Custody & Community Support Worker - (Devon)

We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated individual to join our team as a Custody & Community Support Worker

In this role, you’ll support a caseload of participants in a community setting starting from their initial assessment and continuing throughout their sentence. You’ll provide guidance, encouragement, and tailored support to help them overcome challenges, reintegrate into society, and successfully complete their journey.

Support is delivered through one on one sessions and group interventions, all designed to empower participants and help them build brighter futures. We’re creating safe, welcoming spaces where people with experience of rehabilitation can engage in meaningful activities that promote social inclusion, improve wellbeing, and develop the skills needed to thrive in everyday life.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including health and social care, mental health support, youth work, housing services, substance misuse recovery, community volunteering, and newly graduated students from criminal justice or related fields who are seeking meaningful opportunities to make a difference.

Our ideal candidate is confident, empathetic, and comfortable mentoring people from all walks of life. Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who is passionate about supporting others and committed to helping individuals overcome challenges and transform their lives.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real impact.

In return for your dedication, knowledge, and commitment, we offer a competitive salary of £25,877 - £29,000 per annum (dependent on experience) with these great benefits:

•    25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Birthday Day off (with the opportunity to buy an additional 5 days)
•    2 Volunteer Days
•    Pension - 5% Employee 5% Employer
•    Healthcare Cash Plan, incl. 3 x salary life assurance
•    Annual salary pay review
•    Refer a friend scheme
•    Free access to Benefit Hub - an online portal with access to a wide range of retail discounts, cycle to work scheme, and additional voluntary benefits
 

Interested? There’s an easy to apply route below to upload your CV! If you need any further information, talk to our experienced Internal Recruitment Team on (phone number removed).

 Communities  is part of an employee-owned organisation and we continually pride ourselves on our sense of community, both in the incredible work we do throughout UK and Ireland.  People are at the front, centre and heart of every service we provide and each decision we make.

Location: Peripatetic,  the cluster will cover areas across Devon
Hours:  37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 4th August 2026

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage a caseload of participants across both custody and community settings with complex needs and provide advice, guidance and support to overcome barriers to social inclusion and signpost to internal and external support.
• Completion of pre-release work/through the gate support, initial assessments and creation of individual/tailored action plans, delivery of interventions on a one to one and group work basis, motivational support and guidance to help and sustain engagement, progress reviews (updating and developing) and reinforce positive outcomes.
• To ensure the accurate and timely recording of input participant data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
• Meet individual performance targets and contribute towards meeting team performance targets in line with contractual requirements.
• Provide information as required, to support the monitoring and tracking of performance against contract targets and to ensure activities are effective.
• To ensure effective case management and co-ordination of risk with a particular focus on safeguarding of adults and children. This includes the timely notification of concerns regarding change in individual risk to the Probation Service and adhering to systems, policies and procedures to support the management of risk.
• Implement safeguarding policies and procedures within all aspects of delivery, to protect children and vulnerable adults within both a custodial and community setting.  
• Contribute to the creation and provision of a welcoming and inclusive environment, in which participants are enabled to fulfil their potential and desist from crime.
• Lead and contribute to the delivery of a range of assessments and activities/interventions, designed to enable individuals to achieve positive change, reduce re-offending, promote engagement in appropriate services, overcome multiple and complex barriers to employment, access mainstream services and reintegrate into their local communities.
• Work in partnership with other agencies to raise awareness of the service and carry out joint working to enable effective engagement and progress to support rehabilitation.

Skills & Experience

• IAG Level 3  desirable
• Demonstrable experience of/ability to achieve individual performance goals and/or contribute towards team and organisational targets.
• Experience of inputting and retrieving electronic data and maintain computer-based information systems in an accurate and timely manner.
• Maintenance of professional boundaries and work with and manage challenging behaviour.
• Effective communication and work with partnership agencies and stakeholders and maintain effective working relationships.
• Experience and/or ability to work with people on a one to one and group work basis. Ability to motivate others and facilitate learning in order to change attitudes and behaviour.
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills (good verbal, presentation and written skills and ability to communicate concisely and effectively).
• Highly organised and ability to maintain accurate records with timely recording and ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience of working with a variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties and/or experience within criminal justice system and understanding of the barriers faced by offenders with multiple and/or complex needs.
• Confident with the ability to exercise authority and reinforce boundaries in an appropriate manner.