Prison jobs in Widnes

Job Title: Family Support Worker - Prison Visitor Centre and Visit Hall

Location: HMP Thorn Cross

Hours: 20 per week

Salary: £12.71 p/h

*Please note: we require a completed application form to consider you for any role*

Purpose of the Post

As part of the POPS team, the post holder will provide a welcoming, supportive and family-focused service to prisoners' children, families and visitors. The role combines visitor centre support, play provision and refreshment services to help create a positive visit experience that promotes and maintains family relationships throughout a custodial sentence and supports preparation for release and resettlement.

The post holder will meet and greet visitors, provide information, practical guidance and emotional support where required, and maintain a welcoming environment within the visitor centre and visit hall.

On a rota basis, they will facilitate a range of age-appropriate play and family engagement activities for children during prison visits and family events, ensuring activities are enjoyable, inclusive and responsive to the needs of different age groups.

The role also includes assisting with the refreshment service, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks to visitors, processing sales transactions and cash reconciliation, and maintaining all required records. Assisting with managing stock levels and ordering.

The post holder will be responsible for maintaining clean, safe and welcoming environments across all service areas, ensuring compliance with Environmental Health, Health and Safety, safeguarding and prison regulations, and contributing to the smooth delivery of visits, family days and other family-focused activities.

Accountability: POPS’ Lead Family Engagement Worker

Main Tasks

• Work on a shift pattern rota basis, including weekends, evenings and bank holidays.
• Welcome, support and assist visitors attending the prison, ensuring a friendly, respectful and inclusive environment.
• Provide information, guidance, practical assistance and emotional support to families, children and visitors as appropriate.
• Promote positive family relationships by supporting meaningful engagement during visits, family days and special events.
• Liaise effectively with prison staff, visitors, families and partner agencies to support the smooth delivery of services.
• Support the delivery of family forums, family days and other family-focused initiatives.
• Operate in accordance with POPS safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring the welfare and safety of children and vulnerable adults.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure the secure handling of information and records.
• Undertake administrative duties, including record keeping, data entry, visitor administration and report preparation.
• Ensure compliance with POPS policies, prison regulations, health and safety requirements, and equality and diversity standards.
• Attend mandatory training and continuing professional development activities.
• Provide cover across different areas of service delivery when required.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as directed by the line manager.

Supporting the Play Area

• Develop, prepare and deliver age-appropriate play and family engagement activities for children attending prison visits, family days and special events.
• Ensure activities are inclusive and accessible, taking account of additional needs, neurodiversity, cultural diversity and individual circumstances.
• Create and maintain a welcoming environment for children.
• Set up play activities prior to the commencement of visits and supervise the play area throughout visit sessions.
• Maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of play equipment through regular cleaning.

Supporting the Refreshment Service

• Operate the refreshment service during social visits, family days and special events.
• Serve a range of hot and cold snacks and drinks to visitors.
• Monitor stock levels, carry out stock checks and place orders as required.
• Process sales transactions, including cash handling and daily till reconciliation.
• Operate in accordance with Environmental Health, Food Safety and Health & Safety requirements.
• Maintain cleanliness, hygiene and all required records relating to food service operations.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: £12.71 per hour

Benefits:

• Company pension

Application question(s):

• A clear DBS is needed to fulfil this role, would you be able to pass this?
• Are you able to provide the contact details for two referees?

Language:

• Fluent English (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person