Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) Advisor - Prison Services

Practical careers guidance. Real plans beyond custody.

You will help people in custody understand their skills, make realistic plans and prepare for employment, training or education after release.

You will manage a caseload, deliver one-to-one careers guidance and practical workshops, create action plans and maintain accurate records. This is purposeful, target-driven work inside a secure custodial environment, where safeguarding, professional boundaries and strict security procedures matter. Prison regime changes, restricted access and cancelled sessions can also disrupt a well-planned day.

This role is a 12 Month FTC Maternity Cover

This role covers HMP Belmarsh, HMP Thameside and HMP Isis

Before you apply: the essentials

To be considered, your CV and application must clearly demonstrate:

• Experience in careers guidance, employability coaching or rehabilitation support, including effective one-to-one work.

• Evidence of delivering group workshops, learning sessions or similar structured activities.

• Evidence of managing competing priorities, maintaining accurate records and following through on agreed actions.

• Evidence of working appropriately with sensitive information, safeguarding requirements, confidentiality or professional boundaries.

• A Level 3 or higher qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance, or willingness to work towards the required Level 4 qualification.

• Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work.

• Evidence of delivering outcomes, targets, tasks, projects or agreed objectives.

• Ability to present your recent employment history clearly, including explaining gaps or short-term roles during the previous five years.

• Confident working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, with the ability to learn and adapt to other software and digital systems.

Useful, but not essential

• Experience within prisons or the criminal justice system.

• Motivational interviewing or trauma-informed practice.

• Neurodiversity training or experience adapting support for different learning and communication needs.

The real job

You will help people recognise transferable skills, explore realistic opportunities and turn conversations into practical action plans.

Your one-to-one guidance will explore skills, experience, barriers and aspirations, helping each person identify practical next steps towards employment, education or training.

You will also deliver structured workshops covering areas such as CVs, applications, interviews, financial awareness and digital skills.

Some participants may have limited work histories, low confidence, learning needs or significant barriers outside prison. You will identify what is preventing progress, connect people with appropriate support and professionally challenge unrealistic thinking or disengagement.

Accurate administration is an important part of the role. You will maintain case records, action plans and supporting evidence while working towards agreed outcomes and targets.

You will also work with prison colleagues, training providers, employers and community services to support progression beyond custody.

What success looks like

Within your first 90 days, you should understand the prison regime, be managing your caseload confidently and delivering purposeful one-to-one guidance and workshops.

Your action plans, records and supporting evidence should be accurate and timely, and you should be making clear progress towards agreed outcomes.

You will receive structured training, management support and regular feedback as you develop in the role.

The working reality

You will work every day inside a secure custodial environment. Searches, restricted-item rules and security procedures are part of working in a prison.

Movements can be delayed, sessions cancelled and access restricted because of lockdowns or changes to the prison regime. You will need to reorganise activity, re-engage people when circumstances allow and keep records and actions moving.

You may hear difficult or sensitive information and must maintain appropriate professional boundaries. This is also a role with targets and administration alongside the human support you provide.

What you get

• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.

• Vitality health and wellbeing support, including GP services, mental health support and physiotherapy.

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including up to six counselling sessions a year and legal, financial and debt guidance.

• Workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available subject to eligibility and scheme rules.

• Share buy scheme.

• Up to 360 a year through IncentFit for eligible activities.

• Wellbeing, retail, fitness, travel and mobile discounts, including 20% off eligible EE mobile plans.

About Get Set UK

Get Set UK delivers employment, skills, apprenticeships, health and justice services, helping people overcome barriers and progress towards meaningful, sustainable employment. We are part of Palladium, a global impact organisation with more than 60 years' experience delivering programmes and solutions internationally.

Our values are Be Ambitious, Be Proud, Be Considerate, Be Inspiring and Own It, and they shape how we work with colleagues, participants and partners.

Recruitment process

Apply through our recruitment platform and complete the short initial questionnaire. If you start your application through Indeed or LinkedIn, you will still need to complete this step before we can review your application.

We assess your CV and application against the minimum essential criteria for the role and the evidence you provide. Keep your CV clear and concise and focus on what you personally did, owned, improved or delivered. One to two pages will suit many applicants, although up to three may be appropriate where your relevant experience requires it.

If shortlisted, the process may include a recruiter conversation, online role assessment and hiring-manager interview with a realistic role exercise.

Get Set UK is committed to safer recruitment practices to help protect our colleagues and the people we support.

As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to provide a complete and accurate history of your employment and other relevant activity for the previous five years, including explanations for any gaps, together with referee details covering the previous three years.

Please ensure the information you provide is complete and accurate, as we may be unable to progress your application until our safer recruitment requirements have been completed.

Depending on the role, further pre-employment checks may include references, right-to-work checks, DBS checks and/or other appropriate vetting.

Any offer is conditional on satisfactory applicable checks. Preparation, responsiveness and attention to detail matter throughout the process.

Eligibility and checks

You must have the full right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout recruitment.

Get Set for a better tomorrow. Apply today.

Additional information

We reserve the right to close applications early, so we encourage early applications.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals and are committed to supporting physical and mental wellbeing at work. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process if required.

This role is subject to satisfactory recruitment checks and a commitment to safeguarding learners and clients.

Get Set UK does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.