At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead family services at HMP Send and manage teams across multiple sites.
- Company: Pact, a respected charity supporting prisoners and their families.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, training opportunities, and supportive team environment.
- Other info: Inclusive employer welcoming diverse applicants, including those with criminal convictions.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of prisoners and their families.
- Qualifications: Experience in service management and strong relationship-building skills required.
Location: London and South East
Department: Family Engagement
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £35,343 per annum + £3,000 market supplement
Hours: 37.5 per week (occasional weekend and evening working)
About the role
We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead the delivery of our family and significant others services at HMP Send, while overseeing service delivery and line managing staff across HMPs Downview, Highdown and Coldingley. This is a hands-on management role focused on ensuring services are delivered effectively, positive family relationships are strengthened, and family work is fully integrated into prisoners' care and rehabilitation plans. You will manage teams of paid staff, volunteers, students on placement and serving prisoners acting as family champions, supporting and developing them to deliver high-quality services.
What you will be doing
- You will manage day-to-day operations across your sites, contribute to operating plans, monitor performance and provide regular reports to your line manager.
- You will play a key role in meeting contractual targets and ensuring the needs of prisoners, family members and carers remain central to our work.
- You will lead on recruitment, selection and induction, and support training and development for practitioners.
- Building strong relationships with HMPPS, prime contractors, healthcare providers and voluntary sector partners will be essential to strengthen referral pathways and service continuity.
- You will also embed learning into programme delivery, drawing on performance data, frontline and lived experience, feedback from families and prisoners, Pact research, and relevant external evidence and policy.
What we are looking for
- You will be able to demonstrate experience managing services and staff across multiple sites, ideally within criminal justice, social care or the voluntary sector.
- A strong understanding of the challenges facing prisoners and their families.
- Ability to build productive relationships with statutory and voluntary sector partners.
- Experience of performance monitoring, reporting and using data to drive improvement.
- Confidence in recruiting, inducting and developing staff, volunteers and peer supporters.
- A collaborative approach and commitment to sharing learning and best practice.
- Commitment to involving people with lived experience in service design and delivery.
About Pact
Pact is a highly respected independent charity working across England and Wales to support prisoners, people with convictions on release, and their children and families. Our work is founded on a belief in the innate dignity of every human being and focuses on human relationships, family and community.
What we offer
Benefits include a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement. You will receive a thorough induction and ongoing support from a friendly and enthusiastic team, with access to training and development opportunities.
How to apply
If you feel you meet the requirements of this role, please complete an application form by clicking the apply now button. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.
Other information
Pact is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people with criminal convictions (appointment subject to risk assessment). This role is subject to probation, right to work checks, references, prison vetting and DBS clearance. Financial history may affect prison vetting. As an inclusive employer, we welcome requests for job adverts in accessible formats.
Programme Manager in London employer: PACT
Contact Detail:
PACT Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the criminal justice and social care sectors. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pact and understanding their mission. Think about how your experience aligns with their values and the role of Programme Manager. Practise answering common interview questions and be ready to discuss how you can strengthen family relationships and improve service delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved services in previous roles. Highlight your ability to build relationships with partners and your commitment to involving people with lived experience in your work.
✨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 Pact. Make sure to tailor your application to reflect your passion for supporting prisoners and their families.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in managing services and staff across multiple sites. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Programme Manager, especially in the context of family engagement.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your ability to build productive relationships with partners and your experience in performance monitoring. We’re looking for someone who can drive improvement, so let us know how you’ve done this in the past!
Be Authentic: We value lived experience, so if you have any personal insights or stories that relate to the role, share them! It helps us understand your passion for supporting prisoners and their families.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember to complete your application through our website by clicking the apply now button. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep everything organised!
How to prepare for a job interview at PACT
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Programme Manager role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by prisoners and their families, as well as the services provided by Pact. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Programme Manager, you'll be leading teams across multiple sites. Be prepared to discuss your previous experience managing staff, volunteers, and partnerships. Share specific examples of how you've successfully built relationships and improved service delivery in past roles, highlighting your collaborative approach.
✨Prepare for Performance Monitoring Questions
Since performance monitoring and data-driven improvement are key aspects of this role, brush up on your experience with these areas. Think of examples where you've used data to drive change or improve services. Being able to articulate this clearly will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Inclusion
Pact values involving people with lived experience in service design and delivery. Be ready to discuss how you've engaged with diverse groups in your previous roles. Highlight any initiatives you've led that focused on inclusivity and how you plan to incorporate feedback from families and prisoners into your work.