At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals transitioning from custody to community, ensuring they have structured reintegration plans.
- Company: Join a recognised charity with a fantastic workplace culture and exciting new projects.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, paid volunteering days, enhanced pension, and life assurance.
- Other info: Flexible floating role across Thames Valley with fully paid travel.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while gaining diverse experience in the criminal justice system.
- Qualifications: Experience in criminal justice or supporting vulnerable individuals is essential; criminology graduates are encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 29432 - 30000 £ per year.
Would you like to join a charity recognised as a great place to work (Investors in People / Best Companies Awards)? This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting new journey, delivering a cutting-edge criminal justice support programme. This is a peripatetic (floating) role, covering probation services and prisons across Thames Valley. We are recruiting for multiple roles across the South East depending on the successful candidate's location.
Locations include Probation and prisons across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. All travel is fully paid from the moment you leave your home, ensuring you’re supported while working across multiple locations.
The purpose of this role is to provide flexible support across a large, established team — covering annual leave, sickness, and periods where services are at capacity. This makes the role ideal for someone who enjoys variety and wants to gain experience across different settings within the criminal justice system.
You’ll support individuals as they transition from custody into the community, working with clients who are approaching release or have recently been released on licence. Your role will be to ensure each individual has a clear, structured plan in place to help them reintegrate successfully.
You’ll meet clients one-to-one, supporting them across key areas such as housing, healthcare, education, wellbeing, life skills, and employment. You’ll deliver tailored 1:1 sessions and work closely with probation staff and partner agencies to ensure individuals receive consistent support in the community.
To apply, you should have experience working with individuals in the criminal justice system (e.g. probation, prison, or community settings). We also welcome applicants with experience supporting vulnerable individuals in areas such as mental health, substance misuse, or homelessness. Criminology graduates with relevant voluntary or paid experience supporting similar client groups are encouraged to apply.
Please apply via this advert – we aim to respond to everyone. If you haven’t heard back within 72 hours, please complete the “Send Us A Message” form on the Contact Us page of the Red 5 People website, and a member of the team will respond. For more information, you can call the office and ask for James (number available on the Red 5 People website).
You may have previously worked as a Probation Services Officer, Resettlement Worker, Support Worker, Drug & Alcohol Worker, Supported Housing Officer, Careers Advisor, Employment Advisor, or in a similar role.
There are great benefits too, including 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with service), 2 paid volunteering days, an enhanced pension scheme, and life assurance.
PLEASE NOTE: Whilst we have advertised the roles in set locations on the advert i.e. Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire, these are floating roles, so you could be based across Thames Valley. So a driver who is happy with some flexibility in their work patterns is key.
Prison & Community Project Worker in Oxford employer: Red 5 People
Join an award-winning national charity that prioritises employee well-being and offers a predominantly home-based Quality Assurance Officer role, allowing you to make a significant impact on life-changing public services. With a strong commitment to professional development, a collaborative work culture, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful employment support programmes, this position is perfect for those looking to enhance their career while making a difference in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Prison & Community Project Worker in Oxford
✨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 Red 5 People.
✨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 Red 5 People!
✨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 Red 5 People, 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 Red 5 People or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Prison & Community Project Worker in Oxford
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 Red 5 People:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Red 5 People! 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 Red 5 People
✨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.
