At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families visiting loved ones in prison, creating a welcoming environment and organising activities.
- Company: Join Pact, a supportive organisation dedicated to improving family support services.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday entitlement, training opportunities, and a range of employee benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a friendly team with excellent professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in challenging situations while helping families feel supported.
- Qualifications: Experience working with people facing difficulties and a calm, sensitive approach.
The predicted salary is between 30428 - 38505 £ per year.
Join us as a Family Support Worker (Visits Centre Assistant) at HMP Birmingham, where you will play an important role in supporting families visiting their loved ones in prison. Based in the visitor centre, you’ll help create a welcoming and supportive environment for adults and children. From offering information and guidance to organising activities for children and ensuring refreshments are available, you’ll contribute to making visits as positive and stress-free as possible. This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You’ll support families during what can often be a challenging time, using your experience of working with people facing difficulties to handle situations calmly and sensitively. You’ll also work closely with colleagues and partner agencies, ensuring safeguarding and child protection procedures are followed at all times. Your input will help us continue to improve our family support services. If you’re organised, approachable, and passionate about making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Responsibilities:
- Assist and support families during visits to prison, providing information and guidance.
- Organise activities for children and ensure refreshments are available.
- Answer queries on the phone and manage bookings.
- Work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to maintain safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Contribute to ongoing improvement of family support services.
Qualifications:
- Experience of working with people facing difficulties.
- Calm and sensitive handling of challenging situations.
Location: HMP Birmingham (visitor centre).
This post is subject to a 6‑month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3‑year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.
What we offer:
- Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement.
- Opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker.
- Thorough induction process and support from a friendly and enthusiastic team.
Equal Opportunity: Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).
Family Support Worker in Birmingham employer: Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
Pact is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment at HMP Birmingham. As a Family Support Worker, you will benefit from a comprehensive induction process, ongoing professional development opportunities, and a range of employee benefits including a contributory pension and generous holiday entitlement. Join a dedicated team that values your contributions and is committed to making a positive impact on families during challenging times.
Contact Details:
Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker in Birmingham
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Worker in Birmingham
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 Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa 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 Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa 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.