Elaine Dacosta is a highly experienced probation officer currently undertaking a secondment to the National Probation Service Learning and Development Team, where she delivers training. She has over 20 years of experience in roles related to community engagement, mental health, substance misuse, complaints, and anti-social behavior. Her skills include relationship building, improving outcomes for service users, project management, risk assessment, and developing strategies to help offenders lead law-abiding lives. She holds qualifications in criminal justice, probation studies, and working with offending behavior.

1. Elaine Dacosta
25A Clissold Road
Stoke Newington
London
N16 9EX
Mobile: 07804 736760
Email: Probation1@hotmail.co.uk
Personal Profile
A highly experienced and driven qualified Probation Officer currently undertaking a
secondment to the National Probation Service (NPS) Learning and Development Team,
delivering training to both practitioners and senior staff. During my employment with the
Probation service I have managed a caseload of high risk offenders both as a
community practitioner in Hackney as well as a Prison based Probation Officer at HMP
Brixton. My skills of critical thinking, motivational empowerment of individuals and
development of robust risk management plans is underpinned by the knowledge gained
in over twenty years of customer facing positions in community engagement, mental
health, substance misuse, complaints and anti-social behaviour.
Key Skills and Attributes
● Ability to build and sustain effective relationships
● Improving outcomes for service users
● Project Management
● Excellent analytical and risk management skills
● Developing imaginative and relevant strategies to help offenders lead law abiding lives
making use of relevant resources
● Working with men who have sexually offended
● Proven track record of improving performance standards
● Report writing skills, writing policies and reports for Court and Oral Hearings
● Strong professional and personal boundaries
Education/Qualifications
● BA Hons Criminal Justice -2010
● Diploma in Probation Studies – 2010
● NVQ Level 4 – Working with Offending Behaviour-2010
● GCE Sociology-Grade B-1981
● GCE English –Grade B- 1981
● BTEC Office Practice-Distinction -1980
Throughout my Probation career I have undertaken the following training:
● Skills for Effective Engagement Development ( SEEDS), Introduction to counselling,
Core Skills for Group Work, Motivational Interviewing, Working with men who have
sexually offended on the Autistic Spectrum, Sex Offender training, Knowledge and
understanding working with personality disorder, Hate Crime, Domestic Abuse.

2. Child Safeguarding, Adult Safeguarding, Active Risk Management System ( ARMS),
Risk Matrix 2000, Parole/Oral Hearing/Recall training, Working with IPP/EPP prisoners,
Substance Misuse and Female Genital Mutilation
Employment History
Seconded Probation Officer (Trainer)
National Probation Service – Learning and Development Team
August 2015 – Present
London and the South East
● Engaging and developing the knowledge of the learners in subject areas specified by
the National Probation Service. This includes the assessed Active Risk Management
System (ARMS), a framework for working with men who have sexually offended.
● Assessing and providing detailed written feedback on completed ARMS
assessments
● Developing and writing Probation Service Officers workbooks for online and face to
face learning, on subjects such as motivational interviewing and effective
communication.
Seconded Probation Officer
National Probation Service
November 2013 - August 2015
HMP Brixton
● Conducting post sentence interviews with offenders
● Supervision of high risk offenders to ensure sentence plans were implemented
● Motivating offenders to engage with sentence planning
● Delivery of one to one interventions including RESOLVE, Integrated Domestic Abuse
Programme and Structured Supervision
● Writing of custody and Parole Reports
● Attendance at Oral Hearings
● Convening and Chairing Home Detention Curfew and Release on Temporary Licence
Boards
● Collaborating with external Probation Officers and multi-disciplinary teams to reduce
reoffending
Trainee Probation Officer / Probation Officer
October 2008 – October 2013
London Probation Service
● Supervision of medium and high risk offenders in the community
● Writing Pre Sentence Reports and Parole Reports
● Single Point of Contact lead for Domestic Violence – working closely with Hackney
MARAC
● London Probation Staff Forum Chair
● Writing of OASYS to manage risk
● Database management – Delius and C-NOMIS
● Interviewing offenders and assessing their risk and threat to the public before advising
magistrates on the kind of sentence the court should consider.
● Maintaining accurate case files.

3. ● Completing referrals for issues around substance misuse, health or work.
● Arranging and overseeing unpaid community work programmes for offenders.
● Delivering behavioural programmes, either directly or through other agencies, to help
make offenders more aware of how crime affects victims and the public.
● Maintaining links with voluntary and other organisations that deliver rehabilitative
elements
Anti-Social Behaviour Officer
March 2008 – October 2008
Southern Housing
● Writing of policies and procedures to best manage anti-social behaviour
● Delivery of training to Housing Officers on new developments in anti-social behaviour
● Holding monthly staff anti-social behaviour forums throughout the region
● Providing advice and guidance to lone workers in supported housing
● Participating in community engagement events
Community Engagement Officer
November 2007 – March 2008
London Borough of Lambeth
● Organised the “Learn More do More” one day conference, hosted by Lord Victor
Adebowale of Turning Point, bringing together 120 voluntary and statutory agencies to
promote understanding
● Managing grant applications
● Engaging with the Somalian Community to promote better health outcomes
Anti-Social Behaviour Officer
July 2007 – October 2007
Clapham Park Homes
● Effectively managed and dealt with a delegated case load of anti-social behaviour,
hate crime and domestic violence cases.
● Provided proactive support to the Neighbourhood Housing team to identify and
investigate instances of anti-social behaviour, promptly assessing whether preventative
intervention or legal action was required.
● Actively participated with external agencies to identify where preventative intervention
was required, ensuring a prompt and joined up approach in tackling anti-social behaviour
and tenancy enforcement.
● Gathering evidence, preparing cases for Court, obtaining witness statements,
attending Court and supporting witnesses.
● Utilised and applied mediation techniques when dealing with neighbourhood conflict in
order to achieve effective
resolutions of problems.
Community Reparation Officer
April 2007 – July 2007
London Borough of Southwark
● Visiting local organisations to promote Unpaid Work assessments
● Developing new Unpaid Work placements

4. ● Working with Probation Officers to develop robust risk management plans
● Promoting Unpaid Work at Resident Panel Meetings
● Organised the Community Reparation Open Day
Anti-Social Behaviour Officer
March 2005 – April 2007
London Borough of Haringey
● Managing reported cases of anti-social behaviour
● Facilitating Mediation Sessions in secondary schools
● Delivering presentations at community events
● Bounds Green Safer Neighbourhood Panel Lead
● Attending Court to apply for Injunctions
● Liaising with Youth Offending Teams to ensure effective monitoring of Acceptable
Behaviour Contracts
Complaints Officer
January 2004 – March 2005
Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
● Played a key role in the organisations provision of a robust and responsive complaints
service
● Interviewing of service users
● Investigation of complaints
● Facilitated and supported resolution at formal complaints meetings
● Drafting of responses on behalf of the Chief Executive
● Ensured a high quality of service delivery and supported the Directorates in meeting
the agreed targets of 100% of responses acknowledged and responded to within the
given timeframe
Patient Advice and Liaison Service Officer
September 2002 – January 2004
Westminster Primary Care Trust
● Providing NHS information to users of Westminster Primary Care Trust
● Resolving patients concerns
● Community presentations
● Project managed the first Westminster PCT PALS survey, which identified the need for
a Mincom system and more outreach services, both of which were implemented.
● Between 1990 – 2002 I worked in various educational establishments as a Courses
Officer, the last establishment being City University – details available on request
● From March 1989 – July 1990 I was a full-time mother
Administrative Officer
March 1986 – March 1989
HMP Pentonville
● Provided administrative support to ten Probation Officers

5. Clerical Assistant
August 1980 – October 1983
Home Office Parole Board
● Determining which cases should be reviewed by the Parole Board, Attending Parole
Board meetings and general administrative duties
● Between October 1983 – October 1985 I lived abroad, in Jamaica.
Hobbies and Interests
● Mentor with Circles of Support and Accountability, acting as a critical friend, mentor
with SOVA, providing catering between January – March of each year at the Defoe Road
Night Shelter and walking.

6. Clerical Assistant
August 1980 – October 1983
Home Office Parole Board
● Determining which cases should be reviewed by the Parole Board, Attending Parole
Board meetings and general administrative duties
● Between October 1983 – October 1985 I lived abroad, in Jamaica.
Hobbies and Interests
● Mentor with Circles of Support and Accountability, acting as a critical friend, mentor
with SOVA, providing catering between January – March of each year at the Defoe Road
Night Shelter and walking.