Family Prison Visits Volunteer

Family prison visits volunteers will be based in the Visitor Centre. The visitors' centres exist to meet the needs of adults and children visiting relatives or friends in prison.They aim to offer, "a safe, pleasant environment where all visitors are met with dignity and respect, provided with the facilities they need and offered information, support and the opportunity to discuss the difficulties they may face in confidence" (Prison Service Guidelines,1996). This statement sums up the basic principles underlying the Nepacs visitors' centres

Volunteers in this role will offer a warm welcome to all visitors arriving for a domestic visit and register all visitors who arrive. They will also provide refreshments and offer emotional support and information to the families who are waiting for a visit

Main tasks will include

• Welcome visitors and register and log each visitor as they arrive
• Serve refreshments
• To offer any information and support as necessary to the families of prisoners
• To explain to new visitors the visiting process
• To promote the Nepacs family support service available to prisoners and visiting families and friends
• To take family support referrals and forward them to the Nepacs family support worker
• Respond to lower level family support enquiries
• To promote the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to families
• To raise any issues or concerns regarding the safety of children or vulnerable adults and follow the Nepacs safeguarding policy and processes

Skills

• Welcoming and friendly outlook
• Non judgemental
• Ability to work as part of a team
• An understanding of confidentiality
• Sensitive to the needs of visitors
• Basic numeracy and literacy

Location: 
HMP Durham, HMP Frankland and HMP&YOI Low Newton in Durham, HMP Holme House in Stockton, HMYOI Deerbolt in Barnard Castle and HMP Northumberland in Morpeth.