At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage family services at HMP Send, ensuring effective delivery and support.
- Company: Pact, a respected charity focused on supporting prisoners and their families.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, training opportunities, and counselling services.
- Other info: Join a friendly team committed to high-quality service and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of prisoners and their families while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing services, strong relationship-building skills, and understanding of the criminal justice system.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
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. You will be responsible for ensuring our services are delivered effectively, that positive family relationships are maintained and strengthened, and that family work is fully integrated within prisoners' care and rehabilitation plans. You will manage teams of paid staff, volunteers, students on placement and serving prisoners acting as family champions – supporting, supervising and developing them to deliver consistently high-quality services.
What you will be doing
- You will manage day-to-day operations across your allocated sites, contributing to operating plans and performance monitoring, and providing regular reports to your line manager.
- You will play a key role in ensuring contractual targets are met and that the needs of prisoners, family members and carers are at the heart of everything we do.
- You will lead on recruitment, selection and induction for your teams, and support training and development for practitioners.
- Building strong working relationships will be central to your success – with HMPPS, prime contractors, healthcare providers, and other voluntary sector partners – to strengthen referral pathways and improve continuity of service.
- You will also embed learning into programme delivery, drawing on performance data, frontline experience, lived experience, feedback from families and prisoners, Pact's own research, and relevant external evidence and policy.
What we are looking for
- Experience of managing services and staff across multiple sites, ideally within the criminal justice, social care or voluntary sector.
- A strong understanding of the challenges facing prisoners and their families.
- The ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including statutory and voluntary sector partners.
- Experience of performance monitoring, reporting and using data to drive service improvement.
- Confidence in recruiting, inducting and developing staff, volunteers and peer supporters.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries and share learning and best practice.
- A commitment to involving the voices of people with lived experience in service design and delivery.
Organisation
Pact is a highly respected independent charity, working across England and Wales to develop and deliver a range of innovative services. We provide practical and emotional support to prisoners' children and families, to prisoners and those who have resettled back into the community. Our work is founded on core values, the first of which is a belief in the innate dignity of every human being, and our work focuses on human relationships, family and community. We are committed to achieving high standards of quality in all that we do.
What we offer
Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement. You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker. You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.
Equal Employment Opportunity
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).
Eligibility and Vetting
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 three-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and a 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.
Programme Manager employer: Prison Advice and Care Trust
Pact is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment for its Programme Managers. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from comprehensive training opportunities and a generous holiday entitlement, all while making a meaningful impact on the lives of prisoners and their families at HMP Send and beyond. Our inclusive culture values the voices of those with lived experience, ensuring that your contributions are not only recognised but also integral to our mission of enhancing family relationships and rehabilitation.
Contact Details:
Prison Advice and Care Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Pact. Building relationships can give us the inside scoop on job openings and help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pact's values and services. We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission. Practise answering common questions and think about how you can demonstrate your understanding of the challenges faced by prisoners and their families.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss your experience managing teams and delivering services across multiple sites. We love candidates who can highlight their ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and drive service improvement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of prisoners and their families.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Programme Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing services across multiple sites and your understanding of the challenges faced by prisoners and their families. We want to see how your skills align with what we do!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to lead teams and develop staff. Share examples of how you've successfully managed people in previous roles, especially in challenging environments. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and support others!
Demonstrate Relationship Building:We value strong relationships with stakeholders, so include examples of how you've built productive partnerships in the past. Whether it's with statutory bodies or voluntary sector partners, show us how you can connect and collaborate effectively.
Be Authentic and Passionate:Let your passion for supporting prisoners and their families shine through in your application. Share your commitment to involving lived experiences in service design and delivery. We appreciate authenticity and a genuine desire to make a difference!
How to prepare for a job interview at Prison Advice and Care Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Programme Manager in the context of family and significant others services. Familiarise yourself with the challenges faced by prisoners and their families, as well as the importance of integrating family work into rehabilitation plans.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your experience in managing teams across multiple sites. Highlight your ability to recruit, induct, and develop staff, volunteers, and peer supporters, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can build strong working relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaborating with HMPPS, healthcare providers, and other partners to improve service delivery and referral pathways.
✨Data-Driven Mindset
Be prepared to talk about your experience with performance monitoring and using data to drive service improvement. Bring examples of how you've used feedback and evidence to enhance programme delivery in previous roles.
