At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in custody and their families, facilitating recovery and relationship rebuilding.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering change.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, training opportunities, and various financial schemes.
- Other info: Work independently in a dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support or social care is a plus, but passion and resilience matter most.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 26000 £ per year.
Location: Sutton
Salary: A GBP 26,000 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
Closing Date: 29th of June 2026
We're looking for a Family Support Practitioner to join our team at HMP Highdown, working full time (35 hours per week). This is a frontline role where you'll support people in custody and their families across both the prison and local community, helping to rebuild relationships, strengthen wellbeing, and support long‐term recovery and rehabilitation.
This role sits within the Family Support and Specialist Programmes department and focuses on delivering impactful 1:1 and group interventions. You'll help clients understand the role of relationships in addiction, offending, mental health, and wider life challenges, while also working directly with family members and affected others to improve their health, resilience, and ability to support positive change.
What you'll be doing:
- Delivering 1:1 support (face‐to‐face, online, and telephone) for clients and families
- Facilitating group programmes such as relationships work, parenting interventions, and structured recovery programmes
- Supporting and coordinating family meetings and family visits
- Completing needs and risk assessments, and co‐producing tailored support plans
- Working directly with children and young people where appropriate to support whole‐family recovery
- Signposting to specialist services and building strong referral pathways
You'll collaborate closely with prison‐based teams, substance misuse services, Forward colleagues, and external partners to ensure joined‐up, holistic support. You'll also play a key role in developing relationships with community organisations and raising awareness of the service.
What the role involves beyond delivery:
- Maintaining accurate case records and outcome data
- Supporting service improvement, audits, and feedback activity
- Contributing to programme development and co‐production work
- Upholding safeguarding, health and safety, and compliance standards at all times
- Managing your own caseload and working independently while meeting deadlines
What we're looking for:
Someone who is confident working with complexity, skilled at building trust, and passionate about helping people make lasting change. You'll need to be organised, reflective, and committed to safeguarding and professional boundaries. Experience in family support, criminal justice, substance misuse, or social care is highly desirable, but your ability to engage people, support relationships, and stay resilient in a challenging environment is what really matters.
All prison‐based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks. Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.
About Us:
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
Benefits:
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
Family Support Practitioner : HMP Highdown in Sutton Coldfield employer: TipTopJob
The Forward Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment at HMP Highdown in Sutton. With a strong focus on employee development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and families, we empower our staff to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values resilience, collaboration, and the transformative power of relationships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Practitioner : HMP Highdown in Sutton Coldfield
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Practitioner : HMP Highdown in Sutton Coldfield
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 TipTopJob:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to TipTopJob! 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 TipTopJob
✨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.
