Prison Leaver Engagement Worker

Red 5 People; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization in the South East is seeking a candidate to assist prison leavers by facilitating their transition into community services. You will work closely with probation and hub services, meeting individuals upon their release, and ensuring they engage with support. The ideal candidate will have experience in probation settings, excellent communication skills, and the flexibility to travel across Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. This role emphasizes making a critical first link between prison and community.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people leaving custody or in probation settings.

Responsibilities

• Meet prison leavers at the point of release.
• Smooth their transition into community services.
• Liaise with probation, hubs and prisons daily.

Skills

Strong communication

Gentle persistence

Flexibility to travel

Job description

Overview

Prison gates open. That's where you come in. Your job is to make sure people don't fall straight through the cracks. You'll be the link between prisons, probation, and community hubs - getting contact details, booking appointments, and encouraging prison leavers to engage with support workers once they're out.

You won't hold a caseload. You won't be doing long-term casework. What you will do is:

What you'll do

• Meet prison leavers at the point of release.
• Smooth their transition into community services.
• Liaise with probation, hubs and prisons daily.
• Do the chasing, connecting, and persuading that keeps people engaged.

Where you'll be based

Ideally you'll live near Chatham OR Southampton/Portsmouth, as these are the key activity hubs. That's where the real focus is — getting clients to engage with community services once they leave custody. You'll cover the wider South East too, with occasional travel and stopovers (covered).

What you'll need

• Experience working with people leaving custody or in probation settings.
• Strong communication and gentle persistence (you'll hear “no” more than once).
• Flexibility to travel across Kent, Sussex & Hampshire.

If you want a role where you genuinely make that critical first link between prison and community — this is it.

? Please apply via this advert—we aim to respond to everyone. If you haven't heard back within 72 hours, please complete the “Send Us A Message” form on the Contact Us page on the Red 5 People website, and we guarantee a real person will get back to you.

If you would like to speak to someone first before applying, feel free to call the office and ask for Lawrence (number on the Red 5 People website)