Visits Play Facilitator in Full Sutton)

Ad Warrior Ltd; Full Sutton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading social enterprise is seeking a Visits Play Facilitator to support children visiting loved ones in custody at the UK's first 'green' prison. This role involves planning engaging activities, providing emotional support, and fostering positive family interactions, making a lasting impact in the lives of families involved in the criminal justice system.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in stressful environments.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience in child advocacy or related roles.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead engaging play activities for children.
• Provide emotional support to children during visits.
• Create a safe and welcoming play environment.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Discretion

Problem-solving

Flexibility

Education

Experience working with children

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Visits Play Facilitator

Location: East Riding of Yorkshire

Salary: £21,840 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Part Time

Closing Date: 13 Aug 2025

Do you want to be part of something life-changing, helping families reconnect and build brighter futures? If so, we are recruiting for a Visits Play Facilitator/Nursery Nurse.

We are looking for passionate, child-focused individuals to join our team at HMP Millsike, the UK's newest, most progressive, and first 'green' prison. Opening in early 2025 and operated by Mitie Care and Custody for the Ministry of Justice, Millsike represents a new era in prison design, culture, and rehabilitation. Forward Trust is proud to be a strategic delivery partner, providing a range of Connections Services designed to restore relationships, improve wellbeing, and support personal growth.

Role Responsibilities

As a Prison Visits Play Facilitator, you will play a crucial role in creating a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment for children visiting loved ones in custody. Your work will help ease the emotional strain of prison visits and promote meaningful family connections, supporting long-term rehabilitation and stronger relationships.

This role offers more than childcare; it's an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families affected by the criminal justice system.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, set up, and lead engaging, age-appropriate play activities during prison visit sessions.
• Provide emotional support to children and help them navigate the visit experience.
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe play space that fosters positive family interactions.
• Collaborate with Family and Relationship Practitioners to design play sessions tailored to individual family needs.
• Encourage and facilitate child-prisoner interactions that support parent-child bonding.
• Assist with family events and special visits, bringing creativity and compassion to every session.
• Ensure all activities meet HMP Millsike's safety and security protocols.

All prison-based roles require enhanced DBS and HMPPS security vetting, which can take 3-12 weeks. All offers are subject to receiving both HMPPS vetting and DBS clearances. Checks will require you to provide information on:

• Personal information and criminal history
• Family details (parents, partners, siblings, children)
• Co-residents
• Associations that may conflict with your role
• Background checks, credit references, social media, and other government or overseas agency checks.

The Ideal Candidate

We seek someone with the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

• Experience working with children, especially in stressful or unusual environments.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with sensitivity to diverse groups.
• Discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive information.
• Experience in child advocacy or related roles.
• Experience developing and implementing service improvements.
• Proficiency in communication, presentation, data handling, and written/verbal skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and digital systems.
• Experience working in prison visit centers or similar environments.
• Experience managing databases and data collection for audits and reporting.
• Positive problem-solving skills and flexibility to adapt to service needs.
• Ability to engage effectively with clients.
• Experience in partnership working with colleagues and external agencies.

About Us

The Forward Trust is a social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break cycles of crime and addiction, supporting lasting change for over 25 years. We believe everyone can change and strive to help individuals build positive lives with employment, family, and community.

To Apply

If you believe you are suitable and wish to join us, please visit the following link to complete your application:

https://careers.forwardtrust.org.uk/vacancies/270/visits-play-facilitator.html