ID Essence Prison & Community Worker

The purpose of the job is to be part of the ID Essence team, building positive relationships and supporting young adults aged 18-25 in women’s prisons and after prison in London and the South East.

To empower and equip them to move forward positively in their lives and break free from the cycles of crime they have been caught in.

Key Responsibilities

To have an ongoing caseload of between 10-15 young adults aged 18-25yrs in HMP Downview who you will support through the following activities:

• Planning and delivery of non-formal education programmes, such as myLife, in either a 1-to-1 or small group settings;
• Providing consistent and long-term pastoral and/or mentoring support to young adults on your caseload;
• Spiritual discipleship and prayer support for those on your caseload who have a Christian faith and want to be supported in this way;
• Signposting to other relevant provisions and programmes in the prison and supporting them in their engagement with these provisions;
• Liaising and working in partnership with other relevant stakeholders e.g. Offender Managers, Mental Health Workers, Resettlement Workers, keeping them up-to-date and informed of each young adult’s engagement with ID Essence’s services and any achievements or progress they are making;
• Building a positive, compassionate and non-judgmental working relationship with each young adult on your caseload; making them feel safe, valued, supported and empowered to make positive changes;
• Record keeping of your interactions with those on your caseload and their engagement with ID Essence interventions and writing reports of their engagement and progress at different stages.

To work alongside Imago Dei in their prison programmes and chaplaincy support to deliver their ‘Free to Be’ courses to 18-25 year olds when need arises.

To assist the Chaplaincy department in their work, particularly in supporting young adults in HMP Downview. Including assisting with Sunday morning services up to 4 times a year.

To provide through-the-gate community support for young adults on your caseload who have been released and want continued support in the community. Either through continued 1:1 work (both in person or remotely via the phone) or through referral to training and employment opportunities within partner agencies.

To help with sourcing and postage of ‘release parcels,’ ‘birthday parcels’ and any others as part of our pastoral support of community beneficiaries.

To help where needed with ID Essence’s innovation, development and facilitation of new courses and services that we identify as being helpful to the young adults in prison and after prison.

To embody our inclusive and non-judgmental approach in the support work you provide young adults in prison and the community.

Be a part of the wider Imago Dei team, including attending staff days and some team meetings in their East Grinstead office, or Tunbridge Wells as needed and to support the work of the individual projects when necessary or capacity requires it. This sometimes involves working the occasional evening or weekend day, but you will always get this time back in lieu.