We’re looking for a passionate Connections Coach to join Forward Trust (Full Time, 35 Hours) at HMP Millsike, a rural prison location where access is limited and a full driving licence with use of a car is essential. You’ll deliver a relationship-led service that helps people rebuild connections, strengthen wellbeing, and move towards lasting desistance.
This role sits at the heart of our Connections Service, covering Visits, Family & Relationship support, and Desistance & Wellbeing interventions. You’ll play a key part in building a strong recovery ecosystem across the prison, working in partnership with health, substance misuse, and prison colleagues to deliver truly integrated support.
What you’ll be doing
- Delivering the core Connections offer: visits, family work, and desistance & wellbeing support
- Managing a varied caseload of Prisoner Service Users (PSUs) through 1:1 coaching and group work
- Supporting delivery of the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) model and recovery wing approach
- Contributing to a whole-prison recovery culture, including designated recovery/ISFL areas
- Chairing community meetings and contributing to multidisciplinary reviews where required
- Developing tailored recovery and desistance plans that build motivation and sustain change
The approach you’ll support
You’ll help deliver the Supporting & Sustaining Recovery (SSR) model, supporting people through:
- Stabilisation and preparation
- Structured recovery development
- Long-term sustainment through ISFL, peer support, employment pathways, and wellbeing interventions
You’ll also work with innovative recovery resources including:
- Forward Connect – a national recovery community of 1,000+ members
- Group programmes, resilience workshops, and 1:1 interventions
- Lived experience materials, campaigns, and recovery-focused content
What we’re looking for
- Experience working with vulnerable people in a coaching, support, or key working role
- Strong relationship-building, motivational, and communication skills
- Confidence managing caseloads, assessments, and structured plans
- Ability to work collaboratively across health, substance misuse, and prison teams
- Commitment to recovery, desistance, and person-centred support
- Flexibility to work in a rural, secure setting (driving essential)
This is a chance to help shape a whole-prison recovery culture, where people are supported not just to change, but to sustain that change long after release.
Please see attached Job Description for full details
All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.
Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.