Head Of Connections in Beverley

Overview

RSR is a public safety and enterprise security recruitment specialist.

We assist public safety employers to find the right talent and support all employers seeking public safety and enterprise security skills and experience.

Head of Connections

— Location: HMP Millsike, Full Sutton, York | Salary: £52,000 - £65,000 per annum (dependent on experience) | Contract: Permanent | Full Time | Working Pattern: Full-time, on-site

The Forward Trust, in partnership with Mitie, is seeking a senior leader to join the Senior Leadership Team at HMP Millsike, one of the UK’s newest privately operated prisons.

This role offers autonomy and influence to shape services that genuinely change lives through a holistic rehabilitation model that integrates family relationships, recovery, substance misuse and community reintegration to reduce reoffending and support long-term desistance.

This is a leadership role for someone who can drive improvement, rebuild confidence and lead meaningful operational change.

About HMP Millsike

HMP Millsike is a newly opened, privately operated prison managed by Mitie in partnership with The Forward Trust.

After a year of operation, the prison is entering an important phase of development, offering the opportunity to influence how services evolve for years to come.

As a member of the Prison Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape the establishment’s culture, operational performance and rehabilitation strategy.

About the Role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Criminal Justice, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Connections service, overseeing:

• Family and Relationships Services
• Drug Strategy
• Visits and Visitor Services
• More Than My Past rehabilitation programme

You will work collaboratively across the prison to ensure these services operate as one integrated rehabilitation model, delivering measurable outcomes for prisoners, families and the wider community.

This role requires someone comfortable with leading strategy, managing operational delivery and developing strong partnerships across the establishment.

An Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impact

The successful candidate will inherit a service that requires strong leadership and direction.

You will play a critical role in embedding effective ways of working, improving operational performance and helping establish a high-performing leadership culture.

You will also lead a management team that will be relatively new in post, providing an opportunity to build a cohesive, motivated team from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the prison’s Connections service as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Develop and deliver the prison’s rehabilitation and recovery strategy.
• Lead operational improvement across family services, substance misuse and rehabilitation programmes.
• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, contracts and performance reporting.
• Build strong relationships with prison leadership, partners and external stakeholders.
• Ensure services consistently meet contractual, inspection and governance requirements.
• Champion evidence-based rehabilitation and desistance approaches.
• Who We're Looking For

This role is aimed at experienced prison leaders who have demonstrated success within custodial environments. You’ll ideally have:

• Significant leadership experience within HM Prison Service or privately operated prisons.
• Experience as a Head of Function or equivalent senior operational leadership role.
• A strong operational prison management background.
• Experience leading complex multidisciplinary services.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and contractual performance.
• A proven ability to lead organisational change and service improvement.
• Outstanding communication and leadership skills.
• A genuine passion for rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Applications will also be welcome from candidates who bring

• Senior prison leadership experience combined with community rehabilitation or criminal justice service management.
• Operational prison experience alongside leadership in rehabilitation, recovery or related community-based services.

Why Join?

This is more than a management role.

It’s an opportunity to help shape one of the UK’s newest prisons, influence its culture and leave a lasting legacy by improving outcomes for prisoners, families and communities.

You’ll work alongside an ambitious Senior Leadership Team committed to innovation, partnership working and delivering outstanding rehabilitation services.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (rising with service)
• Employer pension contributions
• Flexible working opportunities where operationally appropriate
• Blue Light Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Electric Car Scheme
• Health Cashback Scheme
• Wellbeing Days
• Ongoing learning and leadership development
• Security Clearance

The successful candidate will be required to obtain HMPPS Enhanced Level 1 Vetting. Existing prison vetting may be transferable, subject to approval.

How to Apply

This vacancy is advertised on behalf of The Forward Trust and Mitie.

Applications must be submitted directly through The Forward Trust’s careers website.

We are supporting the recruitment process and will direct suitable candidates to complete their application online.

To maximise your chances of success, we strongly recommend

• Tailoring your CV to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.
• Providing a tailored cover letter addressing the competencies outlined in the person specification.
• Clearly explaining your motivation for applying and why you want to lead rehabilitation services within this unique prison environment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, your application has been unsuccessful.

If this role is not for you but you know someone who would be interested, please refer them to us.

We offer a Refer A Friend bonus scheme and will reward you with retail vouchers for referrals who are not already known to us and are successfully placed.

Red Snapper Recruitment is a member of the Red Snapper Group.

The Red Snapper Group acts as an employment agency (permanent) and as an employment business (temporary) - a free and confidential service to candidates.

The Red Snapper Recruitment Group is an equal opportunities employer.

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