Pact in Wales & South West England


Family Volunteering HMP Swansea Visitors Centre Volunteer

About this service

Pact Family Services provide support to families who have a loved one in prison.  Our staff and volunteers meet and greet families as they arrive for a visit with practical and emotional support like refreshments, visitor information and play services for children. We operate in prison Visitors Centres (typically outside the prison gates) and inside the Visits Hall (inside the prison gates) across the UK.

 

Purpose of this role

 

Facilitate prison visits by offering a friendly and welcoming environment within the Visitors Centre where people visiting loved ones in prison can spend time before and after their visit.

 

What you will be doing

  • Meet and greet visitors on arrival to the prison Visitors Centre
  • Promote a relaxed atmosphere in which children and families feel confident, having mutual respect and consideration for each other
  • Assist with the visitor booking in system where required (IT skills required)
  • Work with the Pact staff team to identify and support first time visitors, offering information and advice as appropriate
  • Provide emotional and practical support to families, seeking support from the Pact staff team as appropriate  
  • Assist the Pact staff team to keep notice boards and information relevant to prisoners and their families presentable and up to date
  • Provide information and signposting to families where appropriate
  • Help set up toys and activities in the visitors centre for children waiting to visit a loved one
  • May serve light refreshments (hot/cold drinks and snacks) to families waiting for a vist
  • Assist in the administration of the centre
  • Adhere to policies and practises relevant to this role: Confidentiality; Health & Safety; Child Protection and Safeguarding; Equality and Diversity; and Prison security rules etc.
  • Report all incidents and concerns related to Health and Safety or Safeguarding to a member of the Pact staff team. 

 

Time commitment & location

 

Location: 200 Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SR. The visitors centre is inside the prison gates.

 

Time commitment: Shifts are available 12:30-17:00 Monday, Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday. 8:30 - 11:30 & 13:00 - 16:00 Wednesday & Thursday. 8:30 - 11:30 Friday. You can volunteer for as many shift as you are able.          

 

Because of the training and induction requirements, and value of this role Pact hopes you will commit to volunteering with us for at least 6 months.            

 

Type of person we are looking for

 

Experience

Skills / Abilities

Attitudes

Experience of working with members of the public / customer service experience

 

Experience of working in a team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills

 

Ability to deal calmly and sensitively with prisoners and families, demonstrating patience and respect

 

Ability to respect confidentiality

 

Organised and able to use initiative

 

Ability to work alone or in a team

 

Customer service skills

 

Listening skills  

 

IT skills  *Where required, training provided  

 

Non-judgemental, empathetic attitude towards prisoners and their families

 

Honesty and reliability

 

Warm and friendly approach to working with people

 

Be able to treat all staff, prisoners and their families with respect, dignity and courtesy 

 

What we offer

 

Training

Training for this role is likely to include Safeguarding, Professional Boundaries and Equality & Diversity.

 

Expenses

Travel costs, via public transport or private car (mileage) will be reimbursed including travel to attend training. Subsistence, i.e. lunch may also be reimbursed, according to our expenses policy.

                       

Checks

This role is subject to:

  • 2 references
  • DBS check (Disclosure & Barring Service)
  • Could be subject to Prison Vetting clearance

Please be aware that these necessary checks can take a number of weeks to process.

 

Support and Supervision

We will provide a full induction and regular supervision to support you in the role.

 

Benefits to you 

  • Developing experience and knowledge of the prison environment
  • Developing listening skills
  • Opportunity to develop relationship building skills 
  • Subject to satisfactory volunteering with Pact, we will be happy to provide references in support of applications for employment

 

If you are interested in this role please click the ‘fill in application’ box to the right