At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative rehabilitation services and shape prison culture for positive change.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a pioneering social enterprise focused on rehabilitation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and competitive annual leave.
- Other info: Be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to empowering change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming lives and reducing reoffending.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in custodial environments and strong stakeholder management skills.
Location: East Riding of Yorkshire
Salary: £52,000 - £65,000 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
We're looking for an exceptional leader to join us as Head of Connections at HMP Millsike, a flagship leadership role at the heart of one of the UK's most innovative prison partnerships.
About the Role
As Head of Connections, you'll be a member of both The Forward Trust and HMP Millsike Senior Leadership Teams, leading the strategic delivery of our pioneering Connections model. Working in partnership with Mitie and PeoplePlus, you'll shape and deliver a whole-person, whole-system approach to rehabilitation, integrating family support, substance misuse recovery and incentivised substance-free living to help people build sustainable lives beyond custody. This is a unique opportunity to influence prison culture, lead innovative services, and demonstrate how rehabilitation and recovery can reduce reoffending and improve lives.
You'll provide strategic and operational leadership across three integrated service areas:
- Family and Relationships – leading services that strengthen family ties, parenting and positive relationships.
- Drug Strategy – owning and delivering the establishment's Drug Strategy, driving innovation, recovery and harm reduction.
- More Than My Past – leading our flagship Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) programme and embedding lived experience throughout service delivery.
You'll also:
- Provide inspirational leadership to multidisciplinary teams.
- Own the prison's Drug Strategy, Family & Relationships Strategy and Visits Operating Procedures.
- Lead contractual performance, governance, compliance and impact reporting.
- Manage significant budgets and ensure financial performance.
- Develop strong partnerships across prison leadership, commissioners and external stakeholders.
- Promote lived experience, co-production and recovery-focused practice throughout the establishment.
- Drive innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-based practice.
- Represent The Forward Trust as a senior ambassador both internally and externally.
We're looking for an experienced senior leader with a passion for rehabilitation and transformational change. You'll bring:
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience within a custodial environment.
- Operational experience managing prison services such as visits, residential units, therapeutic environments or similar.
- Experience delivering complex contracts within Criminal Justice settings, including public or privately managed prisons.
- Experience managing large budgets (circa £1 million+) and contractual performance linked to financial outcomes.
- A proven track record of delivering high-quality services within regulated, audited and inspected environments.
- Outstanding leadership, organisational and programme management skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management with the ability to build trusted relationships across multiple organisations.
- Strong analytical skills with experience in impact measurement, governance and performance reporting.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Knowledge of desistance theory and approaches.
Desirable
- Knowledge or experience of Narrative Therapy and narrative-based approaches.
- Understanding of recovery-focused practice and lived experience models.
- Experience of Dynamic Framework contracts or privately managed prisons.
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 click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.
Head Of Connections - HMP Millsike in Full Sutton employer: Forward Trust
The Forward Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformative rehabilitation initiatives at HMP Millsike in East Riding of Yorkshire. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we provide flexible working arrangements, comprehensive training and development opportunities, and a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Our focus on meaningful change not only empowers our clients but also fosters personal and professional growth for our staff, making it a rewarding place to build a career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Connections - HMP Millsike in Full Sutton
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Forward Trust.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Forward Trust.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Forward Trust.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Forward Trust. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Connections - HMP Millsike in Full Sutton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Forward Trust. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head Of Connections - HMP Millsike, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Trust
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Forward Trust. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
