Personal Assistant

Location: HMP Forest Bank, M27 8FB

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £34,000 per annum plus Sodexo benefits

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly organised, professional, and proactive Personal Assistant to join the senior leadership support team at HMP Forest Bank. Reporting directly to the Director, you will provide comprehensive and confidential administrative and secretarial support, ensuring the effective management of the Director's Office and contributing to the smooth operation of the establishment.

This role requires exceptional organisational skills, discretion, and the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including colleagues, external partners, public sector organisations, and visitors. You will also provide support to the Deputy Director and Head of Reducing Reoffending when required and play a key role in staff engagement initiatives across the prison.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide full confidential Personal Assistant support to the Director.
• Manage and coordinate the Director's diary, ensuring effective use of time and prioritisation of commitments.
• Organise, prepare for, attend, and minute meetings, maintaining accurate records and action plans.
• Maintain effective filing and document retrieval systems.
• Act as the first point of contact for internal and external communications, responding appropriately and professionally.
• Screen telephone calls and emails, redirecting or responding on behalf of the Director where appropriate.
• Arrange travel, accommodation, and related logistics as required.
• Undertake general office administration duties, including stationery ordering and post management.
• Maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, external organisations, and public sector partners.
• Act as Staff Engagement Lead and serve as the main point of contact for employee engagement initiatives.
• Provide administrative support to the Deputy Director and Head of Reducing Reoffending as required.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, or similar administrative support role.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Strong secretarial skills, including accurate typing and minute-taking.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to draft professional correspondence and responses independently.
• Self-motivated with a flexible and proactive approach to work.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience acting as the first point of contact for visitors, clients, and stakeholders.
• Previous experience working within a custodial, justice, prison, or related public sector environment.
• Experience supporting staff engagement, wellbeing, or employee initiatives.

Why Join Us?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a professional and purpose-driven organisation where you will play a key role in supporting senior leadership and contributing to the effective delivery of services. You will work alongside dedicated colleagues and have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through your support and organisational expertise.

About Sodexo Careers

Sodexo’s vision for HMP Forest Bank is to create and maintain a safe, stable, and progressive environment with modern facilities dedicated to reducing re-offending and enabling individuals to fulfil their potential. Every aspect of the prison is designed to help prisoners make meaningful progress in their sentence and personal development goals within a culture focused on rehabilitation.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular big-brand retailers
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies