Help children feel safe, supported and connected when visiting a loved one in prison.
Forward Trust’s Connections Team at HMP Millsike is responsible for delivering a range of services that support people in prison and their families, including Connections Visits, Family and Relationship Services, and Health and Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Services.
We are looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic and child-focused Family and Relationships Practitioner (Children’s Specialist) to join our team at HMP Millsike.
Visiting a family member in prison can be an emotional and challenging experience for children. In this role, you will help create a safe, welcoming and supportive environment where children can feel comfortable, express themselves through play and enjoy positive interactions with their loved ones.
You will play an important role in reducing the emotional stress associated with prison visits by providing age-appropriate activities, encouraging positive family relationships and ensuring children’s emotional, social and developmental needs are considered throughout their visit.
If you are passionate about supporting children and families, and want to make a meaningful difference to the experiences of children affected by parental or family imprisonment, we would love to hear from you.
What you will be doing
- Creating a safe, warm and welcoming play environment for children visiting their family members at HMP Millsike.
- Providing age-appropriate play activities that encourage children’s creativity, confidence, emotional expression and social development.
- Supporting children to feel comfortable and settled during prison visits, helping to reduce anxiety and emotional distress.
- Facilitating positive interactions between children and their loved ones, helping to strengthen family relationships and maintain meaningful connections.
- Ensuring play activities are inclusive, accessible and responsive to children’s individual needs, ages and abilities.
- Offering compassionate, child-centred support to children who may be experiencing a range of emotions before, during or after visits.
- Observing children’s engagement and wellbeing, responding appropriately to their needs and seeking further support where necessary.
- Working collaboratively with the wider Connections Team to deliver effective family and relationship services.
- Communicating sensitively and professionally with children, families and colleagues to help ensure a positive visiting experience.
- Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and following relevant safeguarding procedures, policies and guidance.
- Contributing to an environment where children feel valued, respected and supported, and where their welfare remains a priority.
What we are looking for
We are looking for someone who is caring, patient and enthusiastic about helping children feel safe and supported in what can be an unfamiliar and emotionally challenging environment.
You will bring:
- A genuine passion for supporting children and promoting their emotional wellbeing.
- A compassionate, patient and empathetic approach when working with children and families.
- The ability to create a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment where children feel comfortable.
- An understanding of the importance of play in children’s emotional, social and developmental wellbeing.
- The ability to plan and facilitate fun, creative and age-appropriate activities for children of different ages and needs.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families and colleagues.
- An inclusive approach that recognises and respects children’s individual circumstances, backgrounds and experiences.
- The ability to remain calm, professional and sensitive when supporting children who may be upset, anxious or distressed.
- An understanding of safeguarding and the importance of maintaining appropriate professional boundaries when working with children and families.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team while using initiative to respond to children’s needs.
- A commitment to treating every child and family with dignity, respect and understanding.
- A willingness to work within a prison environment and understand the particular challenges this may present for children and families.
This is an opportunity to make a real difference to children and families affected by imprisonment. By helping children experience safer, more positive and supportive visits, you will contribute to maintaining family relationships and supporting children’s wellbeing.
As part of Forward Trust’s Connections Team at HMP Millsike, you will contribute to a service that recognises the importance of family connections and the positive impact these can have on individuals and their loved ones.
Your work will help create meaningful experiences for children, giving them opportunities to play, connect and spend valuable time with their family members in a supportive environment.
If you are passionate about children’s wellbeing, enjoy creating engaging play experiences and want to help families maintain positive connections, we would love to hear from you.