Overview
As Cluster Manager, you will lead Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) delivery across multiple prison sites including Hollesley Bay, Warren Hill and Chelmsford. This is a leadership role with operational accountability, frontline credibility and strong judgement in secure environments. You will manage, coach and develop CIAG Advisors, drive performance against contractual and organisational targets, and ensure services are delivered safely, consistently and to a high standard. Approximately 20% of your time will be frontline CIAG activity alongside your team to maintain strong practice and support continuous improvement. This is purposeful work that requires discipline, maturity and resilience, with work conducted in the context of structured routines, security procedures and high standards of compliance. Regular travel across the cluster and consistent presence on site are expected.
Responsibilities
- Lead, manage, coach and develop CIAG Advisors across multiple custodial sites.
- Deliver approximately 20% frontline CIAG activity alongside your team.
- Monitor KPIs, contractual performance and service outcomes across the cluster.
- Use performance data to identify trends, risks and areas for improvement.
- Conduct quality reviews, observations and case note checks to ensure consistency of practice.
- Address underperformance constructively and decisively.
- Ensure CIAG delivery is aligned to required quality standards.
- Represent Get Set UK in prison, stakeholder and operational meetings.
- Build effective working relationships with prison leadership, partners and key stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection, prison security and MOJ requirements.
- Maintain accurate reporting, governance oversight and audit-ready records.
- Follow up agreed actions and ensure improvements are delivered and sustained.
- Role model Get Set UK’s values and the employability standards: attendance, punctuality, professionalism, communication and follow-through.
Qualifications and Experience
- Experience leading teams within employability, offender rehabilitation, careers guidance, skills, education, justice, public services or related environments.
- Experience managing performance in a target-driven or contractually monitored service.
- Experience coaching, supporting and addressing performance with frontline staff.
- Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and compliance within regulated or structured environments.
- Confidence using data, KPIs or management information to monitor performance and drive improvement.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage priorities across multiple sites or workstreams.
- Ability to build effective relationships with internal teams, external partners and senior stakeholders.
- High levels of professionalism, resilience and emotional steadiness in challenging environments.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to give clear feedback, write accurate reports and represent the service professionally.
- Level 4 IAG qualification, or willingness to work towards this.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work.
- Evidence of delivering outcomes, targets, tasks, projects or agreed objectives.
- Ability to explain your employment history clearly, including any gaps or short-term roles.
- Ability to work in a structured environment where quality, compliance and outcomes are monitored.
- Commitment to Get Set UK’s values and to supporting people who may face barriers to work.
- Willingness to complete all required recruitment checks including right to work, references, enhanced DBS and prison security vetting.
- Right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship not offered for this role.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within prison, probation, justice, custodial or secure environments.
- Knowledge of MOJ, prison or custodial service frameworks.
- Experience delivering or managing Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance services.
- Experience conducting quality assurance, observations or case file reviews.
- Experience managing services across multiple locations.
Values and behaviours
- Leadership accountability: you take ownership of performance, standards and outcomes across sites.
- Security discipline: you respect and comply with prison procedures, vetting requirements and secure working practices.
- Emotional steadiness: you remain calm, professional and balanced in challenging environments.
- Performance focus: you understand targets and hold teams to consistent standards.
- Quality judgement: you distinguish between minor issues and material risks.
- Follow-through: you ensure actions are completed and standards are sustained.
Recruitment process
Note: If shortlisted, you may be invited to complete further stages including telephone or Teams conversations, online assessments, employment history and references checks, and interviews or role-based exercises. Offers are subject to satisfactory right to work, references, DBS (where required), safeguarding and other pre-employment checks. We encourage candidates to engage fully with each stage and to prepare with attention to detail.
Benefits and additional information
- We are part of a global group with extensive reach and are committed to employee ownership and the Own It value.
- Benefits include: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pension schemes, employee assistance programme, healthcare and wellbeing benefits, life protection, discounts and other eligible perks (subject to role type and length of service).
- Full benefits package to be confirmed during recruitment.
- Company information: Get Set UK values, mission and the focus on helping people overcome barriers to work.
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