As Family Engagement Worker, you will work as one of the Pact Family team, providing family casework support to prisoners, as well as support to the families of prisoners through advice and guidance, facilitating prison visits, and delivering family induction sessions.

• To complete Pact’s family-focused assessments: gathering relevant information; assessing risks and needs; and planning appropriate support and interventions based on the full and active involvement of the prisoner, family member and significant others.
• To follow up with tried and tested interventions and support mechanisms with a view to building, maintaining and strengthening relationships between the prisoner, family members and significant others during an individual’s stay in custody.
• To make timely and appropriate referrals to agencies and programmes located within the prison, within the wider prison system prior to transfer, or in the community prior to release with a view to the continuation of planned casework objectives and outcomes.
• To conduct regular caseload review meetings with prisoners and families in relation to the interventions and support mechanisms that are being deployed, and to adjust as necessary.
• To mentor and motivate prisoners, family members and significant others to enhance their understanding of what’s involved in planned interventions and programmes and the benefits of taking part.
• To support prisoners, family members and significant others if they or another party wish to opt out of planned interventions or programmes.
• To facilitate the following: in person family visits, ensuring they support the wider aims of building, maintaining and strengthening prisoner and family relationships, all parties are treated with dignity, courtesy and respect, children’s needs are met throughout the visit, access to secure video visits and pre- and post-visit support for prisoners, family members and significant others as required.
• To work with prisoners who do not receive visits from family members or significant others, ensuring their needs are met (where possible) via the development of suitable support networks.
• To provide practical and emotional support to family members and significant others at times of crisis, as well as accurate and timely information, advice and guidance in relation to the prison process.
• To advocate on behalf of families and significant others in line with assessments and casework reviews so that they know and understand that a prisoner is safe and well, and that information they provide about a prisoner’s health and well-being is channelled effectively within the prison (and wider prison system as relevant), and acted upon appropriately and in a timely way to prevent and reduce harm and preserve the prisoner’s health and well-being.
• To work collaboratively and effectively in partnership with other Pact teams and workers, prison staff and healthcare professionals employed by partner organisations within the prison to ensure that family-focused assessments, casework reviews, plans, and interventions and support mechanisms are viable, realistic and appropriate within the context of the prisoner’s sentence, rehabilitation and healthcare plans.
• To work collaboratively and effectively with social workers, probation officers, healthcare professionals and third sector colleagues in the community in line with family-focused assessments, plans and casework reviews.
• To provide reports as requested to support other processes within the prison including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, MAPPA and parole, and to attend case review boards as appropriate.
• To maintain timely, accurate and appropriate case records, and to ensure they are kept, stored and managed in line with Pact’s case records policy.
• To assist the line manager in monitoring, reviewing, evaluating and improving the performance, effectiveness and impact of interventions and programmes, including that relating to your own practice, by providing timely, accurate and relevant statistics and caseload information.
• To support and supervise volunteers, students on placement and peer mentors, contributing to their recruitment, selection, induction, training and development. 
• To participate actively, fully and constructively in supervision and appraisal processes, team and wider partnership meetings, as well as in training and other continuing professional development activities.
• To provide cover for other Pact workers within the prison (within visit centres, catering facilities and in relation to children’s play activities), commensurate with job role and grade as and when resource-needs require, and in order to expand and develop your own professional experience and understanding of Pact’s work.

•A recognised level three qualification in at least one of the following subjects: Criminal justice, Information, advice and guidance, Counselling, Substance misuse or addictions, Mental health, Social care, Youthwork or Childcare.

•Demonstrable understanding of the importance of operating within the professional boundaries of the role in a statutory and secure environment

•Knowledge of the criminal justice system obtained through academic study, experience of working in the criminal justice system (or closely associated social system) or lived experience

•An understanding of the impact of trauma and the consequences of adverse childhood experiences obtained through academic study, experience of working within trauma or psychologically informed environments or lived experience

•Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, and data security

•Related experience of working with diverse and disadvantaged groups, including directly with families

•An understanding of volunteering and the role of a volunteer.

•Related experience of managing staff and volunteers, preferably in the criminal justice system within a secure environment

•Significant experience of interagency and partnership working, and experience of collaboration in relation to service planning and development

•Experience of budgeting, handling money and finances effectively in a professional role.

•A commitment to the inclusive culture of Pact and to the active promotion of equal opportunities. 

•Competent in IT (Microsoft Office)

Disclaimer: We will be interviewing for this role as suitable applications are received and may close this role before the closing date upon a successful candidate being appointed.