Paid Opportunity:
Researcher: Listen to Families
Are you passionate about giving a voice to families and carers affected by the criminal justice system? Do you have strong listening skills and a deep sense of empathy? If so, we want you to join our mission
At Pact, we believe that families and carers play a vital role in supporting loved ones in custody—especially when it comes to health and wellbeing. But too often, their voices go unheard. We're looking for an empathetic, skilled communicator to conduct and record semi-structured interviews with families visiting prison. Your work will help shape the future of prison healthcare services.
Why This Role Matters
By gathering real-life experiences, you'll be giving families a platform to be heard and ensuring their insights influence how healthcare services are delivered in prisons. You'll also provide vital support, signposting families to information and resources that can help them through difficult times.
What You'll Be Doing
Engaging with families & carers at prison visitor centres, conducting meaningful, semi-structured interviews about their experiences supporting a loved one with health issues in custody.
Listening with empathy while ensuring research data is collected in a structured way.
Identifying safeguarding concerns and escalating them appropriately.
Recording interview notes accurately and inputting them into the project database.
Providing signposting advice to families, ensuring they receive the right information and support.
Working closely with Pact colleagues and prison visitor centre staff to ensure smooth operations.
Handling health information materials, such as leaflets and posters, to help raise awareness.
Who We're Looking For
A natural listener – able to build rapport quickly and make people feel heard.
Emotionally intelligent & compassionate – you understand the challenges families face.
Strong communicator – you can gather information sensitively while following research guidelines.
Organised & detail-focused – able to take accurate notes and maintain records.
Confident working in sensitive settings, such as prison visitor centres.
Aware of safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries.
Why Join Pact?
Make a difference – your work will shape future prison healthcare services.
Work with a dedicated team that supports families affected by imprisonment.
Flexible, meaningful role with a chance to develop your skills in research, social justice, and advocacy.
Ready to be a voice for change? Apply now and help us amplify the voices of families who need to be heard.
Other information:
Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).
This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.
A certificate of good conduct from the Police Force of the country of residence if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months (in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over).
If you'd like to have an informal chat about the role, we'd love to hear from you. Please email for further information.
Applications are filled on a rolling basis. For the best chance of your application being successful, we recommend applying sooner rather than later.