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- Tasks: Conduct interviews with families to gather their experiences and insights.
- Company: Join Pact, a dedicated organisation supporting families affected by the criminal justice system.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, meaningful work, and opportunities for skill development in research and advocacy.
- Other info: Equal opportunity employer; applications welcome from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by amplifying the voices of families in prison healthcare.
- Qualifications: Strong listening skills, empathy, and ability to communicate sensitively.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Paid Opportunity:
Researcher: Listen to Families
Are you passionate about giving a voice to families and carers affected by the criminal justice system? Do you have strong listening skills and a deep sense of empathy? If so, we want you to join our mission
At Pact, we believe that families and carers play a vital role in supporting loved ones in custody—especially when it comes to health and wellbeing. But too often, their voices go unheard. We\’re looking for an empathetic, skilled communicator to conduct and record semi-structured interviews with families visiting prison. Your work will help shape the future of prison healthcare services.
Why This Role Matters
By gathering real-life experiences, you\’ll be giving families a platform to be heard and ensuring their insights influence how healthcare services are delivered in prisons. You\’ll also provide vital support, signposting families to information and resources that can help them through difficult times.
What You\’ll Be Doing
Engaging with families & carers at prison visitor centres, conducting meaningful, semi-structured interviews about their experiences supporting a loved one with health issues in custody.
Listening with empathy while ensuring research data is collected in a structured way.
Identifying safeguarding concerns and escalating them appropriately.
Recording interview notes accurately and inputting them into the project database.
Providing signposting advice to families, ensuring they receive the right information and support.
Working closely with Pact colleagues and prison visitor centre staff to ensure smooth operations.
Handling health information materials, such as leaflets and posters, to help raise awareness.
Who We\’re Looking For
A natural listener – able to build rapport quickly and make people feel heard.
Emotionally intelligent & compassionate – you understand the challenges families face.
Strong communicator – you can gather information sensitively while following research guidelines.
Organised & detail-focused – able to take accurate notes and maintain records.
Confident working in sensitive settings, such as prison visitor centres.
Aware of safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries.
Why Join Pact?
Make a difference – your work will shape future prison healthcare services.
Work with a dedicated team that supports families affected by imprisonment.
Flexible, meaningful role with a chance to develop your skills in research, social justice, and advocacy.
Ready to be a voice for change? Apply now and help us amplify the voices of families who need to be heard.
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 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.
A certificate of good conduct from the Police Force of the country of residence if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months (in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over).
If you\’d like to have an informal chat about the role, we\’d love to hear from you. Please email for further information.
Applications are filled on a rolling basis. For the best chance of your application being successful, we recommend applying sooner rather than later.
Researcher: Listen to Families employer: Prison Advice and Care Trust
Contact Detail:
Prison Advice and Care Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Researcher: Listen to Families
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Pact and their mission. Understanding their values and how they support families affected by the criminal justice system will help you connect better during your conversation.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your listening skills! Since this role is all about empathy and communication, try role-playing interviews with friends or family. This will help you get comfortable with asking open-ended questions and really listening to the responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you’re in the interview, don’t hold back on expressing why you care about giving a voice to families. Share any personal experiences or insights that relate to the role, as this will demonstrate your genuine interest.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role!
We think you need these skills to ace Researcher: Listen to Families
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Empathy: When writing your application, let your passion for giving a voice to families shine through. Share any personal experiences or insights that demonstrate your understanding of the challenges faced by families in the criminal justice system.
Be Clear and Concise: Make sure your application is easy to read and straight to the point. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. This will help us see your strong communication skills right from the start!
Highlight Relevant Experience: If you've got experience in research, social justice, or working with vulnerable groups, make sure to mention it! We want to know how your background aligns with the role and how you can contribute to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Prison Advice and Care Trust
✨Understand the Role
Before your interview, take some time to really understand what the role of a Researcher: Listen to Families entails. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities and the impact this role has on families affected by the criminal justice system. This will help you articulate why you're passionate about the position.
✨Showcase Your Listening Skills
During the interview, demonstrate your strong listening skills. You might be asked situational questions, so practice active listening techniques. Reflect back what you hear and ask clarifying questions to show that you truly understand the challenges families face.
✨Prepare for Empathy Questions
Expect questions that assess your emotional intelligence and compassion. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've had to support someone in a difficult situation. Be ready to discuss how you approached those situations with empathy and understanding.
✨Highlight Organisational Skills
Since the role requires accurate note-taking and maintaining records, be prepared to talk about your organisational skills. Share specific examples of how you've managed data or information in previous roles, especially in sensitive settings, to show you can handle the responsibilities effectively.