Family Support Worker

Role Overview

Join us as a Family Support Worker (Visits Centre Assistant) at HMP Erlestoke, where you will play an important role in supporting families visiting their loved ones in prison.

Based in the visitor centre, you’ll help create a welcoming and supportive environment for adults and children. From offering information and guidance to organising activities for children and ensuring refreshments are available, you’ll contribute to making visits as positive and stress‑free as possible.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You’ll support families during what can often be a challenging time, using your experience of working with people facing difficulties to handle situations calmly and sensitively.

You’ll also work closely with colleagues and partner agencies, ensuring safeguarding and child protection procedures are followed at all times. Your input will help us continue to improve our family support services.

Provide information and guidance to families, organise activities for children, ensure refreshments are available, maintain a welcoming environment, handle challenging situations calmly, collaborate with colleagues and partner agencies, and support continuous improvement of family support services.

Requirements include a six‑month probationary period, verification of identity and right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a three‑year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions, a satisfactory risk assessment where appropriate, prison vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications, including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).

• Free advice, information and counselling service
• Contributory pension
• Corporate eye care scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement

You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker. You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.

£26,227.50 per annum full time earnings, £4,895.70 actual earnings.

7 hours per week – Sunday

• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Season Ticket Loan
• EAP Scheme

If you feel that you meet the requirements of this exciting new role, please complete an application form.