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At Samaritans, our vision is that fewer people die by suicide. We are looking for an Impact and Evaluation Lead to play a pivotal role in strengthening the way in which we measure and articulate the impact of our work in prisons. This is an opportunity to contribute to life-saving services by ensuring we understand what works, why it works, and how we can do more of it.
Based in our Performance and Insight Team, and working closely with our Prisons & Justice Team, you will lead monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) work across some of our most impactful programmes, including the Prison Listener Scheme and Postvention in prisons. You’ll collaborate closely with our operational teams, volunteers, prison Listeners, people with lived experience, and external partners to generate meaningful insights that shape service design and delivery.
This role is integral to helping Samaritans build a stronger evidence base for suicide prevention in prisons, ensuring that our work continues to evolve and deliver the greatest possible impact for those who need us most.
If you have experience identifying practical ways to collect data, generate meaningful insights from it, and embed learnings into service or project design, delivery and adaptation, ideally within prisons or the criminal justice system, we’d love to hear from you.
Contract terms:
- £45,000 per annum, plus benefits
- 12-month fixed term contract, with potential to extend dependant on funding
- Full time hours are 35 hours per week, but we are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences
- Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office
- Hybrid: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days or more per month
What you'll do:
- Lead our monitoring, evaluation and learning work across our work in prisons
- Analyse and interpret complex quantitative and qualitative data sets from multiple sources
- Generate clear findings, conclusions and actionable recommendations
- Influence stakeholders to use data and evidence in operational and strategic decisions
- Embed meaningful involvement of lived experience in evaluation work
- Attend and present at external events to share findings and lessons, contributing to the sector knowledge
- Drive excellence in our monitoring, evaluation and learning practice in prisons
What you’ll bring:
- Significant experience of designing and delivering monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, or leading evaluations of services or programmes of work
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative data
- Experience of critically appraising evidence, and translating findings into practice
- A commitment to embedding lived experience in evaluation work
- Experience working within prisons or the criminal justice systems
- Ability to produce high-quality reports and outputs
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
See Job Description and Person Specification
Why Samaritans?
At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.
We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.
You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.
For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
Criminal record check (DBS):
We take safeguarding seriously at Samaritans and follow safe recruitment practices. As this role has direct contact with children and adults at risk, this role may require an Enhanced DBS check.
At offer stage, as part of the conditional job offer, we will require the candidate to disclose in full, spent and unspent convictions by completing a declaration form. The declaration form will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
Apply now
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to answer 3 short application questions and to upload your CV.
Applications close: 09:00am on Wednesday 1st July 2026
Interviews: 13th and 14th of July 2026
At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.
We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.
We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We prevent suicide through the power of human connection. Connecting people in crisis with trained volunteers who will always listen.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is embedded in Clinks. It has a distinct network, identity and website as well as an advisory group, an independent chair and distinct funding for specific work.
The NCJAA aims to ensure that the arts are used within the criminal justice system as a springboard for positive change. The NCJAA represents a network of over 500 individuals and organisations that deliver creative interventions to support people in prison, on probation and in the community, with impressive results. We support this transformative work by providing a network and a voice to promote access to arts and culture for people in the criminal justice system, as a springboard to positive change.
Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Our vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives.
Job purpose
To develop and grow the NCJAA network and develop and maintain effective working relationships with partners and stakeholders.
Job summary
The coordinator is responsible for overseeing all work and development of the NCJAA and sits within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks directorate . The coordinator will work with a range of different stakeholders, including the NCJAA Advisory Group and the wider membership, to improve policy and practice in relation to arts-based work with people in prison, on probation and in the community. This includes maintaining and strengthening the NCJAA as the leading national network for arts organisations and individuals that work in the criminal justice system.
Reports to: Clinks Director of National Influencing & Networks
1. Duties and key responsibilities
Strategy and planning
· Work closely with Clinks colleagues and the NCJAA network to develop and deliver the NCJAA annual work plan which include a range of activities that will raise the profile and promote the work of the arts sector in the CJS, including events, publications, training, mentoring, research and networking opportunities
· Work closely with Clinks colleagues, the NCJAA advisory group, chair and wider network to help inform and shape the future direction of the NCJAA and its strategic goals, paying particular attention to its role, sustainability and emerging opportunities
· Coordinate the quarterly arts forum in collaboration with the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) arts seat holder and government representatives
NCJAA project management & delivery
· Provide leadership for the NCJAA in the arts and CJS sectors
· Deliver the projects set out in the NCJAA’s annual workplan
· Coordinate the functioning of the advisory group of the NCJAA, including its quarterly meetings, minutes and election
· Manage work as required by NCJAA’s role as an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation, including how we effectively capture and measure the NCJAA’s impact as the leading national arts and criminal justice network
· Provide regular and relevant reporting information as necessary to ensure all NCJAA projects and activity are working to the agreed timetable, budget and are achieving agreed outputs and outcomes, reporting any exceptions promptly to the Director of Support and Development
· Work collaboratively with various Clinks’ staff teams to deliver the NCJAA work plan and support the delivery of Clinks’ wider work plan
Stakeholder and external relations
· Work closely with HM Prison and Probation Service and other government departments and agencies to promote communication and partnership between Government and the arts in the criminal justice sector e.g. working with and supported by Clinks’ policy team, participate in meetings of the Reducing Re-offending Arts Forum convened jointly by Clinks and HM Prison and Probation Service
· Work within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks directorate to ensure the experience and knowledge of arts and cultural organisations working in criminal justice is reflected in Clinks representation and influencing work with national government
· Assist colleagues working in the arts sector to interpret the emerging criminal justice environment and develop sustainable opportunities
· Maintain a wider view of criminal justice and arts policies and guide and support arts organisations to interpret these in a relevant and appropriate manner
· Identify and promote research and evidence in the field of arts and criminal justice
Income generation
· Work with Clinks colleagues responsible for income to identify funding sources, submit funding applications and monitoring reports when required, both for specific NCJAA projects and for the future funding of the work as a whole to ensure the sustainability and future development of the NCJAA
Budget
· Work with Clinks colleagues responsible for finance to maintain financial oversight of the overall NCJAA budget and all relevant project budgets to support the NCJAA work to progress effectively
2. General responsibilities
· Represent and be an ambassador for NCJAA and Clinks
· Work to support the mission, ethos and values of Clinks
· Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position
· Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace
· Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work
This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.
Person specification
Experience
· Experience of the arts and social inclusion sector is essential
· Experience of the criminal justice voluntary sector is desirable
· Experience in forming working relationships with opinion formers and key stakeholders to influence policy and practice.
· Experience in leading and monitoring complex projects and measuring impact with national strategic significance, preferably in the arts.
· Experienced in multiple funder and stakeholder management
· Proven track record of developing and delivering successful projects, including the development of project plans and budgets; implementation; evaluation; reporting and monitoring
· Working to deadlines singularly and as a part of a team responsibility
Skills and abilities
· Excellent interpersonal and strong spoken and written communication skills which engage audiences, encouraging understanding and participation
· Ability to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders with different perspectives, including voluntary sector agencies, arts organisations, government, private sector, service users and media
· The ability to lead, inspire and co-ordinate a complex network of organisations working and supporting arts in criminal justice settings
· Influencing, negotiation and communication skills at a national level
· Facilitate and chair meetings at all levels of the organisations engagement – nationally, regionally, locally
· Highly organised with an ability to maintain effective record keeping systems
· Adopt a problem solving, solution-focused approach and make decisions effectively and timely
· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
· Strategic thinking, planning and project management skills
· IT skills at a level that supports report writing, email, internet and databases
· Adaptability and flexibility in being able to take on new roles and manage a range of different internal and external relationships.
· Budget management and reporting skills
Knowledge
· Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system policy and operating environment in order to promote and support the arts within it.
· Understanding the value of different art forms in criminal justice settings
· Knowledge and experience of national policy, practice and membership organisations relating to arts and/or criminal justice sector
Education and training
· No one specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in a professional area with demonstrable relevance to the role
Personal attributes and other requirements
· Able to travel extensively nationally
· Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
· Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
· Personal resilience and the ability to stay focused in a rapidly changing environment
· Demonstrable passion for and commitment to the transformative role of the arts in criminal justice settings
· Demonstrable commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work
· Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system
· Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in the CJS
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Clinks is the national infrastructure charity dedicated to supporting voluntary organisations working with people in the criminal justice system
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.