At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate and deliver impactful groupwork programmes for women in custody.
- Company: Join PACT, a dedicated organisation making a difference in women's lives.
- Benefits: Generous holiday entitlement, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: This role is exclusively for female applicants to ensure a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on families affected by imprisonment and support women's rehabilitation.
- Qualifications: Experience working with disadvantaged groups and strong facilitation skills required.
Contract: Fixed Term 9 months from April 2026
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Location: National coverage, with primary base at HMP Styal and delivery at HMP Drake Hall and HMP Foston Hall. Occasional travel and overnight stays may be required.
Make a meaningful difference for women and families affected by imprisonment. Join us as a Groupwork Development Officer in our Womens Estates, where you'll coordinate and deliver high quality groupwork programmes that strengthen relationships, support parenting, and improve outcomes for children and families. Working within His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) rules and regulations, you will help reduce the risk of reoffending by facilitating practical, evidence-based interventions and creating a safe, supportive learning environment.
What you'll do:
- Design and deliver PACT relationship and parenting courses, plus one to one booklet support, ensuring materials and evaluation data are kept current and centrally accessible.
- Recruit and assess participants, promote courses across the estate, and contribute to the development of new content and learning materials that meet women's needs.
- Build strong partnerships with prison agencies and colleagues to ensure smooth running of the programme and effective referral procedures.
- Support peer learning, helping women in custody to develop a Peer working programme and progress towards Level 2 Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) with NCFE.
- Record and report outcomes accurately, attend key meetings, and provide timely performance feedback and monthly service updates.
- Safeguarding first: adhere at all times to Safeguarding, Data Security, Prison Security Procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
About you:
You're an engaging facilitator with excellent presentation and communication skills, able to remain calm and effective in challenging environments. You can manage a busy workload, work in partnership at both strategic and operational levels, and are confident using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for data and outcome recording. A background working directly with people with convictions, families under stress and/or disadvantaged groups is essential; experience in criminal justice is desirable. Adult training credentials (e.g., Level 3 in Adult Education and Training or PGCE) or equivalent experience are required.
Our offer:
PACT provides a free advice, information and counselling service, a contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme, and generous holiday entitlement. You'll receive a thorough induction, access to training events to develop as a professional training and interventions worker, and the support of a friendly, enthusiastic team.
Equality, diversity and inclusion:
PACT is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all and to creating a sense of welcome and belonging. We especially welcome applications from people with lived experience. This post is restricted to female applicants to ensure delivery within a women only environment; this constitutes a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Pre-employment and vetting:
Employment is subject to verification of identity and the right to work in the UK, qualification checks, satisfactory references covering the previous 3 years, declaration of any unspent convictions (and, where appropriate, a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting, and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check. Please note that bankruptcy or County Court Judgements (CCJs) may affect the ability to secure prison vetting. If you have resided overseas for more than 12 months (in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over), we will also require a certificate of good conduct from the relevant Police Force.
How to apply:
If you feel you meet the requirements of this exciting role, please complete our application form by clicking Apply now. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications, so please submit yours as soon as possible.
Programmes and Learning Officer - Womens Estates in Wilmslow employer: PACT
Contact Detail:
PACT Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Programmes and Learning Officer - Womens Estates in Wilmslow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field, attend relevant events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and understanding their values. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission, especially in supporting women and families.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your delivery! Whether it's a presentation or answering questions, rehearse your points to ensure you come across as confident and engaging. Remember, you're selling your skills and passion!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Programmes and Learning Officer - Womens Estates in Wilmslow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Programmes and Learning Officer. We want to see how you can make a meaningful difference in women's lives, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Experience: If you've worked with disadvantaged groups or in criminal justice, let us know! Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to engage and support women in challenging environments. This is your chance to shine!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details promptly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at PACT
✨Know Your Programmes
Familiarise yourself with the specific groupwork programmes you'll be delivering, like PACT relationship and parenting courses. Be ready to discuss how you would adapt these materials to meet the needs of women in custody.
✨Showcase Your Facilitation Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your engaging facilitation style. Think of examples where you've successfully managed challenging environments or facilitated peer learning, as this role requires strong presentation and communication skills.
✨Understand the Environment
Research the His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) rules and regulations. Being knowledgeable about the prison environment will show that you're serious about adhering to safeguarding and security procedures.
✨Highlight Relevant Experience
Be ready to discuss your background working with disadvantaged groups or directly with people with convictions. Share specific examples of how your experience aligns with the role's requirements, especially in terms of supporting families under stress.