Family counsellor

Job Title: Safe Ground Family Counsellor

Location: Based within HMP Forest Bank, Greater Manchester. You may be expected to travel to other services as required, including to Central London Central Office, HMP Altcourse and for in-person meetings held off site. Hybrid working is permitted with an option of up to 2 days working from home when appropriate. Step Free access is not available at this service.

Salary: £36,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 07:30 - 17:30. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service and organisational requirements, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and forming part of the out of hours on call rota for managers.

About the Role

We are hiring a Safe Ground Family Counsellor to support men in custody at HMP Forest Bank, located in Manchester. As a Family Counsellor, you will identify the needs of men and their families in custody, providing anti‑punitive, anti‑shame, tailored support to maintain and grow family ties for individuals whilst in custody. You will deliver person‑centred therapeutic support through group, one‑to‑one and triage sessions, helping participants improve relationships, develop emotional awareness and build healthier communication. The role includes family counselling clinics, group programme support and joint work with prison teams and external partners. You will work in a trauma‑informed way to support rehabilitation and strengthen family connections.

Key Responsibilities

• Support men who may be facing challenges with family relationships, father‑child contact, emotional regulation, trauma, communication difficulties and maintaining positive relationships during custody
• Deliver group and one‑to‑one counselling sessions, as well as facilitating family counselling clinics
• Support full‑time delivery of programmes such as Fathers Inside and Man Up, which have received national recognition and are delivered across custodial and community settings
• Create and maintain tailored support plans
• Work with prison teams and external partners to coordinate support
• Bespoke training and active learning will be provided
• Support participants to improve relationships and emotional regulation
• Monitor wellbeing and respond to safeguarding concerns
• Maintain accurate records on internal systems
• Lone working as part of a wider team

About You

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated individual who understands the needs of men in custody, the importance of anti‑shame and anti‑punitive practice in these systems, and the importance of family relationships in supporting rehabilitation. You will be comfortable working in a custodial environment and able to build trust with individuals from a range of backgrounds. You will be proactive in managing your workload, able to adapt within a busy service, and confident working both independently and as part of a wider team, often challenging prison cultures. You will be keen to support men in custody to achieve their individual goals and support them to be the best versions of themselves.

• Experience supporting people with trauma, relationship challenges, or within the criminal justice system with BACP registration or equivalent professional accreditation
• Ability to engage with people from different backgrounds, build rapport and support them to achieve their personal goals
• Ability to show empathy and understanding of the challenges people face and adapt approaches to meet individual needs
• Confidence delivering both one‑to‑one and group‑based support
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and services, often challenging punitive approaches
• Ability to use, learn and adapt to IT at an intermediate level, including Microsoft and other software programmes
• Ability and willingness to be flexible in working patterns to meet service needs
• Understanding of the different needs people with multiple and complex needs have and be aware of the social marginalisation that can be attached to people who face personal challenges
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

Additional Information

We are interviewing on an ongoing basis so this job role may close early. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration in the early stages. Interviews are scheduled for commencing on the 20th of July and 2nd Stage interviews for the 2nd of August.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. Please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk or call 020 3668 9270.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship; please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.