Family Services Volunteer HMP Elmley - Sheppey
Prison Advice Care Trust (PACT)
The Prison Advice and Care Trust are looking for volunteers to get involved with our Family Services at HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey (this prison is not located close to public transport).
Family Services Volunteer HMP Elmley About this service Working on the front line to improve continuity of care and support for family members and carers and, by extension, people in custody to: Ensure families can gain greater access to support and early help within their local community and services. Support prisoners and their families to maintain strong, resilient, and effective relationships where there is mutual and lasting benefit in doing so. Ensure that children, families, and prisoners are treated with dignity and respect, and their voices are heard Purpose of this role Working as a member of the Family Services team, to work across all areas of the service, which may involve one or more of the following family support services: a welcoming visitor centre facility; play and children’s services and/or refreshment services. The role will mainly involve working with the families and carers of prisoners and their families in the Prison visitors centre and visits hall. Location and shift availability Location: HMP Elmley, Church Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, ME12 4DZ Shifts are available: Mon - Sun 1pm - 5pm Because of the recruitment process which can take several weeks, Pact hopes you will commit to volunteering with us for 1 shift a week (approx. 3-4 hours) for at least 6 month from when you start. What you will be doing Visitors Centre To offer a friendly and welcoming environment within the Family & Visitors’ Centre, where people visiting the prison can spend time before and after their visit. To assist with booking/checking in of visitors in line with Pact and the prison’s procedures. To encourage families to access support or signposting them for their needs by interacting with visitors, offering information and advice as appropriate on a confidential basis and ensuring first time visitors are provided with enhanced support and reassurance. To help maintain an area in the visitors’ centre for children, which may include displays of children’s artwork, relevant posters and information, as well as toys and other materials to engage children before and after a visit. To liaise with prison staff, including visits and security staff, to ensure close co-operation in the smooth and efficient reception of visitors at the prison. Play Area To promote opportunities for children to engage with their loved one who is in prison in an appropriate way during a visit and family days. To ensure the play equipment is safe, clean, and able to fulfil its requirements, storing and restocking as required. Refreshment Services To provide an excellent, friendly, and welcoming refreshment service to prisoners and their families in the café of the visitors centre and visits hall. Family Visits Days To support the planning and delivery of an agreed number of family/teen days per year and to help Pact deliver high quality facilitated play/activities appropriate for the age ranges attending the family days. General Adhering to policies and practises relevant to this role: Confidentiality; Health & Safety; Child Protection and Safeguarding; Equality and Diversity; and Prison security rules etc. Reporting any incidents and concerns related to Health and Safety or Safeguarding to a member of the Pact staff team. The type of person we are looking for Pact advertises volunteering opportunities widely and locally and seeks to attract volunteers that are representative of the communities and people we serve. Pact actively encourage people with criminal convictions to apply for both paid and voluntary positions at Pact. We therefore welcome applications from former service users and people with convictions subject to risk assessment and the nature of the role. Experience / Knowledge Skills / Abilities Attitudes Good understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and confidentiality. An awareness of the impact of custody on prisoners, and on children and families. Experience of working with members of the public. The ability to offer a warm welcome to visitors, to smile and treat people with dignity and respect. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to relate sensitively to the needs of prisoners’ families. Good communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively to a range of people including prison staff, other agencies, colleagues and service users. Empathy with the children and families and/or carers of prisoners who are visiting loves ones. Non-judgemental, empathetic attitude towards prisoners and their families. Committed to the vision, mission, values, and ethos of Pact. What we offer Training Safeguarding, Professional Boundaries, and Equality and Diversity training is required for all our roles, as well training related to the role. You will also have access to a range of other training opportunities. Expenses Travel costs, via public transport or private car (mileage) will be reimbursed including travel to attend training. Subsistence, i.e., lunch may also be reimbursed, in accordance with our expenses policy. Checks This role is subject to the following checks which our staff will be on hand to support you through: 3 years of employment history or other activities (e.g., studying, travelling) Enhanced DBS check (Disclosure & Barring Service) with child barring Security Vetting by Her Majesty’s Prison Service. Please be aware that these necessary checks need to be completed before you can start and can take several weeks to process. Support and Supervision We will provide a full induction and regular supervision to support you in the role. Benefits to you Help you feel connected to those you are helping in the community Work with like-minded people from different backgrounds who share a common interest Developing experience and knowledge of the Criminal Justice System Volunteering for Pact can be very rewarding and fulfilling and provide you with a sense of purpose Opportunity to develop valuable and transferable skills and subject to satisfactory volunteering with Pact, we will be happy to provide references in support of applications for employment Use your hours volunteered towards student placement hours required A group of people looking at a childDescription automatically generated with low confidence Next steps For more information about Pact and to apply for this role please click the green 'Fill in an application' box at the top of this page or for more information please email volunteering@prisonadvice.org.uk Pact is a registered charity - number: 219278. Company registration number: 356443. Registered office: 29 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8UA
Advice, Information & Support,Befriending, Buddying & Mentoring,Community Work,Counselling
Listening, Managing People, Teamwork, Talking To Others
You will be provided with full training for your role however it is worth noting that this role will involve speaking with the public.
Volunteering with PACT can be a fantastic opportunity to grow your experience and confidence in the sector.
Shifts are available: Mon - Sun 1pm - 5pm
ME12 4DZ
HMP Elmley, Church Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, ME12 4DZ
N/A
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