Flexible Engagement Practitioner – HMP Rochester
Location: HMP Rochester, Kent
Contract: Flexible/sessional
Hours: Normally four consecutive programme days per month, Monday to Thursday. This is not regular weekly work, and programme dates will be agreed in advance.
About Kinetic Youth
Kinetic Youth delivers relationship-led youth and community work within prisons, Young Offender Institutions and community settings. We use informal education, practical activities and positive relationships to help people develop confidence, skills and motivation.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced and engaging practitioner to support a monthly programme at HMP Rochester.
The programme will work with adults who may currently be reluctant to engage with education, employment, induction, purposeful activity or the wider prison regime.
Working alongside our Lead Practitioner, you will help deliver a four-day programme using practical, creative and experiential activities. Each programme will be adapted around the interests and needs of the group while developing:
- Confidence, motivation and resilience
- Communication and teamwork
- Problem-solving and positive decision-making
- Goal-setting and self-awareness
- Skills needed to engage with education, employment and purposeful activity
You will help create a safe and welcoming environment, build positive professional relationships and provide additional individual support where participants experience barriers to engagement.
Main responsibilities
You will:
- Support delivery across four consecutive programme days each month
- Facilitate engaging group activities and informal learning
- Encourage individuals who may be reluctant or lacking in confidence
- Provide individual support alongside the group programme
- Adapt activities and communication for neurodiversity, additional learning needs, low literacy levels and other individual needs
- Support participants to identify goals and progress towards suitable education, employment and prison opportunities
- Contribute to attendance records, assessments, participant feedback and evidence of progress
- Share safeguarding, safety, security and attendance concerns appropriately
- Follow Kinetic Youth and HMP Rochester policies and procedures
About you
We are looking for someone who:
- Has relevant experience in youth work, community work, mentoring, education, rehabilitation, criminal justice, social care or a similar role
- Has experience engaging people who may be vulnerable, marginalised or difficult to reach
- Is confident facilitating group activities
- Can build trusting relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries
- Understands trauma-informed and strengths-based practice
- Has awareness of neurodiversity, mental health and additional learning needs
- Is creative, patient, resilient, reliable and non-judgemental
- Can work effectively as part of a small team
- Can commit to the agreed four-day programme each month
Vetting and security
Current or recent prison vetting is strongly preferred because the programme must begin within a short timescale.
The successful applicant will not be able to work at HMP Rochester until all required prison vetting, security checks, induction, Key Talk and mandatory training have been completed. An enhanced DBS check may also be required.
This position would suit someone looking for meaningful and rewarding flexible work. Hours are offered according to the programme schedule and regular weekly work cannot be guaranteed, However we have other projects in the area where additional hours may become available.
Pay: £14.24-£17.83 per hour
Work Location: In person
