Family Support Practitioner – HMP Highdown

About the role

Join The Forward Trust as a Family Support Practitioner at HMP Highdown, working full‑time (35 hours per week) to help people in custody and their families rebuild relationships and support lasting recovery. You will deliver both one‑to‑one and group interventions within the prison and the local community.

Key responsibilities

• Provide face‑to‑face, online and telephone 1:1 support for clients and families.
• Facilitate group programmes covering relationships, parenting and structured recovery.
• Coordinate family meetings and visits, and work directly with children and young people when appropriate.
• Complete needs and risk assessments and co‑produce tailored support plans.
• Signpost to specialist services and develop referral pathways.
• Maintain accurate case records, outcome data and contribute to service audits.
• Collaborate with prison teams, substance‑misuse services, Forward colleagues and external partners.

Required profile

• Confident working with complex situations and building trust.
• Organised, reflective and committed to safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Experience in family support, criminal justice, substance misuse or social care is highly desirable.

Required skills

What we offer

• Permanent contract with a salary of £26,000 per year.
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact within a prison setting.
• Professional development and collaborative working environment.