Careers Advisor - Maternity Cover

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) Advisor - Prison Services

Practical careers guidance. Real plans beyond custody.

You will help people in custody understand their skills, make realistic plans and prepare for employment, training or education after release.

You will manage a caseload, deliver one-to-one careers guidance and practical workshops, create action plans and maintain accurate records. This is purposeful, target-driven work inside a secure custodial environment, where safeguarding, professional boundaries and strict security procedures matter. Prison regime changes, restricted access and cancelled sessions can also disrupt a well-planned day.

• Experience in careers guidance, employability coaching or rehabilitation support, including effective one-to-one work.
• Evidence of delivering group workshops, learning sessions or similar structured activities.
• Evidence of managing competing priorities, maintaining accurate records and following through on agreed actions.
• Evidence of working appropriately with sensitive information, safeguarding requirements, confidentiality or professional boundaries.
• A Level 3 or higher qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance, or willingness to work towards the required Level 4 qualification.
• Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work.
• Evidence of delivering outcomes, targets, tasks, projects or agreed objectives.
• Ability to present your recent employment history clearly, including explaining gaps or short-term roles during the previous five years.
• Confident working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, with the ability to learn and adapt to other software and digital systems.

• Experience with in prisons or the criminal justice system.
• Motivational interviewing or trauma-informed practice.
• Neurodiversity training or experience adapting support for different learning and communication needs.

You will help people recognise transferable skills, explore realistic opportunities and turn conversations into practical action plans.

Your one-to-one guidance will explore skills, experience, barriers and aspirations, helping each person identify practical next steps towards employment, education or training.

You will also deliver structured workshops covering areas such as CVs, applications, interviews, financial awareness and digital skills.

Some participants may have limited work histories, low confidence, learning needs or significant barriers outside prison. You will identify what is preventing progress, connect people with appropriate support and professionally challenge unrealistic thinking or disengagement.

Accurate administration is an important part of the role. You will maintain case records, action plans and supporting evidence while working towards agreed outcomes and targets.

You will also work with prison colleagues, training providers, employers and community services to support progression beyond custody.

Within your first 90 days, you should understand the prison regime, be managing your caseload confidently and delivering purposeful one-to-one guidance and workshops.

Your action plans, records and supporting evidence should be accurate and timely, and you should be making clear progress towards agreed outcomes.

You will receive structured training, management support and regular feedback as you develop in the role.

You will work every day inside a secure custodial environment. Searches, restricted-item rules and security procedures are part of working in a prison.

Movements can be delayed, sessions cancelled and access restricted because of lockdowns or changes to the prison regime. You will need to reorganise activity, re-engage people when circumstances allow and keep records and actions moving.

You may hear difficult or sensitive information and must maintain appropriate professional boundaries. This is also a role with targets and administration alongside the human support you provide.

• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.
• Vitality health and wellbeing support, including GP services, mental health support and physiotherapy.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including up to six counselling sessions a year and legal, financial and debt guidance.
• Workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available…