'No choice but to leave': understanding voluntary resignations among probation staff in England and Wales

Probation staff attrition in England and Wales has been a cause for concern, yet there is limited research exploring why probation staff choose to leave. Utilising Walker, Annison and Beckett’s (2019) ‘workplace harm’, and Robinson’s (2022) ‘post-traumatic organisation’, this research addresses this gap through a survey (n=47) and interviews (n=4) with staff who have left the service. Themes identified were: (1) identity and values, (2) emotional impact of the job and (3) organisational climate. The possibility of a return to the service is also explored, as well as implications for the organisation and retention of staff.