HMP Whatton Family Services Volunteer
OFFERED BY:
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)Location(s): Outside of Nottingham City
Address where volunteering takes place: HMP Whatton Visit Centre New Lane Whatton Nottingham NG13 9FQHow many places are on offer?:
Purpose of Role:
Working on the front line to improve continuity of care and support for family members and carers and, by extension, people in custody. Working as a member of the Family Services team, to work across all areas of the service, which may involve one or more of the following family support services: a welcoming visitor centre facility and/or refreshment services. The role will mainly involve working with the families and carers of prisoners and their families in the Prison visitors centre and visits hall.
ROLE DESCRIPTION:
Volunteers will be working in the HMP Whatton visitors centre.
The role is:
To offer a friendly and welcoming environment within the Family & Visitors’ Centre, where people visiting the prison can spend time before and after their visit.
To assist with booking/checking in of visitors in line with Pact and the prison’s procedures.
To encourage families to access support or signposting them for their needs by interacting with visitors, offering information and advice as appropriate on a confidential basis and ensuring first time visitors are provided with enhanced support and reassurance.
To liaise with prison staff, including visits and security staff, to ensure close co-operation in the smooth and efficient reception of visitors at the prison.
Refreshment Services
To provide an excellent, friendly, and welcoming refreshment service to prisoners and their families in the café of the visitors centre.
To support the planning and delivery of an agreed number of family days per year and to help Pact deliver high quality facilitated play/activities appropriate for the age ranges attending the family days.
To adhere to policies and practises relevant to this role: Confidentiality; Health & Safety; Child Protection and Safeguarding; Equality and Diversity; and Prison security rules etc.
To report any incidents and concerns related to Health and Safety or Safeguarding to a member of the Pact staff team.
The role is:
To offer a friendly and welcoming environment within the Family & Visitors’ Centre, where people visiting the prison can spend time before and after their visit.
To assist with booking/checking in of visitors in line with Pact and the prison’s procedures.
To encourage families to access support or signposting them for their needs by interacting with visitors, offering information and advice as appropriate on a confidential basis and ensuring first time visitors are provided with enhanced support and reassurance.
To liaise with prison staff, including visits and security staff, to ensure close co-operation in the smooth and efficient reception of visitors at the prison.
Refreshment Services
To provide an excellent, friendly, and welcoming refreshment service to prisoners and their families in the café of the visitors centre.
To support the planning and delivery of an agreed number of family days per year and to help Pact deliver high quality facilitated play/activities appropriate for the age ranges attending the family days.
To adhere to policies and practises relevant to this role: Confidentiality; Health & Safety; Child Protection and Safeguarding; Equality and Diversity; and Prison security rules etc.
To report any incidents and concerns related to Health and Safety or Safeguarding to a member of the Pact staff team.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Good understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and confidentiality.
An awareness of the impact of custody on prisoners, and on children and families.
Experience of working with members of the public.
The ability to offer a warm welcome to visitors, to smile and treat people with dignity and respect.
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to relate sensitively to the needs of prisoners’ families.
Good communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively to a range of people including prison staff, other agencies, colleagues and service users.
Empathy with the children and families and/or carers of prisoners who are visiting loves ones.
Non-judgemental, empathetic attitude towards prisoners and their families.
Committed to the vision, mission, values, and ethos of Pact.
An awareness of the impact of custody on prisoners, and on children and families.
Experience of working with members of the public.
The ability to offer a warm welcome to visitors, to smile and treat people with dignity and respect.
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to relate sensitively to the needs of prisoners’ families.
Good communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively to a range of people including prison staff, other agencies, colleagues and service users.
Empathy with the children and families and/or carers of prisoners who are visiting loves ones.
Non-judgemental, empathetic attitude towards prisoners and their families.
Committed to the vision, mission, values, and ethos of Pact.
WHEN REQUIRED:
This grid shows when you can volunteer for this opportunity.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Are there age restrictions for this opportunity?: Yes
Age Restrictions:
18 years +
Are there gender restrictions for this opportunity?: No
Gender restrictions:
Is the opportunity accessible to disabled people?: Yes
Disability restrictions:
How long before volunteer can expect a response?:
Two weeks
How long to complete training and recruitment?:
At least 8 weeks
Volunteer Expenses offered?: Yes
Induction and Training offered?: Yes
Support and Supervision offered?: Yes
Has a risk assessment been carried out?: Yes
DBS Disclosure required?: Yes