Prison Support Worker

Service Care Solutions is looking for a committed and empathetic Prison Support Worker to join our team, working across two sites near Leeds. This full-time role involves splitting your time between HMP Leeds (three days per week) and HMP Wealstun, totaling 35 hours a week. The position requires an enhanced DBS check and prison vetting clearance but offers a generous benefits package, including 30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

Key Responsibilities:
As a Prison Support Worker, your primary role will be to provide comprehensive support to individuals within the prison system, helping them navigate their time in custody and preparing them for life after release. Your key responsibilities will include:

Assessing Needs: Conduct initial and ongoing assessments to identify the specific support needs of each participant. Provide tailored advocacy, mentoring, advice, and guidance to meet these needs effectively.
Case Management: Engage and case-manage eligible participants on the CFO Evolution programme, offering ongoing resettlement support. You will also be responsible for completing pre-release inventories and associated actions to ensure participants are well-prepared for their transition back into the community.
Quality Assurance & Reporting: Develop and implement detailed Action Plans, designing and delivering appropriate activities, training programmes, and interventions. You will be expected to lead high-quality 1:1 and group sessions, monitor participants’ progress, and contribute to internal quality assurance processes. Regularly provide timely monthly reports on progress against agreed outcomes.
Team Collaboration: Build strong working relationships with HMPPS, other agencies, and colleagues within the prison system. You will also collaborate with the local CFO Activity Hub to facilitate effective through-the-gate transitions and ensure a smooth handover to community-based support workers.

Person Specification:
We are looking for candidates who possess the following skills, knowledge, and attributes:

Experience: A background in working intensively with individuals, particularly those from marginalized or offender backgrounds, is essential. Experience in training, guidance, advice, or counseling environments is highly desirable.
Knowledge: A strong understanding of the issues affecting the rehabilitation of offenders, desistance theory, and the prison environment is crucial. You should also be knowledgeable about local and national training, education, and employment opportunities for offenders.
Skills & Abilities: We seek individuals with excellent communication, interpersonal, and IT skills, along with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. You should be self-motivated, flexible, and capable of developing positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Attitude: A positive, empathetic, and resilient attitude is essential. You must have a strong belief in the ability of people to turn their lives around and a commitment to consultative and collaborative working practices.

What We Offer:

A comprehensive induction to help you settle into your role. Ongoing learning and development opportunities tailored to your needs. Continuous support and supervision, including reflective practice, to help you grow and succeed as a practitioner.

If you are passionate about making a difference and meet the criteria outlined above, we encourage you to apply. Please send your up-to-date CV to Mark White at mark.white@servicecare.org.uk.