Women’s Support Mentor – Justice Services

Position: Women’s Support Mentor – Justice Services

Location: Flexible working – home based with travel to custodial settings in Country Durham

Salary: £25,664 + excellent benefits

Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working)

Status: Fixed Term to 31 March 2027

Closing date: 8 May 2026

 

We’re recruiting Mentor Advocates to work with women in the justice system across the North East.

This role will suit people already supporting women facing multiple challenges — including housing, trauma, dependency and involvement in the justice system – who want to work in a more relational, long-term way.

This isn’t a typical support role

You’ll work with women in the justice system who are often managing multiple, overlapping challenges – housing, trauma, finances, dependency, and more.

This role is about building trust, understanding the full picture, and staying alongside someone as they take steps to move forward.

The opportunity

The Wise Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and third sector organisations, delivers the Women’s Service across the North East – supporting almost 2,000 women in custody and in the community.

As a Women’s Support Mentor (known internally as a Mentor Advocacy), you will work alongside women on probation and in prison, using our Relational Mentoring approach to provide consistent, person-centred support.

You’ll engage across systems – probation, prisons, and local services – helping women navigate complex situations and access the support they need to build stability.

What you’ll be doing

Building trusted, consistent relationships with women in custody and the community

Supporting individuals facing multiple and interconnected challenges

Working across prison and probation environments

Coordinating with partners to unlock support around housing, finance, wellbeing and more

Helping women take practical steps towards stability and progression

What this role really involves

Working in custodial settings as well as in the community

Supporting people whose situations can be complex, changeable and at times challenging

Staying alongside individuals over time – not just providing one-off support

Balancing empathy with a focus on practical outcomes

If you’re looking for a purely office-based or short-term intervention role, this is unlikely to be the right fit.

What we’re looking for

Experience supporting people with complex needs (justice, housing, community, or similar)

Ability to build trust and maintain professional boundaries

Strong communication skills

Confidence working across different environments, including prisons

A realistic, grounded approach to supporting change

Experience in mentoring or custodial settings is advantageous, but not essential.

Additional requirements

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (essential)

Willingness to travel regularly across County Durham

Ability to pass enhanced Level 1 prison vetting

Home broadband suitable for remote working

Why join the Wise Group

The Wise Group works alongside people facing some of the most complex challenges, using a relational approach that focuses on long-term stability rather than short-term fixes.

This role is part of a wider effort to improve outcomes for women in the justice system – working across services to create more joined-up, effective support.

View the Role Profile on our website for full details about this opportunity.