At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in custody and their families, facilitating recovery and rebuilding relationships.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a charity dedicated to empowering change and supporting communities.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and a contributory pension scheme.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a meaningful role.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support or social care is a plus, but passion and resilience are key.
Location: Sutton
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
Closing Date: 26th May 2026
Want to make a real difference where it truly matters? We’re looking for a Family Support Practitioner to join our team at HMP Highdown, working full time (35 hours per week). This is a frontline role where you’ll support people in custody and their families across both the prison and local community, helping to rebuild relationships, strengthen wellbeing, and support long-term recovery and rehabilitation.
This role sits within the Family Support and Specialist Programmes department and focuses on delivering impactful 1:1 and group interventions. You’ll help clients understand the role of relationships in addiction, offending, mental health, and wider life challenges, while also working directly with family members and affected others to improve their health, resilience, and ability to support positive change.
What you’ll be doing:
- Delivering 1:1 support (face-to-face, online, and telephone) for clients and families
- Facilitating group programmes such as relationships work, parenting interventions, and structured recovery programmes
- Supporting and coordinating family meetings and family visits
- Completing needs and risk assessments, and co-producing tailored support plans
- Working directly with children and young people where appropriate to support whole-family recovery
- Signposting to specialist services and building strong referral pathways
You’ll collaborate closely with prison-based teams, substance misuse services, Forward colleagues, and external partners to ensure joined-up, holistic support. You’ll also play a key role in developing relationships with community organisations and raising awareness of the service.
What the role involves beyond delivery:
- Maintaining accurate case records and outcome data
- Supporting service improvement, audits, and feedback activity
- Contributing to programme development and co-production work
- Upholding safeguarding, health & safety, and compliance standards at all times
- Managing your own caseload and working independently while meeting deadlines
What we’re looking for:
Someone who’s confident working with complexity, skilled at building trust, and passionate about helping people make lasting change. You’ll need to be organised, reflective, and committed to safeguarding and professional boundaries.
Experience in family support, criminal justice, substance misuse, or social care is highly desirable, but your ability to engage people, support relationships, and stay resilient in a challenging environment is what really matters.
All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.
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.
To Apply:
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Family Support Practitioner - HMP Highdown employer: Forward Trust
The Forward Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering individuals to break the cycles of crime and addiction, making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. Located at HMP Highdown in Sutton, we offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with benefits such as flexible working, comprehensive training opportunities, and generous annual leave. Our commitment to professional growth and community engagement ensures that our Family Support Practitioners can thrive while making a real difference in the lives of families and individuals in need.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Practitioner - HMP Highdown
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field of family support or criminal justice. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to family support and rehabilitation. Think about your experiences and how they relate to the role. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, let them know why you care about making a difference in people's lives. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight your commitment to family support and recovery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at The Forward Trust. Let’s make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Practitioner - HMP Highdown
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Family Support Practitioner role. We want to see how you can make a real difference in supporting families and individuals in custody.
Showcase Relevant Experience:If you've got experience in family support, social care, or working with complex situations, shout about it! We’re looking for someone who can engage people and build trust, so let us know how you've done this in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Make sure to include all the key information without rambling on!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at The Forward Trust.
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Family Support Practitioner and the specific challenges faced in a prison environment. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as delivering 1:1 support and facilitating group programmes. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to build trust and support relationships. Think about times when you've worked with complex situations or helped someone make a positive change. This will highlight your suitability for the role and your passion for helping others.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare some insightful questions about the team dynamics, the types of interventions used, or how success is measured in this role. This shows that you're not only interested in the job but also in how you can contribute to the organisation's mission.
✨Be Yourself
Authenticity goes a long way, especially in a role focused on relationships and support. Be honest about your motivations for applying and your approach to working with clients and families. This will help the interviewers see your genuine commitment to making a difference.
