Routes2Change Volunteer Services Manager
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Our programme is based on Pact's learning from over 120 years of working in prisons and communities, research and evidence about what enables people to desist from offending, consultation with people in prisons and their families, and our ethos and values.
Routes2Change is core to our 5 Year Vision of how to put all of this into practice, to work in partnership with HMPPS colleagues and other partners, to improve outcomes for people in prison, their children and families, and wider Society.
The Process
Triage: Every prisoner is offered a voluntary interview with one of our Pact Practitioners shortly after their arrival into prison. The focus is to explore relationships, whether with family members or others, and to share aspirations and concerns about the effect of the sentence, and plans for release. We explore opportunities to use the time in prison well, to improve relationships, and prepare for successful re-integration into society after release.
Casework (Pact Practitioners): Prisoners who choose to join the programme are then assigned a Pact Practitioner as their caseworker, to support them through their custodial journey, and for up to 6 months post release. Caseworkers conduct a relationship 'triage', focused on strengths, and protective factors, as well as on needs and risk. They are trained in providing a range of support including one to one and group-based interventions, family group conferencing, and restorative conversations. The primary focus is to support the maintenance or restoration of good relationships with family and others.
Caseworkers use a system called 'E-Cins'. We use a bespoke tool to measure the qualitative impact of our work called the 'Relationships Radar'. These tools are essential to good casework and to our ability to demonstrate impact and secure continued funding.
Supporting Children and their parents and carers
Pact supports the children and families of prisoners in their own right, as people who face very difficult circumstances. We seek to reduce the risk of harm to the children of prisoners in particular, which are known to include increased risk of poor mental health and well-being, issues with school and education, and risky behaviours. We believe that all children are amazing, and every child deserves to fulfil their potential, and that none of these risks are pre-determined. Nevertheless, imprisonment of a parent is understood to be an 'Adverse Childhood Experience' and we seek to reduce the risk of 'inter-generational offending and support positive parenting.
Supporting Adult Family Members and 'Significant Others'
Family members who are struggling to cope with the impact of a loved one serving a prison sentence, or related issues, may be supported by one of our Practitioners. Some will also be offered support from a vetted, trained, supervised volunteer befriender. Your role is key to ensuring that we have a diverse team of Volunteer Befrienders in place, who feel well-supported, work appropriately with family members, and support the well-being and resilience of family members. You will work in close partnership with our Pact Practitioners, to ensure that risks are well managed, information is appropriately shared, and that accurate case management records are kept.
Supporting People in Prison who are Isolated
We are now introducing a brand-new Pact volunteer visitor scheme for prisoners who have no visits or family/pro-social relationships in the community. Many of these prisoners will be care-experienced/care leavers.
Whilst other schemes exist to meet the needs of prisoners who don't get visits from family or friends, and who are isolated, our new service will have a number of distinctive differences, and will be fully integrated into the Routes2Change programme. Your role will be key to developing this new service, as part of a team-based approach, and with the full support of Pact as an organisation.
This is new and exciting work, which not only seeks to respond to the needs of the men in HMP Brixton, and young men in HMP/YOI Isis, but which also seeks to develop the blueprint for Pact national. Your role will therefore include working as part of our team to develop and test new ways of working.
Service User Voice & Co-production
The Routes2Change staff team are supported by Pact peer-to-peer volunteers, and by Peer Advisory Boards at the two prisons - prisoners who support this work by sharing idea and assist us in designing services to meet their needs and aspirations.
Your Team
You will report to the Services Manager for Routes2Change. You will work closely with them and with the senior staff at the two prisons, and with our practitioners. Pact is a very colleaiate organisation which prizes good teamwork. You will also be a member of our national Volunteer Working Group, chaired by our Head of Volunteering, and will work with other colleagues including our London Volunteer Co-ordinator, our Faith in Action Team, Communications Team, and others.
Advisory Board
An Advisory Board chaired by Baroness Anna Healy oversees the whole programme, involving prison governors, senior probation representative, Pact CEO, key HMPPS and Pact staff, the IMB, and other key stakeholders. An evaluation of the programme delivery at HMP/YOI Isis is being conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University.
About You:
You should have the ability to work in a challenging environment and remain calm as well as results orientated with a "can do" attitude. You should also have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
What we offer:
Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement. You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker. You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.
How to apply:
If you feel that you meet the requirements of this exciting new role please complete an application form by clicking the `apply now` button.
*Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
Other information:
Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).
This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.