At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families of prisoners through casework, advice, and facilitating visits.
- Company: PACT, a supportive organisation focused on family engagement.
- Benefits: Free counselling, cycle to work scheme, and comprehensive training.
- Other info: Join a friendly team and enjoy opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families affected by imprisonment.
- Qualifications: Experience working with families in challenging environments and strong advocacy skills.
The predicted salary is between 29596 - 36172 £ per year.
As Family Engagement Worker, you will work as one of the Pact Family team, providing family casework support to prisoners, as well as support to the families of prisoners through advice and guidance, facilitating prison visits, and delivering family induction sessions.
About You
To be successful in this role you will have demonstrable experience and understanding of working with families in a challenging multi-agency environment, ideally involving prisoners and/or their families. You will have the ability to advocate for families dealing with imprisonment, promoting their human rights and ensuring their needs are considered, and views are heard at all levels. You will be a creative person who can organise activities for imprisoned Dads and children. You will have the ability to develop referral pathways for families, prisoners and other professionals to access the service.
You may have experience of the following: Casework, Key Working, providing advice, guidance and emotional support to male service users. You will act as a role model for volunteers and an ambassador for PACT, conducting yourself professionally at all times with high standards of personal integrity and accountability. You need to be solutions-focused, adaptable, flexible, emotionally resilient and capable of managing multiple tasks in high stress environments.
What Pact Offer
Pact offer a wide range of employee benefits including free confidential advice and counselling service, cycle to work scheme. You will undergo a thorough induction process, attend training to further develop yourself as a frontline services worker and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team. A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential.
Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds including those who have previous convictions (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 HMPPS/MoJ Security Prison Vetting, and satisfactory employer references covering a minimum of 3 years and a satisfactory enhanced DBS. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgments may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in.
Read more employer: Prison Advice and Care Trust
At Prison Advice and Care Trust, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values compassion and collaboration. Located at HMP Erlestoke, our work culture fosters a supportive environment where employees can thrive through continuous professional development and meaningful engagement with families. We offer unique opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of prisoners and their loved ones, ensuring that our team feels valued and empowered in their roles.
Contact Details:
Prison Advice and Care Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Read more
✨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 Prison Advice and Care Trust.
✨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 Prison Advice and Care Trust!
✨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 Prison Advice and Care Trust, 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 Prison Advice and Care Trust or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
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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 Prison Advice and Care Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Prison Advice and Care Trust! 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 Prison Advice and Care Trust
✨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.
