Are you passionate about offering children and families a positive experience when visiting their loved ones in prison?

Are you able to bring your skills and experience to help us offer a welcoming and supportive environment where children feel safe to play and interact with their family?

Barnardo's is seeking to recruit an experienced, caring and committed Weekend Visit Co-ordinator to join our welcoming Prison Visits and Family Support team.

The Barnardo's Prison Visits and Family Support Service (PVFSS) is based in HMP Isle of Wight, Newport.  HMP Isle of Wight is primarily a category B prison for individuals who have been convicted of sex offences.  There is also a remand wing for individuals from the local area awaiting trial for a wide range of alleged offences. 

The Weekend Coordinator is based at HMP Isle of Wight and works on a Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm.  The Co-ordinator plays a central role in ensuring that our visiting centre meets our aims of:

• Supporting everyone visiting a loved one in prison and keeping children and families at the heart of what we do
• Providing a comfortable and welcoming environment for families to wait before going through the gate into the visiting halls
• Getting to know families and offering assistance and support
• Offering play activities for children
• Providing help and guidance so families understand the process of visiting and can make the most of their time with their loved ones
• Recognising that visiting a loved one in prison can be both difficult and upsetting and ensuring that we offer a caring and non-judgemental service at all times.

Within this exciting and important role, you will:

• Provide support to children, families and significant others who visit the prison.
• Work alongside Play Leaders to offer support and information in the visit centre and in the visit halls at Albany and Parkhurst and encourage positive engagement with families
• Work alongside the Weekday Co-ordinator to support the day to running of the centre and collect monitoring data required for the service.
• Support the play leaders and volunteers to deliver enrichment activities in the halls.
• Liaise with designated staff within the prison and within Barnardo's to help resolve any difficulties that may arise during sessions.

You must feel comfortable working in a secure environment and understand the needs and experiences of children and families using the Visiting Centre.

Working hours and salary:  This role is offered at 10 hour per week to be worked on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30am to 4:30pm.  Working hours and arrangements for annual leave cover can be discussed at interview.  The salary offered considers the requirement to work at weekends.

How to apply:  When completing your application form, please refer to the skills, knowledge and experience detailed in the Person Specification and also in this Additional Information Sheet. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.