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- Tasks: Support families visiting loved ones in prison, ensuring a welcoming and engaging environment.
- Company: Join the Social Interest Group, a not-for-profit dedicated to empowering marginalised communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible weekend shifts and the chance to make a real impact in people's lives.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team that values ambition, empowerment, and inclusivity.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a positive attitude; experience with children is a plus.
- Other info: Apply early as the position may close quickly due to ongoing applications.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 ÂŁ per year.
Job Title: Relief Bank – Family Liaison Worker
Location:Based at HMP Altcourse
Salary:ÂŁ12.60 per hour plus 12.07% annual leave accrual
Shift Pattern:Flexible to the service needs – Mainly weekend shifts.
Applications close: 24 December 2025
ABOUT THE ROLE
At SIG Safe Ground, we understand that visiting a loved one in prison can be a difficult and emotional time. Our team helps to make a challenging time easier by offering practical and emotional support, clear information, and signposting – ensuring that the people visiting our service feel seen, heard, and supported.
As a Family Liaison Worker, you’ll be the first point of contact for families and significant others visiting a loved one at HMP Altcourse. You’ll be responsible for the day-to-day running of our Visitors’ Centre, creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone who comes through the door.
Family Liaison Workers ensure visits are processed smoothly and efficiently, while building strong, collaborative relationships with families, the wider team, and key prison staff to help deliver a wraparound, person-centred service.
You’ll also lead structured play sessions with children of all ages who are visiting a parent or loved one in prison, making sure they feel safe, engaged, and cared for during their visit.
Rota: Flexible to the service needs – Mainly weekend shifts.
ABOUT US
The Social Interest Group (SIG) believes that good care and support make for better lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.
Safe Ground is a charity and subsidiary of the Social Interest Group. For over 30 years, we have been designing and delivering creative, relational, and therapeutically informed programmes and services. Through arts-based practices, we support personal growth, rebuild relationships, and develop innovative, anti-shame approaches for people impacted by the criminal justice system.
If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference to people’s lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!
ABOUT THE SERVICE
SIG Safe Ground delivers a comprehensive and pioneering Family Service at HMP Altcourse – our flagship site for family support within the prison estate. Since June 2023, we have led the design and delivery of a bespoke, trauma-informed service that responds to the complex needs of families affected by imprisonment. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach. We work closely with prison staff and a range of internal and external partners to ensure families receive the right support at the right time.
Our service includes managing the Outside Visitors Centre seven days a week, providing direct support to families and significant others, and delivering arts-based therapeutic programmes with men in custody. We are also proud that our dedicated Family Counselling Service, offers tailored one-to-one and group support to strengthen relationships and promote emotional well‑being.
ABOUT YOU
You have excellent communication, IT, organisational, and support skills. You view relationships as central to personal development and approach your work with a positive, non-judgemental attitude. You’re confident working both within a team and in collaboration with a range of stakeholders.
Safe Ground’s practice is reflective across all aspects of service delivery, so it\’s important that you are naturally reflective and genuinely curious about people, relationships, and personal growth.
Training will be provided for this role, including Security and Key Training through the Criminal Justice Service.
OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the Visitors’ Centre service to appear, operate, and deliver to the quality standards of Safe Ground, Social Interest Group, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Welcome, book in, and share relevant information with visitors attending the Visitors’ Centre, including those visiting a prison for the first time.
- Take an active role in planning, promoting, and delivering meaningful and memorable family visits.
- Develop and maintain child-friendly spaces and play areas across the Visitors’ Centre, Visits Hall, and other designated areas within the prison.
- Implement and supervise varied, age-appropriate play activities, tailored to the developmental needs of children visiting the prison, ensuring a safe and engaging environment.
- Promote Safe Ground’s programmatic work, and identify opportunities for collaboration with community partners via joint interventions, referral routes, or signposting.
- Work closely with the wider Safe Ground team to meet performance targets and objectives.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external persons and partners, including but not limited to: Governors, Offender Management Units (OMU), Wing Staff, Education Staff, Family Services, Induction, Resettlement teams, and other key HMP and community stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively within the team to monitor, gain feedback, evaluate, and develop the service for continuous improvement.
- Complete safeguarding and other referrals where required.
- Participate in reflective practice, clinical supervision, and other arranged meetings.
- Undertake varied administration duties, including maintaining confidential records and handling information in accordance with relevant statutory and organisational policies.
Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position.
KEY CRITERIA
What we are looking for:
- Experience of working with children and their families.
- IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, basic Microsoft experience.
- Ability to build trust, motivate others, and encourage positive engagement.
- An understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Desirable but not essential:
- Understandingand/orpractical knowledge of the social and societal stigma that is attached to people within the criminal justice setting and their family members
- Experience within a prison or other criminal justice setting, and/or within a similar role
- Have, or be working towards an appropriate professional qualification
Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.
WORKING FOR US
OUR VALUES
Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people
Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential
Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff
Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.
Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.
For Recruitment related enquiries, please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk
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Relief Bank - Family Liaison Worker employer: Homeless Link
Contact Detail:
Homeless Link Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Relief Bank - Family Liaison Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of families visiting prisons. Understanding their emotional and practical challenges will help you connect better during interviews and demonstrate your empathy and suitability for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the social care and criminal justice sectors. Attend relevant workshops or community events to meet people who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your communication skills by engaging in conversations with individuals from diverse backgrounds. This will not only enhance your confidence but also prepare you for the varied interactions you'll have as a Family Liaison Worker.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the Social Interest Group's values and mission thoroughly. Being able to articulate how your personal values align with theirs during an interview can significantly strengthen your application and show your commitment to their cause.
We think you need these skills to ace Relief Bank - Family Liaison Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Family Liaison Worker position. Understand the key responsibilities and criteria required, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any experience you have working with children and families, especially in challenging environments. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in communication, organisation, and support.
Showcase Your Values: The Social Interest Group values ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity. Make sure to reflect these values in your application by providing examples of how you embody them in your work and interactions with others.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Address how your skills and experiences align with the requirements listed in the job description, particularly your ability to work collaboratively and support vulnerable individuals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Homeless Link
✨Show Your Passion for Support Work
Make sure to express your genuine passion for supporting families, especially in challenging situations. Share any personal experiences or motivations that drive you to work in this field, as it will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Since the role involves interacting with diverse individuals, highlight your excellent communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with families or children in previous roles, showcasing your ability to build rapport.
✨Understand the Environment
Familiarise yourself with the prison environment and the challenges families face when visiting. Showing that you understand the emotional aspects of these visits will demonstrate your empathy and readiness for the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and approach to sensitive situations. Think about how you would handle various scenarios involving families and children, and be ready to discuss your thought process.
