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Title: Active Recovery Practitioner
Place of work: The Southmead Project, BS10 6AS and various locations around Bristol and Somerset
Interview date: Tuesday 9th June
The Southmead Project:
The Southmead Project is an equal opportunities employer providing free specialist trauma counselling and support for adult survivors of abuse across Bristol and surrounding areas. Our recruitment is done in line with safer recruitment practices. We welcome people of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ability, language, religion and cultural background. We value the differences between people and affirming each person as an individual.
We value our team very highly and pride ourselves on being a supportive employer. We provide the following benefits to encourage every staff member to have a supported, well-rounded and enriched working experience:
● Paid supervision for 1.5 hours per month, with an external clinical supervisor
● Line management for 1 hour per month
● Training budget of £500 per year to spend on relevant training of that person’s choice
● Employer pension contribution of 5%
● Generous annual leave allowance and paid sick leave
● Cycle to work scheme
● Optional private counselling for up to 12 sessions per year with an external counsellor of that person’s choice
We also support employees with reasonable adjustments through the Access to Work scheme.
The Active Recovery Project gives adult survivors of abuse the opportunity to take part in community-based activities. It provides a safe and supportive space for clients to participate in a variety of group activities with others who share or understand their experience and develop peer relationships, resulting in increasing confidence and reduced isolation.
The activities are based on ideas from our members and include water-based activities (such as rowing, canoeing, sailing and kayaking), surfing, trips to community spaces and creative sessions (such as arts and crafts). Activities take place every week. Each activity will last approximately 2.5 hours each. Members can attend the group sessions for up to 18 months.
The current Practitioner has said:
“The decision to leave this role has been so difficult, the team are so lovely, caring and supportive. In the role I have got to go surfing, walk alpacas and make a bowl on a pottery wheel. Sometimes I honestly can’t believe it’s my job. I have learnt so much and got to work with some of the most wonderful and inspiring people. There are countless moments at groups that I will never ever forget - some of my most amazing moments in life have come at work and that doesn’t happen very often!”
Job Purpose:
The Practitioner role requires working as part of a small team and they will help prepare and deliver two Active Recovery sessions per week, in Bristol and Somerset. The Somerset group runs on a Tuesday and the Bristol group runs on a Wednesday. During the sessions, the Practitioner will be responsible for using a trauma-informed approach to support clients who become dysregulated or need emotional support.
Principal Tasks:
1. Together with the rest of the Active Recovery team, to provide initial trauma-informed assessment phone calls and/or meetings with potential members as part of the registration process for Active Recovery. This includes assessing need, risk and suitability for the service using a trauma-informed approach.
2. To support the Active Recovery Lead in creating safety plans and tailoring activity sessions where appropriate. These will be informed through relationships with members and the initial assessment phone calls.
3. Support the Active Recovery Lead in planning trauma-informed sessions for members.
4. Support the setting up, delivering and debriefing about activity sessions with members and volunteers. Ensuring members are clear on each session's ground rules and safeguarding processes, using the Member’s Agreement.
5. Provide trauma-informed face-to-face support to members at sessions who may become overwhelmed or require help dealing with flashbacks and dissociation.
6. To support volunteers with safeguarding queries and ensure safeguarding procedures are followed, including being the Safeguarding Lead at activity sessions if the Active Recovery Lead is not there and escalating any onward safeguarding referrals and queries to the Southmead Project Designated Safeguarding Lead.
7. Support the Active Recovery Lead with management of volunteers for the project.
8. Develop and maintain an Active Recovery community through email, phone calls, texts and in person.
9. Be the key person in ensuring that members have all the information and resources needed to get to the sessions - building a relationship of trust with members, using Spond, email, texts and calls, creating Canvas, figuring out transport logistics.
10. Support the project’s aim to have the members’ voices at the heart of the project.
11. Contribute to the development of outcome processes in line with the Southmead Project and its funders’ requirements.
12. Maintain positive relationships with partnership organisations for the project.
13. The Practitioner will not have budget responsibility but will ensure that their own personal expenses (mileage/parking) is within the budget for the project, keeping accurate records.
14. Record data accurately and in a timely manner on Oasis.
15. Attend monthly one-to-one line management meetings with the Head of Active Recovery.
16. To attend monthly one-to-one clinical supervision with a Supervisor who is approved by the Southmead Project. Supervision is a requirement of this charity as an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
17. To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.
18. Follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Staff Handbook.
19. All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check
Please see documents for full job description and person specification.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Meaningful therapeutic support accessible for adults impacted by abuse and addiction. A safe space for growth, connection and wellbeing for all.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
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Family Service Manager
When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.
Job Title: Family Service Manager
Location: Based within HMP Altcourse, Fazakerley, Liverpool. Step Free access is available at this service. You may be expected to travel to other services as required, including to Central London Central Office and for in-person meetings held off site.
Salary: £38,000
Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service and organisational requirements, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays and forming part of the out of hours on call rota for managers.
About the Role
We are seeking a Family Service Manager to lead our flagship family service based in HMP Altcourse. This is an ideal opportunity if you are seeking a hands-on role within a prison setting, confident in working in complex environments and wants to create meaningful change within punitive systems. You will lead a multidisciplinary team who deliver high-quality, therapeutically informed, arts-based work with men in prison and their families. You will bring together creative group interventions, bespoke family counselling services, and day-to-day operational & practical family support within a complex prison environment.
As the Family Service Manager, you will lead a team of Programme Co-Ordinator's, Facilitators, Family Counsellors, a Deputy Service Manager, and other appropriate staff. The team support operational booking for all social visits and deliver programmes such as Fathers Inside and Man Up which have received national recognition being delivered nationally across custodial and community settings. The role requires leadership experience, managing a diverse team, with line management responsibilities to support, enable, and empower your team to deliver high quality support to the participants of our programmes and their families. You will work closely with prison and Sodexo colleagues, as well as other internal SIG teams to ensure innovative, safe, and compassionate service delivery.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Line Management throughout the employee lifecycle embedding a culture of learning, development, reflection, and evaluation.
- Creative leadership of creating and delivering engaging high-quality services and interventions which support rehabilitation, reintegration, and culture shifts in systems of power and compliance.
- Manage day-to-day operational delivery of programmes, the service, and visitors centre.
- Ensure core responsibilities and contractual requirements are fulfilled.
- Striving to ensure excellence and quality in our service delivery.
Why work with Safe Ground Prisons?
At SIG Safe Ground, we do things differently. Safe Ground is an Arts-based therapeutically informed charity with over 30 years' experience working across the criminal justice system. We support people in custody and their families to build stronger and more fulfilled relationships, reflect on behaviours, and navigate change without shame.
Working with Safe Ground means working differently. It’s about meeting people without judgement, holding space for accountability, and using creativity to disrupt cycles of harm. We believe real change happens when people are seen, challenged and supported, even (and especially) inside prison walls.
Please be informed that as this role is based within a Prison environment, therefore further vetting from SIG's enhanced DBS will be required such as MOJ clearance.
About You
This is a role for you if you truly believe change happens through relationships, not control; you will lead with warmth and clarity and hold care and accountability together. You will be part of a values-led organisation that takes people, reflection, and creativity seriously. You will be comfortable working within a prison setting, with regular interactions with people from all backgrounds and circumstances which have led to them being imprisoned.
We're seeking a proactive leader, someone who has the ability to motivate and empower a team to drive excellence, both as individuals, and as a team, whilst providing practical solutions to challenges which arise. You will be knowledgeable of the criminal justice setting, and ideally have experience within a similar environment. We're looking for someone who can build rapport, trust, and create an environment which allows individuals to grow their skills and experience and develop as individuals.
- Previous experience in facilitation of group programmes and/or training to various groups, ideally in a similar setting (preferably within a creative setting)
- Experience of working with and engaging with diverse groups of people from varying backgrounds
- Demonstratable experience in leading a service/team in a similar capacity.
- Ability to provide high quality support and line management to staff.
- Ability to motivate and empower a team to achieve KPI's
- Ability to promote the service externally to enhance reputation in the area and with partner organisations
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands and needs of the service. For example, Provide an emergency on call service as and when required in case of emergency
- IT proficiency - we use various systems so look for someone who can learn and navigate new systems including case management, Microsoft, ATS, HR systems, and other types of organisational software.
- Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency
Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.
What we Offer
- 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
- Employer Pension Contribution
- Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
- Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
- Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
- Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
- Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Annual Staff Awards
- EDI Ambassador programme
About Social Interest Group (SIG)
SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change.
We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.
Additional Information
Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.
Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Empowering independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital and off the streets