Senior Social Worker (Justice) Prison - HMP Edinburgh

HM Prison Edinburgh

Salary: £47,639 - £56,392 (plus environmental allowance)

Hours: 36 per week (part-time hours will be considered)

Edinburgh Justice Services are committed to providing high quality services while ensuring a compassionate approach to people accessing our services and supporting staff wellbeing. We offer a high level of training to support continuous professional development and to deliver a broad range of interventions, including established accredited group work programmes. We are implementing Trauma Informed Care and Restorative Justice practice models and interventions across our services.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be part of the social work team operating within HMP Edinburgh. There are a range of tasks which have to be carried out by the team in relation to pre-release, risk assessment and planning, associated with parole and other statutory supervision post-release. This includes:

• Providing reports for the parole board and prisoner tribunals to assist them in making a decision about the release of prisoners
• Participation in the Integrated Case Management Case Conferences (ICM)
• Completing risk assessments in order to inform of the prisoners level of risk and needs
• Working with other providers in the prison such as psychology, programmes, health services and addictions services etc. in planning for prisoner’s progress throughout their sentence
• Liaising with justice services in the community throughout the prisoner’s sentence and preparation for release.

Accountable to the Team Leader, the post holder will ensure a high quality of practice is provided and maintained, appropriate services are delivered to meet service users’ needs within the Council’s statutory obligations, policies and procedures; provide professional support, supervision and leadership to a group of staff, whilst maintaining a direct involvement in social work practice; represent and promote the Council at multi-agency meetings, with local community groups and be a department representative at a range of information sharing and risk planning forums.

Candidates will have a Social Work qualification recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and be registered, or eligible to register, with the SSSC. In addition, they will be trained in and have extensive experience of using risk assessment tools and leading risk management processes.

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best. We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented. All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience. Disabled and care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people. We’re interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work. Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page.

Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.

Happy to talk flexible working.