Centre Support Worker

This vacancy is located at Her Majesty’s Prison Hewell Visitor Centre, Redditch.

Barnardo’s is excited to be delivering on behalf of HMPPS the provision of families and significant other services in the Midlands area.

The primary aim of this specification is to actively support friends and families in maintaining positive links with friends and relatives who are in custody. HMPPS strategic aims with regard to family services are to reduce reoffending and intergenerational offending by supporting and enabling strong family community ties whilst offenders are in prison.

The delivery of services to the children and families of offenders must be considered in the context of other cross government initiatives such as supporting ‘troubled families’. This involves a partnership approach to whole family support. HMPPS is encouraging prisons and probation to participate in projects to support offenders’ families within the community budgets initiatives.

Many families find the thought of visiting a relative or friend in prison both daunting and intimidating and the aim is to create a service, which in addition to providing information and support on the above mainstream services, provides for an excellent visiting experience for all ages in an environment which is both comfortable and welcoming.

Research has shown that maintaining family ties is essential if successful rehabilitation and reduced chances of reoffending are to be realised. Much work goes on within prisons which address offending behaviour however, it is essential that much more emphasis is placed on assisting families of offenders. Services for visitors include direct family work, therapeutic intervention work, visitor centre provision of activities/refreshments/events and direct liaison with prison Reducing reoffending and rehabilitation services and Family Intervention teams.

All as and when workers will work as part of a cluster with other prisons and Visit Centres. There may be occasions whereby you will be expected to work within other Visit Centres.

The as and when worker will be primarily based at the Visitor Centre, operating across the establishment and supporting delivery of work in the Prison Visitor centre and Visits Hall.

The role will be required to deliver:-

• Supporting the Visit Centre Co-ordinator in delivering direct work with prisoners and their families to encourage maintaining positive family links.
• Supporting the prison with on family days and other enrichment activities.
• To support the delivery of services within the VC including booking systems, DATA collection, catering, play activities, enrichment activities, information/advice/guidance and processes.
• Ensuring the VC environment is safe, appropriate, welcoming and accessible for families and visitors.
• Support the running of the refreshment outlets, where applicable.
• Supporting the play are provision within the Visit Centre and Visit Hall.
• Report any safeguarding or risk concerns to the Visit Centre Co-ordinator.
• Any other requirements deemed appropriate to the role.

Additional Information:

Please include as much relevant detail in your application to demonstrate how you fulfil the requirements of our job role, as outlined above and in the Job Description/Personal Specification. Experience can be from previous employment, education, training, volunteering etc.