Job Description

Custody Criminal Justice Key Worker

Salary:

28,266

Location:

HMP New Hall and Sheffield

Hours:

37 hours per week (full-time)

Closing date:

12pm noon, Wednesday 20th August 2025

Interview date:

Friday, 29th August and Tuesday, 2nd September 2025

Together Women is looking for an outstanding Custody Criminal Justice Key Worker to be a part of our Sheffield and HMP New Hall team. This role will engage with and provide intensive support to sentenced women in HMP New Hall offering needs-led, emotional and practical support relating to Accommodation, Finance, Benefits and Debts, Family and Significant Others and Social Inclusion support pathways.

To apply

please attach your CV and a 2-page covering letter setting out how you meet the role requirements/person specification listed on the job description.

Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.

The role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Overview

The Custody Criminal Justice Key Worker will engage with and provide intensive support to sentenced women in HMP New Hall offering needs-led, emotional and practical support relating to Accommodation, Finance, Benefits and Debts, Family and Significant Others and Social Inclusion support pathways.

The Worker will contribute to the coordination of pre-release social inclusion engagement work, working closely with the South Yorkshire Women's Justice Partnership (SYWJP). This comprises of three leading charities: Together Women (Sheffield), GROW (Rotherham & Barnsley) and Changing Lives (Doncaster) and their Community Teams to ensure women resettle successfully and into our community services on release.

You will work closely with prison staff, Together Women teams and local community organisations to enable and encourage women to access relevant support and resources. You will work with women to help them build upon their strengths and work through any barriers that are preventing them from progressing and achieving their potential.

The role has a heavy focus on Accommodation; the worker quickly building mutually collaborative relationships with each Local Authority housing service and advocating on women's behalf to prevent women being released homeless.

This role is based at HMP New Hall four days a week, with the fifth day working from either home, or the TW Sheffield centre to complete admin related tasks inaccessible from the prison.

Working within the Women's Criminal Justice Team you will be proactive, organised, personable and empathetic. You will need to be able to work effectively, both independently and as part of in-person and virtual teams, sometimes under pressure, to meet competing deadlines. The role will be subject to matrix management arrangements. Prison clearance will be required.

Join Our Team

We are an award winning organisation, led by and for women. You can become part of the Together Women team if you are driven and passionate about working within a women-centred support service which advocates for systems change. We are seeking someone with excellent interpersonal skills, a can-do attitude, and the confidence to manage a wide range of duties. We are looking for a dynamic individual with strong analytical skills and a proven capacity to manage detailed processes.

What we can offer you

Employee Benefits:

25 days holiday increasing by one day per year to a max of 30 days, plus public holidays Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution Annual cost of living increases up to 4% Enhanced Training and Induction programme covering all areas of Together Women's work Access to our Employee Assistance Programme with discount offers and free telephone counselling service Access meditation and other online wellbeing support on our wellbeing platform Employee eye-care scheme and free eye tests Organisation-wide away days Career development pathways

Key accountabilities:

Responsible for a caseload of clients to whom you will provide high quality trauma-informed and person-centred support via the following:

Promoting, receiving and processing referrals in line with current practice and contract guidelines. Identifying and assessing individuals' support needs, including risk assessment, informed by relevant background information. Building effective relationships with women; encouraging them to identify and prioritise their needs, interests and areas for personal development; to provide guidance and support to enable them to deal with a wide range of issues affecting their lives. Working within and alongside an integrated model of care involving HMPPS services within custody and the community. Providing continuous and consistent support to women, with a particular emphasis on: motivation and engagement; practical issues (including finances, accommodation); relationships (with family, staff and peers); navigating and accessing services; and self-esteem and empowerment. Encouraging women who use the service to provide honest and open feedback in order to promote quality assurance. Encourage women to access support and treatment in regards to ill mental and/or physical health and/or substance use, where needed. Contribute to measuring and monitoring systems as required by the Contract. Ensure all necessary records are properly maintained on client files, in line with policies, finance and administration. Use evaluation, learning and feedback to support service development. Manage and update own skillset to ensure quality service delivery and personal development in role.

Role requirements

Essential

Significant experience of working with women experiencing issues related to offending, preferably within criminal justice setting; experience supporting disadvantaged and/or marginalised populations at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness will be highly regarded. Thorough understanding of violence against women and girls and its links to women in the criminal justice system. Significant casework and advocacy experience. Experience of working in partnership with relevant statutory and voluntary groups, to be able to demonstrate the ability to develop and maintain strong constructive working relationships. Experience of setting and maintaining professional boundaries with service users whilst delivering an excellent standard of service, including how to respond appropriately to challenging behaviour, de-escalate tension, and enable women to manage strong feelings in a safe manner. Experience creating and reviewing referral pathways. Satisfactory enhanced DBS checks and prison vetting Full UK drivers' license and access to a vehicle

Desirable

Up to date knowledge of housing legislation and case law; particularly the legal rights of women within the homelessness sector Relevant NVQ or equivalent at Level 3 or 4 Experience of delivering training/workshops to professionals &/or service users Experience & competence in report and case studies writing Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Committed to Together Women's charity ethos and key values which are Empathy and Compassion, Inclusivity and Diversity, Respect and Dignity, Integrity and Transparency.

Our Competency Framework: qualities we are looking for in candidates

Client focus

Service Provision

Commitment and enthusiasm for working with our customer group Empathy with client group Manages caseload and delivers support as per the requirements of the service contract and the internal quality audit framework requirements

Recording & monitoring

Maintain case files and administrative/monitoring systems effectively

Interpersonal Skills

Working with others:

Builds and maintains effective working relationships, with customers and stakeholders; within the organisation and external to it Manage and ensure that clear professional and emotional boundaries are established Demonstrates a keen understanding of the ability to adapt one's approach when working with different groups (e.g. customers, partner agencies, stakeholders and colleagues)

Communication

Presents spoken and written information clearly and appropriately and to a high standard

Diversity

Builds trust and demonstrates respect for others, showing an awareness of the impact on own behaviour on others. Treats everyone fairly and consistently

Personal effectiveness

Risk management

Works in line with policy and procedure Applies and promotes risk management Aware of the need for confidentiality in dealing with information; of when confidentiality should be preserved and of the circumstances when it is right to reveal confidential information and to whom to is right to do so

Approach to work

Willing to learn and develop Plans, organises and implements work, on own initiative with minimum direct supervision Flexible and creative approach at work; able to adapt to the changing needs of the program Ability to manage time, prioritise and meet deadlines Organised approach, with keen admin skills and attention to detail Makes clear decisions and deal positively with challenges

To apply

please attach your CV and a 2-page covering letter setting out how you meet the role requirements/person specification listed on the job description.

Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.

The post holder is expected to work within policies and procedures of Together Women and be committed to its ethos and values. This includes promoting and demonstrating the principles of equal opportunity (including encouraging diversity and tackling discrimination) and sensitivity to the environment.

Please note this post is exempt under section 7 (2) (e) and (f) of The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and therefore open to female applicants only.

The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and prison vetting.

Closing date:

12pm noon, Wednesday 20th August 2025

Interview date:

Friday, 29th August and Tuesday, 2nd September 2025

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 28,266.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Enhanced maternity leave Free parking
Application question(s):

Please ensure you have included a 2-page covering letter which specifies clearly how your skills, experience and/or knowledge meet the essential criteria listed under 'Person specification' on the job description.
You can do this by attaching your cover letter as part of the application.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Please note - The role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.support
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 20/08/2025