Job Purpose

The Croft Visitor Support & Advice Centre based in HMP Barlinnie, supports friends and families of prisoners by offering a non-judgemental listening ear, emotional and practical support, working with a range of partner organisation to provide specialist services. Whilst our core work is based within Barlinnie, we are looking to employ an ODDSW to work in the community to support families impacted by drugs either through direct involvement or imprisonment of a loved one due to drug-related crimes.

You will engage people through a series of events, activities, and information sessions to help tackle issues faced by individuals and families and help break down barriers by working in partnership with organisations providing specialist support services. We will offer people a personal development programme to create a core soft skills base from which to build confidence and knowledge progressing to becoming a buddy/mentor/peer supporter to others impacted by having a loved one in prison due to drug-related issues. You will help provide the information and resources, recruit the mentors/buddies, support them to understand and address any issues/challenges they may have and develop this programme to support the wider network of visitors and families and use the buddy mentor system to provide ongoing support & development opportunities in the community.

A full Job Description is available for download below.

Are you interested in supporting and making a difference to people visiting a loved one in prison?

Do you understand the need to empathy, compassion and providing a non-judgemental listening ear, whilst people deal with what can be the most difficult time in their lives?

The Croft (visitors centre) is a charitable organisation which has been supporting families affected by imprisonment since 2021, based in HMP Barlinnie in North Glasgow. We are looking for people to join our team on a sessional basis.

The role involves working in the public areas of the prison, creating a welcoming environment, providing people with information, advice and practical support. Ideally you will have experience working in a Prison Visitors’ Centre or in a similar front line setting supporting members of the public. People with lived experience of the community justice system are also welcome to apply, this can be personally or through family/friends.

You will be working with children, young people vulnerable adults and families who are experiencing a difficult time in their life so an awareness of, and interest in, the impact of imprisonment of families/loved ones would be beneficial. A qualification in a relevant discipline such as social care; advice provision; social work, community development or counselling is desirable however, full training will be provided with aptitude and experience being as important as qualifications.

Please note This role focuses on work with the friends and family of prisoners in the public areas of HMP Barlinnie, it does not include direct work with prisoners or work within the secure areas of the prison

Key attributes we are looking for include -

• Good listening skills with an empathetic and non-judgemental aptitude
• The ability to establish rapport and build trust with visitors
• Ability to work in a small team, including volunteers, and to work on your own initiative
• Experience of partnership working with both voluntary and statutory agencies
• Administrative skills, including use of computers, email and internet
• A “can do” attitude, willing to take on any aspect of the role and be proactive in your approach
• A commitment to equal opportunities and social inclusion

The role is for a sessional support worker to provide additional cover on an ad hoc basis. This role is paid hourly and will include 12-8pm shifts (including an hour’s unpaid lunch break) and some weekend shifts from 10.30am – 3.30pm. Sessional shifts are usually agreed in advance on a monthly rota, with some short notice shifts to cover unexpected staff absence. This post is subject to PVG check or update

Do you want to help make a difference to the lives of families affected by another’s imprisonment – this is a group of people often marginalised and severely impacted, practically, emotionally and financially by the actions of another. Want to learn new skills in the process? - you can by becoming a volunteer Board Member for the Croft HMP Barlinnie’s Visitors Centre.

What we are looking for

We are looking to recruit a number of Board members.

We welcome applicants from any background and experience but are particularly looking for people with the following skills –

• Treasurer - Accounting/Finance
• Branding
• Lived experience of being a family member impacted by another’s imprisonment

What you get from being a Board Member

1. The chance to give something back into the community and make a real difference to the lives of families impacted by imprisonment - Becoming a Trustee is a fantastic way to give something back to a cause you care about. You’ll be playing an integral part in the way the charity is run, ensuring it remains sustainable and financially viable. The help you provide will be invaluable.
2. Meet new people - joining a new organisation or charity is a fantastic way to meet new people from a range of different personal and professional backgrounds. There will be annual meetings to attend, day-to-day tasks to complete with other volunteers and staff at the charity, events or activities to do within your local community, as well as many other opportunities to meet new and interesting people.
3. Learn new things - getting involved as a charity Trustee is a great way to put your professional skills to use, but can also be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things. You’ll get great insight into what’s involved in the management of charities and gain skills on working well within a leadership role.
4. Improve your CV and enhance your professional development - from learning how organisations are run to planning finances and attending meetings, this experience can be the perfect way to boost a CV and set you apart from the crowd.

Background

In 2012 local churches and the community recognised that the families of prisoners in HMP Barlinnie had nowhere to go for help on what was happening to their loved one, how to go about arranging a visit, what information and support was available to their family and them.

The Croft Visitors Support and Advice Centre was established as a charity whereby volunteers and support workers met with families prior to and after their visits to get the support and information they needed on whatever issues they were facing. As time has gone on there is now a support service at every Scottish prison, core funded by Scottish Government. The Scottish Government recognised the importance of the centres and created the National Visitors Centre Framework for Scotland which we all follow, stating that -

The service they provide is accessible to all family members and visitors to the prison including those who do not go into the prison to visit their family member.

They achieve positive outcomes for prisoners’ families and friends and for prisoners themselves by fulfilling three core functions:

• They improve the visits experience for people visiting their family member or loved ones in prison.
• They help families access independent and impartial advice, information and practical support, which meets their needs.
• They voice the needs of families affected by imprisonment to the prison they work alongside.

The Croft provide a wide range of support to visitors on an emotional, practical and informative level and are looking for volunteer Board Members to help govern the charity and shape its future whilst making a different to the lives of families affected by imprisonment and often punished for a crime they did not commit. We are looking to redesign our services and expand our provision so this is an ideal opportunity to help shape the future of the charity.

Are you interested in supporting and making a difference to people visiting a loved one in prison?

Do you understand the need for empathy, compassion and providing a non-judgemental listening ear, whilst people deal with what can be the most difficult time in their lives?

The Croft (visitors centre) is a charitable organisation which has been supporting families affected by imprisonment since 2021, based in HMP Barlinnie in North Glasgow. We are looking for people to join our team on a sessional basis.

The role involves working in the public areas of the prison, creating a welcoming environment, providing people with information, advice and practical support. Ideally you will have experience working in a Prison Visitors’ Centre or in a similar front line setting supporting members of the public. People with lived experience of the community justice system are also welcome to apply, this can be personally or through family/friends. You will be working with children, young people vulnerable adults and families who are experiencing a difficult time in their life so an awareness of, and interest in, the impact of imprisonment of families/loved ones would be beneficial. A qualification in a relevant discipline such as social care; advice provision; social work, community development or counselling is desirable however, full training will be provided with aptitude and experience being as important as qualifications. Please note This role focuses on work with the friends and family of prisoners in the public areas of HMP Barlinnie, it does not include direct work with prisoners or work within the secure areas of the prison

Key attributes we are looking for include, refer to job description for skills required -

• Good listening skills with an empathetic and non-judgemental aptitude
• The ability to establish rapport and build trust with visitors
• Ability to work in a small team, including volunteers, and to work on your own initiative
• Experience of partnership working with both voluntary and statutory agencies
• Administrative skills, including use of computers, email and internet
• A “can do” attitude, willing to take on any aspect of the role and be proactive in your approach
• A commitment to equal opportunities and social inclusion

The role is for a full-time support worker working mainly weekdays but with the requirement for occasional weekend working. This post is subject to PVG check or update

Volunteer Board Member(s) – The Croft (visitors centre) at HMP Barlinnie

Do you want to help make a difference to the lives of families affected by imprisonment and learn new skills in the process? You can by becoming a volunteer Board Member for HMP Barlinnie Visitors Centre.

Background

In 2012 local churches and the community recognised that the families of prisons in HMP Barlinnie had nowhere to go for help on what was happening to their loved one, how to go about arranging a visit, what information and support was available to their family and them.

The Croft Visitors Support and Advice Centre was established as a charity whereby volunteers and support workers met with families prior to and after their visits to get the support and information they needed on whatever issues they were facing. As time has gone on there is now a visitor centre at every Scottish prison. The Scottish Government recognised the importance of the centres and created the National Visitors Centre Framework for Scotland which we all follow, stating that -

The service they provide is accessible to all family members and visitors to the prison including those who do not go into the prison to visit their family member.

They achieve positive outcomes for prisoners’ families and friends and for prisoners themselves by fulfilling three core functions:

• They improve the visits experience for people visiting their family member or loved ones in prison.
• They help families access independent and impartial advice, information and practical support, which meets their needs.
• They voice the needs of families affected by imprisonment to the prison they work alongside.

We provide a wide range of support to visitors on an emotional, practical and informative level and are looking for volunteer Board Members to help govern the charity and shape its future whilst making a different to the lives of families affected by imprisonment and often punished for a crime they did not commit. We are looking to redesign our services and expand our provision so this is an ideal opportunity to help shape the future of the charity.

What we are looking for

We are looking to recruit a number of Board members. We welcome applicants from any background and experience but are particularly looking for people with the following skills –

• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Accounting/Finance
• Marketing & Communications
• Social Media
• Fundraising
• Community Development
• General Management
• Lived experience of the community justice system

What you get from being a Board Member

1.The chance to give something back into the community and make a real difference to the lives of families impacted by imprisonment - Becoming a Trustee is a fantastic way to give something back to a cause you care about. You’ll be playing an integral part in the way the charity is run, ensuring it remains sustainable and financially viable. The help you provide will be invaluable.

2. Meet new people - joining a new organisation or charity is a fantastic way to meet new people from a range of different personal and professional backgrounds. There will be annual meetings to attend, day-to-day tasks to complete with other volunteers and staff at the charity, events or activities to do within your local community, as well as many other opportunities to meet new and interesting people.

3. Learn new things - getting involved as a charity Trustee is a great way to put your professional skills to use, but can also be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things. You’ll get great insight into what’s involved in the management of charities and gain skills on working well within a leadership role.

4. Improve your CV and enhance your professional development - from learning how organisations are run to planning finances and attending meetings, this experience can be the perfect way to boost a CV and set you apart from the crowd.

Are you interested in supporting and making a difference to people visiting a loved one in prison?

Do you understand the need to empathy, compassion and providing a non-judgemental listening ear, whilst people deal with what can be the most difficult time in their lives?

The Croft (visitors centre) is a charitable organisation which has been supporting families affected by imprisonment since 2021, based in HMP Barlinnie in North Glasgow. We are looking for people to join our team on a sessional basis.

The role involves working in the public areas of the prison, creating a welcoming environment, providing people with information, advice and practical support. Ideally you will have experience working in a Prison Visitors’ Centre or in a similar front line setting supporting members of the public. People with lived experience of the community justice system are also welcome to apply, this can be personally or through family/friends. You will be working with children, young people vulnerable adults and families who are experiencing a difficult time in their life so an awareness of, and interest in, the impact of imprisonment of families/loved ones would be beneficial. A qualification in a relevant discipline such as social care; advice provision; social work, community development or counselling is desirable however, full training will be provided with aptitude and experience being as important as qualifications. Please note This role focuses on work with the friends and family of prisoners in the public areas of HMP Barlinnie, it does not include direct work with prisoners or work within the secure areas of the prison

Key attributes we are looking for include -

• Good listening skills with an empathetic and non-judgemental aptitude
• The ability to establish rapport and build trust with visitors
• Experience of partnership working with both voluntary and statutory agencies
• Administrative skills, including use of computers, email and internet
• A “can do” attitude, willing to take on any aspect of the role and be proactive in your approach
• A commitment to equal opportunities and social inclusion

The role is for a sessional support worker to provide additional cover on an ad hoc basis. This role is paid hourly and will include 12-8pm shifts (including an hour’s unpaid lunch break) and some weekend shifts from 10.30am – 3.30pm. Sessional shifts are usually agreed in advance on a monthly rota, with some short notice shifts to cover unexpected staff absence. This post is subject to PVG check or update.