Project Spotlight: Probation Perspectives Podcast
Project by: Meg Thomas - Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Course leader of the PQiP (probation officer training) Level 5 programme.
Background
Meg Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny, Senior Teaching Fellows at the School of Criminology, connected with us through our colleague Chris Wood from the Academic Innovation team. They were looking to develop an engaging audio learning resource that would be easily accessible to their PQiP students across the United Kingdom.
This project forms part of an online course designed for trainee probation officers who are balancing professional roles alongside their studies. As an externally funded programme by the Ministry of Justice, the course requires high-quality, relevant learning resources that reflect the realities of probation practice.
While developing content for the latest contract, the team identified a gap. Specifically, there was a lack of probation-focused podcasts that addressed the key themes of our modules.
Objectives
The aim was to create an engaging podcast resource that would:
- Support students with flexible, accessible learning content
- Address key module themes through a probation-specific lens
- Extend reach beyond the course by making episodes available on all platforms for others to access.
This approach was designed to complement existing materials while offering an alternative format suited to busy, working learners.
Outcomes
The podcast series has been very well received, particularly by its core audience of students. Early feedback indicates strong engagement, with some prospective participants in the PQiP programme seeking out and completing the full series even before formally enrolling. This highlights its value not only as an engaging learning resource but also as an effective pre-induction tool.
The project has attracted positive recognition from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Justice, reflecting the quality and relevance of the content. A notable example of this wider reach is its inclusion in a newsletter by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. This endorsement has helped broaden the podcast’s visibility across the sector, reinforcing its value as a trusted and meaningful resource.
What we did
The CADI team collaborated with the course team to develop the podcast from an early stage and supported the creation of media resources. Initially, the team had recorded content for Series 1 but needed assistance with editing and post-production.
CADI introduced user-friendly editing tools and offered guidance on their effective use, enabling the team to actively shape their content. Beyond technical training, CADI also assisted with planning, structuring, and launching episodes, helping to manage the rollout and guide the development of a more polished Series 2.
Ongoing technical support was available through the podcast studio, where CADI colleagues helped with recording setup, troubleshooting sound issues, and maintaining consistent audio quality across episodes.
Experience of working with CADI
“This knowledge and expertise gained working with them has allowed us to release professionally sounding and polished products. Their support was consistent throughout the project, introducing us to editing tools and managing the release of episodes.”
Meg Thomas
How you can work with us
Looking to bring your teaching ideas to life through digital learning?
CADI works with academics and support staff to design and deliver impactful digital resources that enhance teaching and learning.
Start your project with us today!