Connections Coach - HMP Millsike

We’re looking for a passionate Connections Coach to join Forward Trust (Full Time, 35 Hours) at HMP Millsike, a rural prison location where access is limited and a full driving licence with use of a car is essential. You’ll deliver a relationship-led service that helps people rebuild connections, strengthen wellbeing, and move towards lasting desistance.

This role sits at the heart of our Connections Service, covering Visits, Family & Relationship support, and Desistance & Wellbeing interventions. You’ll play a key part in building a strong recovery ecosystem across the prison, working in partnership with health, substance misuse, and prison colleagues to deliver truly integrated support.

What you’ll be doing

• Delivering the core Connections offer: visits, family work, and desistance & wellbeing support
• Managing a varied caseload of Prisoner Service Users (PSUs) through 1:1 coaching and group work
• Supporting delivery of the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) model and recovery wing approach
• Contributing to a whole-prison recovery culture, including designated recovery/ISFL areas
• Chairing community meetings and contributing to multidisciplinary reviews where required
• Developing tailored recovery and desistance plans that build motivation and sustain change

The approach you’ll support

You’ll help deliver the Supporting & Sustaining Recovery (SSR) model, supporting people through:

• Stabilisation and preparation
• Structured recovery development
• Long-term sustainment through ISFL, peer support, employment pathways, and wellbeing interventions

You’ll also work with innovative recovery resources including:

• Forward Connect – a national recovery community of 1,000+ members
• Group programmes, resilience workshops, and 1:1 interventions
• Lived experience materials, campaigns, and recovery-focused content

What we’re looking for

• Experience working with vulnerable people in a coaching, support, or key working role
• Strong relationship-building, motivational, and communication skills
• Confidence managing caseloads, assessments, and structured plans
• Ability to work collaboratively across health, substance misuse, and prison teams
• Commitment to recovery, desistance, and person-centred support
• Flexibility to work in a rural, secure setting (driving essential)

This is a chance to help shape a whole-prison recovery culture, where people are supported not just to change, but to sustain that change long after release.

Please see attached Job Description for full details

All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.

Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.