Arthur Soh is a Probation Officer/Manager of the Rehabilitation and Protection Group/Probation and Community Rehabilitation Service at the Ministry of Social and Family Development. He received a Singapore Government Scholarship and pursued a double major in Economics and Social Work at NUS.
In Singapore, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is at the forefront of developing the nation’s “heartware” through its policies, community infrastructure, programmes and services. With a focus on nurturing resilient individuals, strong families, and a caring society, MSF plays a crucial role in the nation’s social fabric.
Arthur Soh, a Singapore Government Scholar, epitomises this ethos. As a Probation Officer/Manager of the Rehabilitation and Protection Group/Probation and Community Rehabilitation Service within MSF, he passionately tackles critical issues concerning youths and journeys alongside them to bring about a positive impact.
We had the opportunity to hear from Arthur and delve into what fuels his commitment as he makes a meaningful impact in his role.
What sparked your interest in social work?
I first learned about social work during my internship at MSF before starting my undergraduate studies! While interning at the Children in Care service, I saw heart-wrenching cases of abuse and neglect suffered by children. However, I was also inspired by the zeal and professionalism of the caseworkers. It was then that I realised that social work is often known as a “helping profession”. I personally find this to be a meaningful calling as it gives me the opportunity to work towards improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
That’s admirable! Tell us more about your scholarship experience with MSF.
Working at MSF has been a longstanding desire of mine due to my interest in social policy-related work and my enjoyable internship experience. I found the job responsibilities to be both meaningful and intellectually stimulating. As such, I decided to apply for the Singapore Government Scholarship. It not only provided me with the opportunity to work at MSF but also offered benefits such as an allowance and covered my school fees, which certainly came in handy too!
Arthur Soh
How did the scholarship enhance your academic experience?
As part of the scholarship, I was assigned to a mentor who is a senior and experienced staff in MSF. He took the effort to meet me, offering advice on internship opportunities, sharing insights about his work, and helping me to see how some of my academic learnings could be applied in the working world. I am very grateful for my mentor, and he continues to provide me with guidance to this day!
Amazing! What about the work you do with MSF today? What can you tell us about that?
As a Probation Officer, I conduct social investigations into youth offenders referred by the Courts to assess their suitability to be placed on probation – a community-based rehabilitation option. To facilitate my information gathering and assessments, I interview offenders and their families, liaise with various professionals who work or have worked with the offender and arrange for psychological assessments if necessary.
If the Court places the offender on probation, they are required to undergo a period of supervision, including regular reporting sessions where I work with them to address their offending risks and needs. Topics covered during these sessions include equipping them with skills to consider consequences and fostering victim empathy.
Families play an important role in this journey, and we also involve them in supporting the offender.
My other job responsibilities include contributing to work improvement efforts such as refining work processes and reviewing operational policies to ensure that our work remains responsive and effective.
Overall, I find it meaningful to be able to journey with the youths under my care throughout the entire duration of their probation order. Witnessing the successful completion of their probation order, marked by positive changes such as increased motivation to avoid reoffending and overcoming their personal challenges, is particularly rewarding.
Tell us something intriguing about your job.
I am surprised by the multi-faceted and complex nature of youth offending. In the past, I used to wonder why these youths would make such decisions and why they could not “just change”. However, through my interactions with my youths, I have come to understand that they face a wide range of issues, such as familial conflict, poverty and addiction, which can influence some of their decisions. This realisation has led me to be less quick to judge and has underscored the importance of providing guidance and support to help them navigate the right path.
What kind of impact do you hope to have through your career?
I really like this quote: “As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.” I hope to be able to touch the lives of my clients through my interactions with them and the policies that I am involved in. Having had the opportunity to work directly with clients, I also hope to contribute my experiences which I have gained working on the ground by shaping the effective design of policies and programmes.
What possibilities are there for individuals and scholars working at MSF?
No two days look the same! You can look forward to a dynamic environment where the work is challenging yet engaging at the same time. With a wide range of responsibilities and rotations between divisions, you will have an enriching learning experience. Most importantly, I believe you will find the work that you do here at MSF meaningful.
