Project Worker (Through the Gate)

About Us

Hibiscus Initiatives is a passionate, women-centred organisation, delivering high impact advocacy and advice services for more than 35 years to those at the intersection of the criminal justice and immigration systems. As an organisation, we have distinct expertise in working with marginalised migrant women in prison and in the community, and with detainees from all genders in immigration removals centres.

Our holistic and trauma informed approach makes a real and lasting impact on women's lives - particularly those who have experienced prisons, international and community resettlement and trafficking. 

We aim to make a difference within the criminal justice and immigration systems too by working with women and amplifying their own voices so their experience is recognised by those making policy decisions.

Hibiscus adopts anti-racist; anti-oppression, and feminist principles and believes in the importance of nurturing a diverse team who can embody these principles. 

We are committed to the wellbeing and development of our staff. We provide regular training and other learning opportunities and offer wellbeing classes and activities, clinical supervision, an Employee Assistance Program and other benefits to support staff wellbeing.

[This post is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010]

About the Role

We are now recruiting for a dedicated Through-the-Gate Project Worker to join our Criminal Justice and Detention Services team. This role will provide specialist support to migrant women being released from prison or detention into the London area and beyond.

The Through-the-Gate Project Worker will act as the main point of contact for referrals for women being released from prison or immigration removal centres. The role will involve managing a caseload of up to 15 migrant women who are in contact with the criminal justice system and / or under immigration restrictions, helping them to prepare for release and supporting them to resettle in the community afterwards.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with statutory, partner and other voluntary organisations to maximise provision of support for women being released from prison/detention. The post-holder will also work as part of Hibiscus’ Safe Homes for Migrant Women project team, to improve provision of safe and secure housing for Black and minoritised migrant women.

[Please note: Successful candidates will need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years to ensure the clearance process is authorised. The post holder will be subject to checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service and HMPPS security vetting]

Salary 
£26,500 - £31,000*

*Starting salary negotiable up to the mid-point of the band, depending on experience

Team
Criminal Justice and Detention Services

Duration
Fixed term contract to March 2026 (with potential to extend)  

Hours
Full-time (35 hours per week)

Location
Hibiscus Head Office, London with frequent travel to and work from prisons and detention centres

About You

We are particularly keen to attract talent from Black and minoritised communities and those with lived experience of immigration and/or the criminal justice system.

The successful candidate will have significant experience working directly with women affected by the criminal justice system, the immigration system, or violence against women and girls. Experience working in a prison or detention setting would be an advantage.

They will be able to demonstrate trauma-informed, gender-responsive practice and maintain clear boundaries with clients; managing challenging behaviour with empathy. The successful candidate will have experience of working in partnership with statutory and non-statutory organisations, and proven ability to engage and influence a range of stakeholders.

They will demonstrate a commitment to Hibiscus's ethos aims and objectives, including having an intersectional and anti-racist approach to the work and a comprehensive understanding of one of more of Hibiscus’ key work areas; criminal justice, immigration and migrants’ rights, racial justice, and/or VAWG and gender justice.