Job Description. Prison-based Family Support Assistant

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1 Job Description Prison-based Family Support Assistant Background Nepacs is a long standing charity which has worked in the north east since 1882, to support prisoners, their friends and families. We recognise that families of offenders, and especially children, may become hidden victims of crime when a relative is imprisoned. The impact of imprisonment on families and friends of prisoners can be devastating, which is why our staff and volunteers provide support during this difficult time. Our staff and volunteers provide a range of services to support prisoners, their friends and families, including: Provision of prison visitors centres, tea bars, family support work and supervised play areas for children during visits Youth projects which provide support to young people through youth zones in our visitors centres, external activities, and one to one support Support for families/ friends of prisoners within the Middlesbrough and Durham courts and a telephone befriending service; community based support in Northumbria A small grant scheme for prisoners and their families Nepacs is led by a chief executive and governed by a board of trustees. It is a charitable limited company and encourages volunteers to work alongside paid staff to provide the highest standards of service to prisoners and their families, and to promote values such as respect and integrity. We aim to: Support and assist prisoners, families and friends of prisoners in their visits to the prison and in their life outside the prison Relieve hardship due to the poverty of some offenders and their families Ensure that children visiting relatives in prison will feel welcome and find the experience as pleasant as possible Support the education and training of offenders, and other processes which may assist their rehabilitation Raise public awareness through the collection and publication of information relating to criminal justice matters and to the prevention of crime For more information visit our website: 1

2 Job role Title: Prison Based Family Support Assistant Line Manager: Family Support Worker Context: Nepacs has developed Family Support Services for prisoners and their families over the past five years, starting with a small scale grant-aided project at HMPYOI Low Newton in 2010; then extended with a pilot project funded by NOMS and the DFE which provided Family Support work at HMP Frankland and Deerbolt, as well as Family Support Advocacy in the community; then extended further with Drugs Action Team funding at HMP Holme House and Kirklevington; then funded through the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme to deliver an integrated family support programme, and recently extended with additional NOMS funding to provide a custody-based Family Engagement Worker (FEW) at HMPYOI Low Newton, and community-based Family and Parenting services in Northumbria. The Big Lottery funded work has been extended in 2016 to cover a further three year period, and the project continues to grow and develop. During this period, a further project to provide support at courts has been developed with funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to provide practical and emotional support to defendants families and Family Support services continue to collaborate closely with the play and youth team in delivering special family visits. The work takes place within the context of Nepacs wider mission to support positive futures for prisoners and their families, and is closely link with the delivery of services at Visitors Centres and within prison visits halls. The ambition is to provide effective family support for people from the point of sentencing to release, and beyond into the community. This new post at HMP Northumberland will primarily facilitate the work of the Family Support Worker, but will also cover the play area on specified days and assist with staffing in the Visitor Centre and prison tea bar to cover holidays and sickness, and will be key to planning and delivering special family visits in conjunction with the wider Nepacs staff team. Job purpose: The key aim is to ensure that prisoners, their children, partners, and other relatives have access to appropriate information, advice, guidance, learning opportunities, care and support to better enable them to maintain or enhance positive relationships. The postholder will assist the Family Support Worker in the delivery of prison-based family support case work, in particular by supporting the input of case records. They will play a key role in promoting the work within the jail, developing and delivering special visits and providing the administration for prison-based courses such as Heading Home. Working relationships: The post holder will report to the Family Support Worker in their prison. They will also work closely with the relevant Visitors Centre managers, play and youth staff and key contacts within the prisons (prison staff and partners, such as the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Team). Key responsibilities and duties: Working with and through prison, assist the Family Support Worker to provide support to prisoners with regard to family issues; contact with children or relationship issues. Provide families with information, advice, guidance and signposting to sources of help and information 2

3 as required. Assist with promotion of the service, including ensuring that all prisoners are made aware of services on induction (this may be through briefing volunteers on the Prisoner Information Desks and ensuring that they have up-to-date literature about the project). Provide appropriate administrative support to the Family Support worker, for example through inputting monitoring data, making contact with professionals in the community to provide information for a case and by supporting the organization of e.g. Heading Home training sessions or parenting courses. Actively promote and support the development of extended prison visit arrangements, child-centred visits and all-day family visits in conjunction with Nepacs play and youth teams and local authority children s services. Ensure that NEPACS, prison and LSCB safeguarding policies are adhered to at all times and that children feel welcomed, valued and safe. Provide support and instruction to Family Support volunteers as required. Deputise for the Family Support Worker at meetings or events as required. Maintain accurate records as required and records of own annual leave, TOIL and (where appropriate) use of flexi-time, and oversee timesheets for supervisees. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as required. Ensure prison security policies and rules are adhered to by self, staff and volunteers at all times. Personnel must comply at all times with prison security regulations and engage with mandated prison security and health and safety training. Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures contained within Nepacs staff handbook. Assist the CEO and Nepacs Board of Trustees with any other appropriate duties. Location Prison based (Northumberland) Hours of work Part time, 12 hours per week. Flexible working hours are essential, as some meetings, training events and promotional work will take place out of normal office hours. Hours must include some weekends Type/length of contract 12 months fixed term. Salary 17,121 per annum (pro rata) paid monthly to the post holder s bank or building society account. The salary will be reviewed on an annual basis. Pension A group personal pension scheme is offered. Holidays Leave entitlement is 5 weeks per annum (pro rata), plus Bank and statutory holidays (pro rata), to be taken at times agreed. Travel allowances Any necessary travel during working hours will be assisted. Public transport costs will be reimbursed. If the post holder uses his/her own car, then additional mileage incurred as part of the role will be paid at the Nepacs approved rate (currently 40p per mile). 3

4 Probationary period This post is subject to a 3 month probationary review after which, subject to satisfactory performance, the post holder will be confirmed in post. Please note: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) order 1975 does not apply to this post. This appointment will be subject to security and police checks. 4

5 Personnel Specification Essential criteria: NVQ Level 3. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Good negotiation and advocacy skills. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a demanding work load. Ability to use initiative. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in partnership with a range of agencies, at both strategic and operational service delivery level. Ability to work in a challenging environment and remain calm. Demonstrable ability to work with diverse group of staff and service users. Committed to continuous personal development and learning, and responsiveness to constructive feedback. Results orientated, flexible, adaptable, with a can do attitude. Good IT skills. Experience of monitoring and report writing. Desirable: Knowledge / experience of working in the Criminal Justice Sector. Specialist knowledge of work with children and families of prisoners. Experience of working with volunteers. 5