, managing and leading a wide and varied team of practitioners in her business unit. Chloe’s nomination for this award consists of multiple testimonies from staff members she manages, more than could fit on the nomination form.

The universal theme of these testimonies is Chloe’s visibility as a manager, always making time for staff, checking in with everyone and approaching staff to offer assistance. An open-door policy, and always going ‘above and beyond to ensure the welfare of her staff have led to staff saying that they truly don’t know how they’d cope without Chloe.