Creative Programmes Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for an innovative and creative leader to manage SIG Safe Ground’s flagship Family Service. A first of its kind, the Family Service at HMP Altcourse brings together creative interventions for men in custody, bespoke family counselling and daily practical support for families visiting a loved one. Leading this ground breaking service you will work alongside internal & external staff teams to reimagine what family support is within the criminal justice system, working to influence a culture shift at HMP Altcourse and the wider prison system.

Please note the title of this position is Family Service Manager

SIG Safe Ground are experts in delivering arts-based, therapeutically informed group work, celebrating 30 years of working in prisons in 2025. We’re looking for an action-orientated individual who is passionate about developing creative, family-led ways of working to best support those in crisis. You’ll join a reflective, dynamic team of facilitators, counsellors and family liaison workers supporting those with experience of the criminal justice system to build a practical toolbox to cope and move forward positively. 

Rota: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday 8.30am-4.30pm, Flexible hours when programme delivery is taking place 7.30am - 5pm

Benefits, including Non-Contractual Perks

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Medicash includes discount gym memberships, routine optometry care, dental treatments, and physiotherapy treatments
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards

If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference in people's lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!

ABOUT YOU

You will bring a deep passion for arts-based interventions, combined with exceptional communication, organisational, and supportive skills. Your approach will centre around building and nurturing relationships, recognising their critical role in personal development. You will employ creative methods, including group work, arts, and drama techniques, to inspire and facilitate positive behavioural changes and alternative perspectives for those in custody and their families.

You are adept at leading and motivating teams, and you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where your proactive and adaptable nature shines. Your leadership will reflect a commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred support, underpinned by a trauma-informed approach and a non-judgmental attitude.

Training will be an integral part of this role, including experiential programme training and Security and Key Training through the Criminal Justice Service, to ensure you are fully equipped to meet the demands of the position. 

OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Management

• Provide high quality support and line management to staff, offer guidance, support and advice to the team to support them as a leader.
• Responsible for management and leadership of employees and the full employee lifecycle.
• Proactively embed a culture of learning, development and evaluation.
• Build strong internal relationships across the business and ensure consistent communication.

Operational

• Support the service to operate and deliver to the standards of Safe Ground, Social Interest Group, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Take all necessary measures to establish and deliver programmes as the core curriculum at the designated prison service.
• Support the team to meet performance targets, and objectives.
• Attend and contribute to meetings associated with the programme, and convene meetings when required.
• Coordinate and liaise with the team and participants to seek and maximise opportunities for development and evolution of programmes in accordance with organisational strategic plan.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external persons and partners.
• Work closely within the team to monitor, gain feedback, evaluate and develop the programmes for continuous improvement.
• Admin and other duties will vary.

Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position. 

KEY CRITERIA

What we are looking for:

• Background in arts education, dramatherapy, or applied theatre and/or education
• Experience within a prison or other criminal justice setting, and/or within a similar role
• IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, basic Microsoft experience
• Understanding and/or experience working with therapeutic groupwork techniques
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people within the criminal justice setting

What we would like, but not essential:

• Line Management Experience
• Appropriate professional qualification: NVQ/Diploma Level 2 in Health & Social Care/Community Justice/Arts/Dramatherapy or professional equivalent
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people within the criminal justice setting

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

WORKING FOR US

ABOUT US

Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change

Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Our Values

Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people

Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential

Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff

Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website. 

We are an inclusive employer committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We actively encourage applications from individuals with lived experience, such as those who have faced homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, or mental health challenges, and are eager to learn and grow in a new role.

For Recruitment related enquiries, please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk