Location: Based within HMP Altcourse, Fazakerley, Liverpool. Step Free access is available at this service. You may be expected to travel to other services as required, including to Central London Central Office and for in‑person meetings held off site.
Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00. 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 seeking a Family Service Manager to lead our flagship family service based in HMP Altcourse. This is an ideal opportunity if you are seeking a hands‑on role within a prison setting, confident in working in complex environments and want to create meaningful change within punitive systems. You will lead a multidisciplinary team who deliver high‑quality, therapeutically informed, arts‑based work with men in prison and their families. You will bring together creative group interventions, bespoke family counselling services, and day‑to‑day operational & practical family support within a complex prison environment.
As the Family Service Manager, you will lead a team of Programme Co‑Ordinator's, Facilitators, Family Counsellors, a Deputy Service Manager, and other appropriate staff. The team supports operational booking for all social visits and delivers programmes such as Fathers Inside and Man Up which have received national recognition and are delivered across custodial and community settings. The role requires leadership experience, managing a diverse team, with line management responsibilities to support, enable, and empower your team to deliver high quality support to the participants of our programmes and their families. You will work closely with prison, Sodexo colleagues and other internal SIG teams to ensure innovative, safe and compassionate service delivery.
Key Responsibilities Include:
* Line Management throughout the employee lifecycle embedding a culture of learning, development, reflection and evaluation.
* Creative leadership of creating and delivering engaging high‑quality services and interventions which support rehabilitation, reintegration and culture shifts in systems of power and compliance.
* Manage day‑to‑day operational delivery of programmes, the service and visitors centre.
* Ensure core responsibilities and contractual requirements are fulfilled.
* Strive to ensure excellence and quality in our service delivery.
About You
This is a role for you if you truly believe change happens through relationships, not control; you will lead with warmth and clarity and hold care and accountability together. You will be part of a values‑led organisation that takes people, reflection and creativity seriously. You will be comfortable working within a prison setting, with regular interactions with people from all backgrounds and circumstances which have led to them being imprisoned.
We’re seeking a proactive leader, someone who has the ability to motivate and empower a team to drive excellence, both as individuals and as a team, whilst providing practical solutions to challenges which arise. You will be knowledgeable of the criminal justice setting and ideally have experience within a similar environment. We’re looking for someone who can build rapport, trust and create an environment which allows individuals to grow their skills and experience.
* Previous experience facilitating group programmes and/or training to various groups, ideally in a similar setting (preferably within a creative setting).
* Experience of working with and engaging diverse groups of people from varying backgrounds.
* Demonstrable experience in leading a service or team in a similar capacity.
* Ability to provide high quality support and line management to staff.
* Ability to motivate and empower a team to achieve KPIs.
* Ability to promote the service externally to enhance reputation with partner organisations.
* Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands and needs of the service, including providing an emergency on‑call service as required.
* IT proficiency – able to learn and navigate new systems such as case management, Microsoft, ATS, HR systems and other organisational software.
* Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity and Transparency.
What We Offer
* 25 days (Full‑time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with length of service.
* Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card.
* Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more.
* Reflective practice regular sessions with an external therapist 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.
* Annual Staff Awards.
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and will consider candidates regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or other protected characteristic.
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