Social Support Lead (part-time)

Job Title : Social Support Lead

Reporting to: Managing Director

Overall Purpose: We are seeking a passionate and driven Social Support position. The role will be responsible for supporting our staff on ROTL programme from HMP East Sutton Park and those post release. This role requires a supportive individual who can provide information, advice and guidance to support our team in their journey through prison to release and employment either at The Glasshouse or beyond. The role will also build on our existing systems to monitor and report on our social impact.

Who We Are:

The Glasshouse is a social enterprise offering employment and horticultural training to women with lived prison experience with the mission to reduce reoffending. Our team grows and nurtures beautiful, resilient indoor plants, which are sold directly through our website and our retail shop located in Cranbrook. Our women also work in Central London where they care for the plants that we have placed in offices, hotels and retail clients.

Through our Placement Programme, we employ women directly from HMP East Sutton Park, an open prison for women in Kent. Our placements care for, grow and propagate indoor plants and work in our retail shop in Cranbrook. They also travel to our clients in London to help install large planting schemes or to look after plants (our plant maintenance business). In the months prior to release, we offer help with job placement and housing, in order to give every woman leaving prison the best chance of success post-release. Our project is based around the proven physical and emotional benefits that being close to nature provides.

Main Activities of Role:

Responsible for supporting our team with lived prison experience within the organisation. Provide guidance, signposting and advocacy for our team members as they navigate the challenges of prison life and transition back into society after release, including support in securing accommodation. Develop systems to record the progress of our team and report to senior management and clients on The Glasshouse’s social impact. Build connections to other organisations and charities that support housing, employment and other needs identified by the role. Not all responsibilities of the role need to be completed on a weekly basis.

• Continuous Improvement:

o Support our team with lived prison experience to access other charities and services especially during the last 6 months of prison so that the chances of success post-release are maximised.

o Assist and support our team post release with employability and emotional support.

o Continuously evaluate and refine the Program’s initiatives based on feedback and learning.

• Provide Advocacy, Signposting and Support:

o Advocate for team members by assisting with social welfare applications and supporting them in addressing other important issues, such as navigating housing matters upon release.

• Impact Reporting and Monitoring:

o Collect and improve the data that we need to measure our social impact.

o Systemise our recording of a woman’s journey through our programme.

o Prepare and improve our regular reports on our social impact outcome.

• Liaison with HM Prisons:

o Manage the relationship with HM Prisons and the Placement Programme, liaising with senior management so that we have the right number of women on the programme to deliver our commercial work.

o Assist with interviewing and appointing candidates for the programme.

• Alumni:

o Create a system to record, monitor and communicate with The Glasshouse Alumni.

• Grant Monitoring and Approval:

o Discuss, monitor and process internal grant process for women to obtain The Glasshouse grant at the end of the placement programme.

o Research and apply for grants for specific projects e.g. if a woman needs driving lessons or other support away from The Glasshouse core support.

• Community Outreach:

o Represent the organisation at events, conferences, and forums related to Placements, social impact and corporate social responsibility.

o Build links to other organisations that can support the women either whilst working at The Glasshouse or after they have left.

Competencies:

● Interest in working within a social enterprise and assisting women with lived experience through release and ongoing employment.

● Minimum of 3 years of experience in probation, social work or related fields.

● Strong understanding of resettlement of prisoners into the community upon release and preparation for life after prison.

● Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.

● Self-motivated, with a track record of developing innovative solutions to complex social problems.

● Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to foster an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Specification of Role:

Contract: Permanent employee – Part Time

Days worked per week: Working 2 days per week: days to be agreed with Team in advance.

Hours: Working 15 hours per week. The hours per day are flexible and include a 30 minute unpaid break. Whilst the hours are flexible on the worked days, the core hours of 10am-2pm are expected to be worked.

Salary: Full Time Equivalent £27,600- 31,500 pa, Part time for 2 days £11.200-£12.750 pa.

Where:

· Remote – 1 day.

· Retail shop and plant growing warehouse in Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF - 1 day.

Holiday: FTE 28 days (inc. bank holidays), part-time 11.5 days (inc. bank holidays).

Pension: NEST – employee 5%, employer 3% = Total 8%.

Start Date: ASAP.

Notice: 1 month.

Probation: 3 months.

Anything else: Benefit of an employee discount of 10% on merchandise.

Please apply with a current CV and a covering letter.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: £14.35-£16.35 per hour

Expected hours: 15 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Flexitime
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Cranbrook, Kent: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required).

Experience:

• social work, psychology, education: 3 years (required).

Language:

• English (required).

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required).

Work Location: In person.