Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate (part time) in Ashford, Kent

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate.

• Salary: £27,000 - £29,000 (pro rata)
• Location: HMP Bronzefield
• Hours: 21 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed Term – until 31st March 2027

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us: Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community. We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community.

About the role: The Advance Prison Advocate will support sentenced women facing imminent release from custody, providing pre-release support; focused on Accommodation, Finance, debt & benefits, Family & significant others and Social inclusion. The Prison Advocate will develop a referral pathway with the Offender Management team within the prison, for women to access the service and will work in partnership with the existing service providers operating within the prison. You will co-design a person-centred support and action plan with women accessing support, enabling you to support them to address their needs and any risks in relation to the interventions identified above including providing ‘through the gate support’. The role will combine a casework-based approach, along with a signposting and advice service for the women in custody.

You will have demonstrable experience and understanding of working with women in a challenging multi-agency environment, ideally working with prisoners and/or their families. You will build strong relationships with the Pre Release teams to ensure clients are able to maintain or access suitable accommodation, finance, benefits and debt, family and social inclusion support including negotiating terms on behalf of the women. Ensure that interventions are responsive to and meet the needs of women from diverse and minoritised backgrounds. This, together with referrals to wider partner organisations in the community, will ensure additional support needs are addressed post-release and continuity of support exists. A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential.

About You: To be successful as the Advance Prison Advocate you will need the below experience and skills:

• Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice system obtained through academic study, experience of working in the criminal justice system (or closely associated social system).
• The ability and experience as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons.
• You will possess excellent organisational skills, excellent communication skills and be able to work in a prison environment whilst remaining calm.
• Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of managing a caseload including maintaining and updating records, remaining focused on action plan goals, and keeping to deadlines.
• You will have the ability to complete trauma informed, support and action plans in collaboration with the woman; to support in addressing their multiple and individual needs and enable them to engage with services, which will result in timely and prescribed outcomes being achieved.

How to apply: Please apply with a copy of your CV and a cover letter through our website. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

• 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that’s nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• One-week paid carers’ leave
• Career development pathways

Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities: We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding: Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.