The Forward Trust, a charity working within the Criminal Justice System, launched a new project in partnership with Mitie Care and Custody and the MoJ.

The goal: to support offenders and their families by focusing on rehabilitation, substance misuse, mental health, and external support networks.

• Team 1 – Health & Wellbeing (4 vacancies): Supporting offenders with substance misuse and mental health.
• Team 2 – Family Support Practitioners (2 vacancies): Rebuilding family connections.

After discussions, Forward Trust gave this project exclusive to Charles Hunter Associates.

• Charles Hunter Associates had never recruited within the Prison Service before but successfully leveraged experience from children’s secure units and youth offending backgrounds to identify suitable candidates.
• Time Constraints: The new prison was set to open in April, requiring candidates to be sourced, interviewed, and vetted in time for training in March before their April 1st start date.
• Location Challenges: Based in Yorkshire with limited transport links, the role didn’t require driving, but it was beneficial for candidates commuting from further afield.