Family Engagement Worker (Custodial)

Job Introduction

Sodexo Justice Services has been operating in the United Kingdom since 1993. We operate five prisons in the UK and have a reputation for operating excellent, ethical, innovative and rehabilitative services. Our vision is to become a strategic partner of our clients by designing, managing and delivering quality of life services which make a meaningful difference to offenders by changing lives for the better.

Awarded a bronze accreditation by Investors in People, Bronzefield focuses on providing needs-based services and programmes aimed at rehabilitating and maintaining the well-being of prisoners.

As IOMU Caseworker focusing on Family Engagement, you will  appropriately identify risk and case manage prisoners in custody including preparing the prisoners for release by providing assistance and support with resettlement needs.

You will lead on providing an effective link between women in custody and their families, in close liaison with the Family Support Worker, PACT Worker and other agencies, providing a level of service that is professional and courteous.

Role Responsibility

• Responsbile for Risk Assessment of offenders to identify criminogenic needs using OASys, semi-structured interviews and supplementary reports and information.
• Co-ordinate sentence planning by communicating with the Probation Offender Manager in the community, the offender and other agencies and departments that provide interventions.
• Identify any new issues which may affect the risk posed by the offender or their achievement of their sentence plan objectives and work with the Offender Manager to review and re-plan accordingly.
• Motivate, support and coach offenders to achieve the objectives of their sentence plan.
• Contribute to the delivery of offending behaviour programmes, acting as a role model to consistently promote and reinforce pro-social behaviour and attitudes.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with prisoners, all colleagues, and voluntary sector and partner agencies.
• Provide reports as requested to support other processes within the Prison including Home Detention Curfew, Release on Temporary Licence, MAPPA and Parole and to attend case review boards as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate records, statistics, provide written reports when required and complete other administrative tasks.
• To have a good awareness and understanding diversity within our population.
• Support women with housing needs, making new housing benefit claims, contacting housing officer’s, making hostel referrals to BASS, HDC referrals for remand and under 12 month sentenced offenders.
• Liaise with solicitors and courts around bail needs and discharging of clients if bailed.  Also liaise effectively with other agencies and disciplines to meet identified areas in custody and community.
• Support women with F.B.D (Finance Benefit and Debt) needs.
• Assist prisoners in identifying and maintaining community links around the nine pathways; specifically leading on Family Engagement.
• Manage a caseload of women in custody undertaking one to one work with clients updating information to Nomis and CMS.
• Take an active part in ensuring the KPT targets for Education, Training and Employment is met and the monthly statistics are accurate.
• Conduct interviews with women in custody, to assess and review their situation with their families and to provide ongoing support where necessary.
• Identify potential risks to children; to promote and safeguard their welfare.
• Liaise with and make referrals to Social Services and other agencies and act where appropriate as advocate to women in custody and their families.

The Ideal Candidate

• A non judgemental understanding of the issues affecting women in a custodial environment and an awareness of key social problems affecting their effective resettlement into the community.
• An understanding of the 9 Pathways to Reducing Re-offending.
• Developed communication skills, oral and written.  Good interpersonal skills and ability to relate well to others.
• An ability to work efficiently within a busy department whilst maintaining high standards across all job aspects. Effective organisational skills including the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• An ability to deal with aggressive/abusive behaviour whilst remaining professional
• Ability to work effectively in a team and on an individual basis.
• Ability to question and evaluate information and make appropriate defensible decisions.  

Highly Desirable

• Experience of working within a custodial environment.
• Understanding of the wider criminal justice system.
• Previous Housing experience and training.
• Previous experience of supporting women with Finance, Benefit and Debt issues.
• Ability to identify patterns, cycles and trends in informative/behaviour.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to relate well to others.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and on an individual basis.
• Effective organisational skills including the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of social services work in the community.

Package Description

£22,777.54 plus London Weighting and benefits including free parking, free meals, subsidised Gym membership, pension, group discount scheme etc

About the Company

Sodexo UK & Ireland employs around 36,000 people and delivers On-site Service Solutions to clients at over 2,300 locations including offices, hospitals, schools, defence sites, prisons, sporting events and visitor attractions.  Sodexo is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Criminal Records Bureau (UK) and/ or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland)