At a Glance
- Tasks: Support men transitioning from prison to community, ensuring continuity of care and engagement with services.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a charity empowering change for those affected by crime and addiction.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Work autonomously in secure settings with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in treatment or criminal justice services and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 27000 £ per year.
Location: London
Salary: £27,000 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent
As a Prison Link Worker within the Dependency and Recovery Service, you will play a vital role in supporting men transitioning from custody into the community, helping to ensure continuity of care and sustained engagement with treatment and support services. Working predominantly across HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth, you will operate within a flexible, multi-disciplinary team in a hybrid model. This is a predominantly in-person role and you will be expected to work onsite within prison settings Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00, with occasional travel across London to support wider service delivery, training, and team meetings.
You will work closely with individuals prior to release, supporting them through the gate and into the community post-release. Your focus will be on engaging prison leavers who may have a history of non-engagement with services, helping them to access and sustain involvement with probation, substance misuse treatment, and wider statutory and voluntary sector support.
The role involves:
- Building strong working relationships with prison substance misuse teams, offender managers, probation staff, and partner agencies
- Supporting continuity of care through pre-release planning and post-release engagement
- Providing enhanced support including meet and greet arrangements, appointment reminders, and accompanying clients to key appointments
- Managing risks associated with transition into the community, including treatment drop-out, overdose prevention, and harm minimisation
- Carrying a diverse caseload of adult male prison leavers and individuals on community orders
- Completing comprehensive assessments, collaborative action plans, and maintaining accurate case records using electronic systems
- Supporting service users to build motivation, navigate recovery, reduce reoffending, and achieve positive outcomes
You will work autonomously within secure custodial settings as a representative of the Dependency and Recovery Service and will be fully prison vetted to carry keys and work independently onsite.
About You
We are looking for a confident, organised, and compassionate individual who is passionate about supporting people through recovery and reducing reoffending. You will have experience working within treatment, substance misuse, criminal justice, probation, or related support services, and understand the challenges individuals face when transitioning from prison into the community.
To succeed in this role:
- Experience of working within treatment and/or criminal justice services
- The ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries
- Confidence working autonomously within secure custodial environments
- Strong partnership working skills and the ability to build effective relationships with external agencies and stakeholders
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet performance targets
- An understanding of equal opportunities, GDPR requirements, and the importance of client confidentiality
- Experience using electronic case management systems and Microsoft Office applications including Word, Outlook, and Teams
- A proactive and person-centred approach to supporting recovery and engagement
Due to the nature of the role, a full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential, as travel across multiple prison sites and community locations will be required.
About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important.
Joining us as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- BHSF Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
- Access to Blue Light Card
- 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
- Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
- Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Prison Link Worker in London) in City of London employer: Ad Warrior Ltd
Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative work culture that values transparency and civic engagement. Employees benefit from professional development opportunities, including support for obtaining the CiLCA qualification, and enjoy a meaningful role in shaping local governance and community events in the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Prison Link Worker in London) in City of London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
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We think you need these skills to ace Prison Link Worker in London) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Ad Warrior Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Ad Warrior Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ad Warrior Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
