Probation Liason Officer Vacancy

Notts/Leics Intergroup

A Probation Liaison Officer/Social Services AA Liaison Officer is responsible for establishing links with the probation services in England and Wales. Experience has shown that positive results can follow when Regions, Intergroups or Groups co-operate with the Probation Service/Social Services in helping the still suffering alcoholic who might be directed by them to the Fellowship, experience has shown that positive results can follow.

Extract from guideline number 2.

"The primary object of Probation Liaison is to - establish links with the Probation Services in England and Wales, so that the clients of the probation services may benefit from being introduced to AA. It is suggested that each Intergroup appoints a Probation Liaison Officer and that a Regional Probation Officer may help in co-ordinating these efforts. It is also suggested that talks to Probation Officers, together with displays of the video, will further our primary purpose."

Established length of continuous sobriety of not less than 2 years.
To serve for not less than 2 years and no more than 3.
To attend all related meetings i.e. Intergroup, Intergroup officers, and be prepared to attend any other meetings held within the Intergroup or Region if requested. (minimum 10 per year)
To be comfortable with having telephone number readily available throughout the Intergroup, Region and National Directory
To twelve step new Probation Liaison Officer 3 months before and 3 months after completion of service.
To be familiar with the Group Handbook, the AA Service Manual, the AA Service Handbook for GB, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Steps, and AA literature in general.

A key ingredient of this role will be to be proactive and gain inside knowledge of the Probation Service. The Probation Officers will take you seriously if you know who’s who within their organization and the purpose of the different roles and jobs. This can only be achieved by consistent action and effort.

Some of the more successful awareness raising techniques have been:

Making use of alcoholics with experience of the Probation system for talks and Q & A sessions (the only point to mention here is that the same speakers are not used again and again)
Using AA business card to promote services
Meeting with an established internal contact once a month
Attending staff meetings with experienced AA speakers
These methods have resulted in the beginnings of strong links with the local Probation service.

It is a great way of doing service so if you are interested, consult with your sponsor and see if they feel you are ready to do this role which requires two years of sobriety.

If you are interested:

Please make your interest in this position clear to the chairman at the next Intergroup (Firday 07/08/09)
Alternatively email service@notts-leicsaa.co.uk with contact details and we will pass on you interest to Intergroup.