Job profile

Are you looking to make a difference?

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to help others to improve their lives, the lives of their families and to make a positive contribution to their local community? Then prison education is for you.   

We are committed to making a difference and we need motivated and passionate colleagues who can make it happen. Novus is a specialist Prison Education provider working across England and Wales.

We are currently recruiting for Information and Advice Worker on a Permanent, Full-time on 37 hours per week basis within the Yorkshire Region (HMP Doncaster, HMP Hatfield, HMP Hull, HMP Humber, HMP Leeds, HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Wealstun). The role can be based predominantly at HMP Leeds.

At Novus we work with passion, care and commitment to create the foundations for change.
For almost 30 years we have been helping men, women and children of all ages and abilities, in prison settings across England and Wales, to take new directions.
The LTE Group family encompasses the strengths of each of our individual organisations:
The Manchester College – further education | UCEN Manchester – higher education |Novus – prison education |Total People – apprenticeships |MOL – professional development.

What the role entails
As an Information and Advice Worker you will work with clients to develop a personal learning plan and support with skills related to resettlement such as employability and job seeking skills. Liaise with relevant agencies and stakeholders in custody and within the community and share relevant information in line with data protection to contribute to a consistent and continuous learning journey in custody and in the community.
In this role you will be required to:

• Carry out an initial assessment of the potential or actual service user, including any risks, of his/her needs and requirements in respects of the service on offer.
• Design and deliver an effective learning plan with the service user using specialist agencies as applicable. This should be based on an initial assessment of the service users’ needs in custody and on release. The progressions, outcomes delivered should be recorded, monitored, reviewed, and updated regularly and in line with contract requirements.
• Help raise expectations and aspirations of our learners, to enthuse, motivate and create opportunities for learning and engagement whilst they are in custody.
• Support learner progression through; identification of educational need/ course referral/ pre, on & post course support/ development of support plans.
• Contribute to the effective allocation of the client to custodial provision.
• Engage with actual and potential referral agencies including statutory and third sector agencies and where appropriate the community to generate referrals for programmes/activities/services as required.
• Utilise policies and procedures (both Novus and HMPPS) to support the wider prison resettlement and skills strategy.
• Work collaboratively as part of a local specialist education team and, positively contribute as part of the wider prison team.
• Provide cover across the Yorkshire region so driving and having access to a car is essential.

As part of the role you will on occasion be required to travel to and work at other prisons in the region where the service operates. This is to support your team with the cover of annual leave and unplanned absence, therefore the ability to travel is necessary as part of the role.

Qualifications required for this role:

• To hold or be willing to work towards a level 3 information, advice and guidance qualification within an agreed time scale
• To hold or be willing to work towards level 2 qualifications in literacy and numeracy within an agreed timescale

Relevant experience and skills that would be ideal for this role include:

• Experience of conducting initial assessments and supporting learning of individuals and groups.
• Experience of working with groups of learners with a range of abilities.
• Evidence of successful working in an effective multi-disciplinary team
• Previous experience of working in a prison environment would be favourable, however is not essential.
• Must be able to drive and travel to multiple sites within the Yorkshire area.

Colleague Benefits

As part of the LTE Group family, you will benefit from an excellent package including:

• Extensive annual leave which can be taken throughout the year and not restricted to school holiday times
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Our in-house ‘Evolve’ training programme, which offers you the chance to upskill and further your career through a wide range of recognised qualifications
• Full package of training to support working in a Prison environment
• Good progression routes into management positions within education
• Learner class sizes are much smaller than in FE colleges
• Able to be flexible and innovative with the curriculum
• Part of the wider community of the prison service
• Additional behavioural and complex need support
• Excellent pension scheme options including a Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Our comprehensive in-house awards scheme
• An Employee Assistance Programme including a free, confidential, 24/7 support service
• Our Cycle to Work scheme.

The LTE Group is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all sections of the community. If you feel you could make a difference in this rewarding and growing sector, please click on the ‘Apply online’ button below.

All applicants must demonstrate in their application their ability to meet the Key Responsibilities, Key Result Areas and Qualifications/Skills/Experience detailed within the job description for shortlisting purposes.

The closing date for this job advert is 31/07/2024. However, the job advert may close early if we receive a good response.
The LTE group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau. Due to the educational aspect of our group some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process.