Join Mitie – the future of high‑performing places

ROLE: HOPE Mentor
HOURS: 40 Hours in a week
LOCATION: York

At Mitie, our people are our greatest strength, and our promise is to create a place to work where you can thrive and be your best every day.
We're looking for a HOPE Mentor who will support individuals in custody through shared experience, trust‑building, and rehabilitative guidance.

Role Responsibilities:

• Assess and support the prisoners through personal assessments of individual's needs helping them develop tailored plans to support their rehabilitation and resettlement journey.
• Provide One‑to‑One Support: Offer practical and emotional support to prisoners, helping them to navigate challenges, maintain motivation, and work towards achieving their goals.
• Facilitate structured group sessions: Organise and lead peer support sessions, promoting a supportive environment for shared experiences and mutual growth.
• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work alongside staff and partners within the prison and within the communities where the prisoners will be returning to.
• Develop Personal Plans: Working alongside staff and partners, create, monitor, and review individual action plans that focus on harm reduction, relapse prevention, and long‑term recovery strategies.
• Advocacy and Empowerment: Working with Peer Advocates to help prisoners address their needs with different partners to help them access housing, employment, and educational services.
• Risk Management: Working alongside staff and partners, help to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of prisoners.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date records of prisoners' progress and actions, complying with all HMP Millsikes security and information processes including confidentiality and data protection standards (GDPR).

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must meet the below defined requirements for the role.

Essential Qualifications/Experience

• Have at least 3 years' experience working with individuals with complex needs such as substance abuse, mental health and neurodiversity.
• Have a lived experience of being sent to Prison or being sentenced to community orders.
• Experience in facilitating group sessions and one‑on‑one interventions.
• Ability to manage workload whilst being part of a diverse team.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage with individuals in a non‑judgemental and empathetic manner.
• Familiarity with safeguarding procedures and managing risk.

Desired Qualifications/Experience

• At least one qualification in Health and Social Care, counselling, and/or substance misuse (NVQ, Diploma, or equivalent experience).
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups of people i.e. homeless, substance misuse, offending behaviours, Young People etc.
• Knowledge of IT – Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed care principles and practises.

Skills & Attributes

• Empathetic, non‑judgemental, and patient with a commitment to supporting prisoners in overcoming challenges.
• Strong organisational skills recognising and working to your team's priorities.
• Good verbal communication skills which includes a restorative practise approach.
• Ability to feedback in a constructive and positive manner.
• Good conflict resolution skills.
• Willingness to participate in continuous learning.
• Willingness to complete training.
• Willingness to deal with change and adapt working practises to reflect legislative and procedural change.
• Ability to work as part of a team.