Women Prison Jobs

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.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate

Salary: £27,000-£29,000 pro rata

Location: HMP Bronzefield

Hours: 21 Hours per week (with the possibility to increase to full time hours)

Contract: Fixed Term – until 31st March 2025 with a possibility of an extension to March 2026

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

The Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate will support women within the prison setting, provide pre-release support, focused on Accommodation, Finance, debt & benefits, Family & significant others and Social inclusion including ‘through the gate’ support.

This exciting new role will be based in HMP Bronzefield and will support in developing referral pathways for women and work in partnership with different departments and services within the prison as well as those in the community. You will co-design an action plan with women accessing support, enabling you to support them to address their accommodation, finance, debt and benefits and health needs and any risks in relation to the interventions identified, as they prepare for release. The role will involve a combination of casework-based approach with delivery of programmes and courses, along with a signposting and advice service for the women in custody.

You will have demonstrable experience and understanding of working with women in a challenging multi-agency environment, ideally working with prisoners and/or their families.

You will build strong relationships with the Pre Release teams to ensure clients are able to maintain or access suitable accommodation, finance, benefits and debt, family and social inclusion support including negotiating terms on behalf of the women. Ensure that interventions are responsive to and meet the needs of women from diverse and minoritised backgrounds. This, together with referrals to wider partner organisations in the community, will ensure additional support needs are addressed post-release and continuity of support exists.

A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential

About You:

To be successful as the Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate you will need the below experience and skills:

Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice system obtained through academic study, experience of working in the criminal justice system (or closely associated social system).

The ability and experience as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons.

You will possess excellent organisational skills, excellent communication skills and be able to work in a prison environment whilst remaining calm.

Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of managing a caseload including maintaining and updating records, remaining focused on action plan goals, and keeping to deadlines

You will have the ability to complete trauma informed, support and action plans in collaboration with the woman; to support in addressing their multiple and individual needs and enable them to engage with services, which will result in timely and prescribed outcomes being achieved.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

Closing Date for Applications: 13th October 2024

Interviews are taking place on: 21st & 23rd October 2024

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

Pension scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Employee eye-care scheme

Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

Organisation wide away days

Thorough induction and training

Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Exciting opportunity to lead and shape specialist residential drug treatment services for women and families. Phoenix Futures are the leading state-funded provider of residential drug treatment services in the UK. As part of our continued development of capacity and specialism in the sector, we are consolidating our specialist provision of services for women and families, and this role will play a key role in the delivery and development of our practice, partnerships and strategy.

Options for hybrid working. Potential for home-based, or Oxford base (with travel to Sheffield required). 

About you

• • experience of CQC regulated services and managing residential services and registered managers
  • knowledge and experience of women's and family treatment services
  • operational experience in the drug and alcohol treatment sector
  • experience of managing budgets and achieving income targets

We are looking for an exceptional woman to provide senior leadership to two specialist residential rehabs. The National Specialist Family Service a long-standing innovative family residential service that provides for parents and children, and Ophelia House is a trauma responsive female-only treatment service.

You will be understanding and passionate about the gender-specific treatment needs of women, have knowledge of the practical, emotional, social and economic issues facing them, have experience of and a desire to work in trauma responsive settings.

You will also have experience of shaping innovative service and working with families as part of a whole-family approach.  You will share our passion for improving access to support/treatment for families (single parents (mums and/or dads) with their child/ren, couples with children, and pregnant women). 

We are seeking to develop relationships across the women and family support sector so that we can learn from others and bring best practice and emerging practice (nationally and internationally) into our service delivery. You will have the opportunity to influence Phoenix's strategy and share learning across the organisation and beyond, playing a key role in supporting the women and families national treatment agenda.

This role includes overseeing a women’s-only residential service specialising in providing safe therapeutic environments for those who have experienced multiple disadvantage and those who have experienced past trauma. Therefore there is an Operational Requirement for this role to be fulfilled by a female (determined compliant under ACAS guidelines for recruiting applicants with a protected characteristic to do a certain job).[1]

The Role

This role is a senior operational manager post and will report to the Deputy Director of Operations (TC Specialist). The role has responsibility for managing a portfolio of two specialist residential services:

• Ophelia House, Oxford (Trauma-responsive, female only Therapeutic Community)
• National Specialist Family Service, Sheffield

You will manage CQC Registered Managers and services, along with providing leadership to staff teams across your portfolio of services (portfolio may change over time). These two residential services each provide unique environments and specialism, rooted in the Therapeutic Community approach.

You will be required to attend both of the services depending on need and workplan (located in Oxford & Sheffield respectively), as well as occasional travel elsewhere across England and Scotland.

You will be a member of the Phoenix Senior Management Team (SMT) and influence and shape the future of the organisation. There is the option for hybrid working and flexible/condensed hours would be considered.

Your Rewards 

• Salary of £56,500 with potential performance related pay bonus of 8.5%
• Opportunity for hybrid working and flexible condensed hours considered
• 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays with option to buy/sell (increasing each year to a maximum of 30 days) 
• Benefits including season ticket loan, pension scheme and life assurance, occupational sick pay, eye-care vouchers 
• Continuous training and career development via PXL our dedicated learning management system  
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance programme including telephone and online access 
• A rewarding role with the opportunity to help us support people on their journey to recovery and change their lives for the better. 

About Phoenix

Phoenix Futures has been providing rehabilitation services for over 50 years. In support of the current Drug Strategy in England (From Harm to Hope) and the investment in residential services in Scotland, Phoenix are committed to rebuilding capacity across both countries in the residential rehab sector. In 2022/23 we launched two new residential services (New Oakwood Lodge which is an Enhanced Therapeutic Community in Derby, and Harper House, a National Specialist Family Service in North Ayrshire). In 2023/24 we opened Ophelia House, and 24/25 sees continuing development in NE Scotland.

Please note, we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may close this role should we find sufficient applicants with which to make our shortlist. As such, we would advise applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

[1] Using protected characteristics in recruitment: Recruitment: hiring someone - Acas

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation.  We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

This role will be based in HMP Bronzefield and our South London Womens Hubs, leading the development and delivery of specialist domestic abuse/family & significant other support with women impacted by the criminal justice system. 

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Lead on developing an effective domestic abuse/family & significant others intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system
2. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach to addressing women’s needs
3. Provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including Women in Prison’s influencing team
4. Provide effective leadership to direct report/s, ensuring teams are managed and supported.

Duties and key responsibilities

Lead on developing an effective domestic abuse/family & significant others intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system:

• Lead the Family and Significant Other strand of support to create an intervention that assesses clients’ domestic abuse needs, providing expert advice and support, and developing a support plan to address identified needs.
• Provide trauma-responsive approach, undertaking risk and needs assessments that reflect each individual's situation and support needs. 
• Ensure that interventions are responsive to and meet the needs of women from diverse and minoritised communities. 
• Accurately document all client interaction on relevant databases, always working in line with Women in Prison’s case management policy, and data protection legislation. 
• Support in the collation and production of reports, including ensuring that appropriate recording, monitoring and evaluation of work is completed to set deadlines. 
• Completing DASH risk assessments and attending MARAC meetings where appropriate.

To develop effective relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach to addressing women’s needs: 

• Work in partnership with key organisations, such as domestic abuse services, children’s services, housing departments, prison based teams, community organisations, to advocate for women’s needs around family and significant others.
• Take a collaborative multi-agency approach to supporting women, including representing and supporting women at multi-agency meetings. 
• Contribute to strategic and operational meetings, such as performance review meetings with funders and partners.  

To provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including Women in Prison’s influencing team

• Support the wider team to increase knowledge on DA legislation and pathways through providing support and advice, and training to internal colleagues. 
• Support Women in Prison’s influencing work through actively contributing expertise into campaigns and ensuring that Women in Prison provides a platform for women’s voices. 
• Contribute to development of new approaches and interventions that address underlying contributing factors to women’s offending and criminalisation. 

Provide effective leadership to direct report/s, ensuring teams are managed and supported:

• Line manage direct report/s and ensure that all staff receive regular support, supervision and performance review, case management, training and development in line with WIP policies and procedures.
• Support the Link Worker with development of the programme.
• Ensure the Link Worker is linked in with wider South London Women’s Hub teams.  

In line with legal requirements and the nature of our work, this role:

· Is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement

· Requires the right to work in the UK

· Is subject to an Enhanced Barring DBS check. 

· Is subject to HM Prison and Probation Service vetting (‘Enhanced Level 1’ or ‘Standard Plus’) 

· Requires that the post holder is not automatically disqualified by (or can obtain a waiver from) the Charity Commission

We are happy to invest in developing the right person, so you are welcome to apply even if your professional experience does not fully meet the job description or person specification.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minoritised women, and women who have personal experience of the criminal justice system.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Community Key Worker

Salary: £20,000 - £26,000

Location: Thames Valley (Berkshire, may be required to work across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire)

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2026 (with possible extension

Hours: 28 per week

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

Are you an excellent relationship builder who can work with women and a diverse range of delivery partners to ensure that she meets her potential and successfully progresses through and beyond her probation supervision? Can you meet a women wherever she is at in her journey and work with her to create an individualised support package that gives her the best chance of breaking the cycle of offending?

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for a feminist organisation who understand that supporting women in the criminal justice system requires a specialist and gendered approach? Do you believe in our values; to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaborate, innovate, and take accountability?

In your role as a Community Keyworker, you will be working with women involved in the Criminal Justice System; those on Probation in the Community and those women being released from Prison as part of their Post Sentence Supervision; providing some in-reach and ‘Through the Gate’ support. You will be working in a team of Community Keyworkers in your region. Each Keyworker will provide holistic one to one community support to women with a variety of needs.

About You:

To be successful as the Community Key Worker you will need the below experience and skills.

You will need to hold a UK driving licence with access to car that can be used for work purposes. A creative self-starter who will support the service and look for innovative solutions to support clients with complex needs. You are confident professional relationship builder with have good awareness of Safeguarding procedures. Strong Administration skills and understanding of compliant behaviours also, experience of supporting. With good knowledge of the criminal justice system and awareness of other support provisions within the Kent

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

Closing Date for Applications: Friday 6th September 2024

Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

A 35-hour working week

An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

Pension scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Employee eye-care scheme

Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

Organisation wide away days

Thorough induction and training

Career development pathways

**************************************************************

Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the and they will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

A rare opportunity for an ambitious and driven Fundraising Lead to join a well respected and impactful human rights organisation to drive growth and challenge abuse in immigration detention.

3 days a week, £40,000 p/a pro-rata, hybrid and flexible working possibilities.  Office in Finsbury Park, London.

Medical Justice particularly welcomes applications from people with lived experience – see the Application Pack.

We are looking for an outstanding Fundraising Lead to play a key role in developing and implementing our first formal fundraising strategy. You will be helping to develop our team of passionate and determined staff and volunteers committed to defending the medical and legal rights of our vulnerable detained clients. Your fundraising will enable Medical Justice to grow to the next level and together we will be changing the fate of even more people’s lives.

Job Purpose: Develop and implement a funding plan that will resource Medical Justice’s ambitious strategy, building partnerships with funders, increasing and diversifying funding streams.

Salary: £40,000 per annum pro rata, with an annual increase of £500 each year for 5 years and 5% pension contribution

Reports to: The Director

Working hours: 3 days a week – flexible working pattern possible

Based: The job is based at the Medical Justice office in Finsbury Park, London. You can work at home and should come in the office for 5 days a month, preferably including Tuesdays.

Length of contract: Permanent. The probation period is 6 months.

Annual Leave: 28 days pro rata per annum  (including 4 days associated with bank holidays which may be decided on by your manager, usually associated with the office closure during Christmas and New Year) plus bank holidays.

Benefits: Includes ; enhanced parental leave and sick pay, one-to-one counselling sessions and group supervision sessions with a psychologist, ‘cycle to work scheme’, and staff lunch on Tuesdays.

Timeline: The closing date for applications is midnight January 26th 2025. Shortlisting for interviews is planned for 31st January 2025 with interviews the following week at the Medical Justice office.  Interviewing will include a written and verbal exercise.  Medical Justice pays for travel expenses to and from the interview.

To apply: Please read the Application Pack which includes the Job Description and complete the included application form. 

We look forward to receiving your application !