At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families visiting prisoners and organise play activities for children.
- Company: Pact, a pioneering charity focused on rehabilitation and family support.
- Benefits: Cycle to Work Scheme, Life Assurance, generous annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse and inclusive team dedicated to social change and community support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families and contribute to a positive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer service, excellent organisational skills, and good communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 23078 - 28206 £ per year.
Please ensure you read the below overview and requirements for this employment opportunity completely.
Location: HMP Belmarsh
Job Type: Part time, 30 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,642.50 FTE, £20,514.00 per annum actual earnings
Benefits: Cycle to Work Scheme, Life Assurance, Season Ticket Loan, EAP Scheme
We are looking to recruit a Family Support Worker based at HMP Belmarsh. You will work as one of the Pact Family team, and you will be based between the Visitor Centre and Visits Hall, providing support, advice and guidance to families who are visiting prisoners, supporting the Cafe Service which is a Social Enterprise and organising the play activities for children. This will ideally suit individuals willing to work in a multi-disciplinary approach across all areas.
You will take personal responsibility for excellence, ensuring there is a focus on customer service, with staff and volunteers and prisoners treating all customers with respect and by providing a welcoming and friendly service that feels joined up to the rest of the Pact family services.
About you:
To be successful in this role you will have demonstrable experience and understanding of customer service. You will also have excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a demanding workload. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection. You will have knowledge and experience of good practice in promoting diversity and making services accessible to all. You will have good communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively to a range of people including prisoners and their families, prison staff, other agencies and colleagues.
What Pact Offer:
Pact offer a wide range of employee benefits including free confidential advice and counselling service, cycle to work scheme, life assurance, eye care vouchers, generous annual leave plus more. You will have the opportunity to attend internal training events to further develop yourself as an effective support worker and you will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.
How to apply:
If you feel you meet the requirements of this post, please complete an application form by clicking the 'apply now' button. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Other information:
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). 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 CTC Level Clearance and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.
About us:
Pact (the Prison Advice & Care Trust) is a pioneering national charity that provides caring and life changing services to men and women in prison, to people with convictions on release and in the community, and to their children and families. Pact’s vision is of a society in which justice is understood as a process of restoration and healing, in which prisons are used sparingly and as places of learning and rehabilitation, and in which the innate dignity and worth of every human being is valued. We work for the common good of Society, taking a public health-based approach. We work at the intersection of criminal justice, child and family welfare, mental health, wellbeing provision and health & social care.
Our volunteers and staff can be found in courts, prisons, probation services, and in communities across England & Wales. We are a diverse, inclusive, modern, and collaborative charity. We build effective partnerships and sustainable solutions based on our well-established understanding of the systems in which we work, and on our historic values and ethos developed through our 120+ years of service delivery.
Family Support Worker - 30 hours in London employer: PACT
At Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K), we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children affected by domestic abuse, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment. Our team members benefit from professional development opportunities, a strong commitment to safeguarding, and the chance to be part of an award-winning service that prioritises the well-being of families in Oxfordshire. Join us to contribute to a cause that truly matters while enjoying a fulfilling career with a focus on personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker - 30 hours in London
✨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 PACT.
✨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 PACT!
✨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 PACT, 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 PACT 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 - 30 hours in London
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 PACT:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to PACT! 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 PACT
✨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.
