women in london

Do you have a commitment to working within a women-centred service and to making a real difference to vulnerable women’s lives?

Women in Prison is pleased to be launching an exciting new, London-based project that will target some of the most vulnerable women within the criminal justice system. Funded by the Ministry of Justice, the project will provide a specialist, community-based outreach, engagement and support service to women in London who are in contact with the criminal justice system.

London Project Manager
£31,212 – £32,436 pa (35 hours per week)

An experienced and self-motivating manager, you will have responsibility for the strategic, operational and staff management of this innovative new project. With experience of setting up and running a specialist project within the voluntary sector, you will also bring to the team a thorough knowledge of the difficulties facing women who have experience of the criminal justice system. You will be an innovative, skilled manager of people and, through your sound practice knowledge, you will be well positioned to successfully lead your team and the project forward.

Project Worker (x3)
£24,786 – £26,361 pa (35 hours per week)

These roles will involve assertive outreach and one-to-one support to women offenders – in prison, at courts and upon release into the community. Responsive to the individual needs of women, you will develop individual support plans that address their mental health, housing, domestic violence, substance misuse, financial and other identified needs. You will also develop and facilitate group support and skills building programmes in women’s centres across London that will enable women to build self-confidence/self-esteem and learn new life skills. With extensive experience of supporting vulnerable women with a range of complex needs, you will also have experience of undertaking detailed needs/risk assessments and an NVQ3 in social care (or equivalent).

Young Women’s Worker (x2)
£24,786 – £26,361 pa (35 hrs per week)

You will provide targeted assertive outreach, one-to-one support and group-based interventions to women under 25 who have been in contact with the criminal justice system, with a particular focus on gang-related offending. Significant experience in working with vulnerable young women will have equipped you with the necessary skills to effectively and creatively engage with this client group. Responsive to the complex and changing needs of young women, you will provide intensive advocacy and casework support in prison, in court and in the community. With a flexible approach to your work, you will also need to demonstrate effective communication skills, an understanding of the impact that contact with the criminal justice system has upon young women and an NVQ3 in social care (or equivalent).

Mental Health Worker/Counsellor
£ 26,662 – £27,270 pa pro rata (14 hours per week)

We are seeking to recruit an experienced counsellor to provide short-term counselling to women ex-offenders. You will provide one-to-one, short-term therapeutic interventions to individual women and facilitate a therapeutic ‘drop-in’ group for women, alongside the development of emotional literacy/self-esteem workshops with groups of women. You will need significant experience of working with vulnerable women and knowledge of the psychological impact of imprisonment on women. A post-graduate diploma/degree in counselling and BACP or UKCP accreditation (or eligibility for accreditation) is essential.

CARE Advocacy Worker
£24,786 – £26,361 pa pro rata (21 hours per week)

The ‘CARE’ programme is a 10-week therapeutic intervention designed specifically for women in custody who present a medium to high risk of re-offending. The post holder will provide an independent, needs-led support and advocacy service to programme participants for a maximum of 2 years, both prior to and after their release. For this role, you will need significant experience in providing both practical and emotional support to vulnerable women with complex needs. An NVQ 3 in social care or equivalent is required.

All posts are initially offered as a 2-year fixed term contract.

Closing date for all applications: Wednesday 10th June 2009
Interviews: Week beginning 23rd June 2009

These posts are restricted to women as a GOQ under s7(2)(e) of the SDA.

WIP strongly encourages applications from women from minority ethnic groups and women ex-offenders.

To download an application pack for any of these vacancies please go to http://www.womeninprison.org.uk/jobvacancies.php