Play Worker (10537)

Barnardo's Midlands & South West – HMP Brinsford, New Road, Featherstone, Wolverhampton, WV10 7PU

Please note shift pattern consists of working 5 hour days, as per rota which includes working alternate weekends Saturday & Sunday.

History of Service

Barnardo's is committed to ensuring the best outcomes for all vulnerable children and young people.

Research tells us that helping children retain positive relationships with their loved one in prison improves both the outcomes for them and for the offender.

In 2017 Barnardo's was commissioned by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation service to deliver Family Visits services at HMP Featherstone and some other prisons around the country.

There is an established Family Services Team within HMP Brinsford Visit Centre including a Family Engagement Worker; Visit Centre Co-Ordinator; Support Staff and a Tea Bar Assistant.

The visit centre is open 5 days a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

We are recruiting a play worker to assist specifically with the visits which take place on these days and an occasional family day.

Objectives of Service

To provide a welcoming environment for families visiting a loved one in HMP Brinsford.

To help ensure a positive visits experience for children, young people and their families.

To provide support and signposting to visitors and to prisoners to help them with any family related issues.

Initial Specific Responsibilities

With the support of volunteers, to meet and greet visitors arriving in the Visits Centre on visiting day which will include Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

To provide appropriate play opportunities for children and young people of all ages within the centre – taking into account cultural festivals/trauma informed activity play

To provide support and signposting to visitors, especially those who are visiting for the first time.

To provide access to appropriate play materials within the Visits Hall.

Daily/monthly and cleaning and health and safety checks of toys/equipment in the Visit Centre and Visit Hall

To complete and keep up to date toy inventories

To collect data and feedback from visitors/children attending the play areas

To work alongside and liaise with prison staff as appropriate

Supplementary Information

This service is based within a prison and therefore additional security vetting and training will be required.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Previous Applicants need not apply.

About Barnardo's

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's.