At a Glance
- Tasks: Support offenders in custody to prepare for work and break the cycle of reoffending.
- Company: Join Career Connect, a charity making a real difference in people's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexitime, generous sick pay, and a range of employee perks.
- Other info: Friendly team environment with excellent training and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on individuals and communities while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience with offenders or vulnerable groups; Level 4 IAG preferred.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 34000 £ per year.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and confident Career Information Advice and Guidance (CIAG) Adviser, working with offenders in custody to help them prepare for work on release. If you have experience of working with offenders or other disadvantaged people and you want to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.
The job involves working with people serving custodial sentences, to engage them in learning, training and employment opportunities, so they’re ready to start a new life on release and break the cycle of reoffending. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to people and communities.
You’ll need to be:
- confident and proactive
- a good communicator with a non-judgemental approach
- comfortable working on databases and have a strong attention to detail
We are especially looking for applicants who have experience of helping offenders or other vulnerable groups to move forward in their lives. If you’re someone who can really connect with people to help them to progress, work in a prison environment, embrace the quality and compliance requirements of the contract and have the skills to work towards individual targets, we’d love to hear from you.
We’ll give you all the training you need to do the job and to get established in the new role. Our teams are always supportive and friendly towards new starters, to help them to settle into the job. We are particularly interested in applicants who hold a Level 4 or above in IAG.
The contract requires a 37.5h working week and we also offer flexitime, so when we ask our staff to do extra, we always make sure they’ve got those hours to take back another time. It’s a great benefit of working for Career Connect.
Are you ready to join a high-performing team and make a contribution to changing lives? If you would like an informal discussion regarding the vacancy, please contact: John.Elmer@careerconnect.org.uk
The closing date for this vacancy is 14-Aug-2026. Interviews are expected to take place on 21-Aug-2026 via MS Teams.
We are committed to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults and expect our staff to share this commitment. All applicants are subject to DBS and staff who work in custody also have a prison clearance process. We promote equality and diversity across all that we do and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Part-time workers are always welcome. Inclusion and diversity are a significant feature of our charity’s values, cutting across everything that we do.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we are keen to hear from applicants with disabilities. Around a quarter of our workforce have a disability. Please let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process.
We are proud to be recognised as an Investor in Diversity and one of the Top 10 Most Inclusive Workplaces with the National Centre for Diversity.
Careers Advisor in Retford employer: Career Connect
Career Connect is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact in the community by supporting offenders on their journey to employment. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we foster a collaborative work culture that values innovation and compassion. Working across multiple prison sites in the East Midlands, our team enjoys unique opportunities to engage with diverse stakeholders while contributing to meaningful change in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Careers Advisor in Retford
✨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 Connect.
✨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 Connect!
✨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 Connect, 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 Connect 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 Careers Advisor in Retford
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 Connect:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Career Connect! 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 Connect
✨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.
