At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in overcoming challenges and reintegrating into society through tailored guidance.
- Company: Join a compassionate team dedicated to making a real difference in people's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, healthcare cash plan, and competitive salary.
- Other info: Flexible working across Devon with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on individuals' lives while developing your skills in a rewarding environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care or related fields is a plus; passion for helping others is essential.
We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated individual to join our team as a Custody & Community Support Worker
In this role, you’ll support a caseload of participants in a community setting starting from their initial assessment and continuing throughout their sentence.
You’ll provide guidance, encouragement, and tailored support to help them overcome challenges, reintegrate into society, and successfully complete their journey.
Support is delivered through one on one sessions and group interventions, all designed to empower participants and help them build brighter futures.
We’re creating safe, welcoming spaces where people with experience of rehabilitation can engage in meaningful activities that promote social inclusion, improve wellbeing, and develop the skills needed to thrive in everyday life.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including health and social care, mental health support, youth work, housing services, substance misuse recovery, community volunteering, and newly graduated students from criminal justice or related fields who are seeking meaningful opportunities to make a difference.
Our ideal candidate is confident, empathetic, and comfortable mentoring people from all walks of life.
Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who is passionate about supporting others and committed to helping individuals overcome challenges and transform their lives.
This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real impact.
In return for your dedication, knowledge, and commitment, we offer a competitive salary of £25,877 - £29,000 per annum (dependent on experience) with these great benefits:
- 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Birthday Day off (with the opportunity to buy an additional 5 days)
- 2 Volunteer Days
- Pension - 5% Employee 5% Employer
- Healthcare Cash Plan, incl. 3 x salary life assurance
- Annual salary pay review
- Refer a friend scheme
- Free access to Benefit Hub - an online portal with access to a wide range of retail discounts, cycle to work scheme, and additional voluntary benefits
Interested?
There’s an easy to apply route below to upload your CV!
If you need any further information, talk to our experienced Internal Recruitment Team on (phone number removed).
Communities is part of an employee-owned organisation and we continually pride ourselves on our sense of community, both in the incredible work we do throughout UK and Ireland.
People are at the front, centre and heart of every service we provide and each decision we make.
Location: Peripatetic, the cluster will cover areas across Devon Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent Closing Date: 4th August 2026
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of participants across both custody and community settings with complex needs and provide advice, guidance and support to overcome barriers to social inclusion and signpost to internal and external support.
- Completion of pre-release work/through the gate support, initial assessments and creation of individual/tailored action plans, delivery of interventions on a one to one and group work basis, motivational support and guidance to help and sustain engagement, progress reviews (updating and developing) and reinforce positive outcomes.
- To ensure the accurate and timely recording of input participant data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
- Meet individual performance targets and contribute towards meeting team performance targets in line with contractual requirements.
- Provide information as required, to support the monitoring and tracking of performance against contract targets and to ensure activities are effective.
- To ensure effective case management and co-ordination of risk with a particular focus on safeguarding of adults and children.
This includes the timely notification of concerns regarding change in individual risk to the Probation Service and adhering to systems, policies and procedures to support the management of risk.
- Implement safeguarding policies and procedures within all aspects of delivery, to protect children and vulnerable adults within both a custodial and community setting.
- Contribute to the creation and provision of a welcoming and inclusive environment, in which participants are enabled to fulfil their potential and desist from crime.
- Lead and contribute to the delivery of a range of assessments and activities/interventions, designed to enable individuals to achieve positive change, reduce re-offending, promote engagement in appropriate services, overcome multiple and complex barriers to employment, access mainstream services and reintegrate into their local communities.
- Work in partnership with other agencies to raise awareness of the service and carry out joint working to enable effective engagement and progress to support rehabilitation.
Skills & Experience
- IAG Level 3 desirable
- Demonstrable experience of/ability to achieve individual performance goals and/or contribute towards team and organisational targets.
- Experience of inputting and retrieving electronic data and maintain computer-based information systems in an accurate and timely manner.
- Maintenance of professional boundaries and work with and manage challenging behaviour.
- Effective communication and work with partnership agencies and stakeholders and maintain effective working relationships.
- Experience and/or ability to work with people on a one to one and group work basis. Ability to motivate others and facilitate learning in order to change attitudes and behaviour.
- Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills (good verbal, presentation and written skills and ability to communicate concisely and effectively).
- Highly organised and ability to maintain accurate records with timely recording and ability to meet deadlines.
- Experience of working with a variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties and/or experience within criminal justice system and understanding of the barriers faced by offenders with multiple and/or complex needs.
- Confident with the ability to exercise authority and reinforce boundaries in an appropriate manner
Custody & Community Support Worker - (Devon) in Plymouth employer: Communities and Education
Join a dedicated team as an Accommodation Support Officer in Lancashire, where your passion for making a difference will be valued and nurtured. Our employee-owned organisation fosters a supportive work culture that prioritises personal growth, offering comprehensive training and development opportunities to help you thrive in your role. With competitive benefits including generous annual leave, a healthcare cash plan, and a strong sense of community, we are committed to empowering our employees to create meaningful change in the lives of those we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Custody & Community Support Worker - (Devon) in Plymouth
✨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 Communities and Education.
✨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 Communities and Education!
✨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 Communities and Education, 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 Communities and Education 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 Custody & Community Support Worker - (Devon) in Plymouth
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 Communities and Education:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Communities and Education! 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 Communities and Education
✨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.
