About Independent Monitoring Boards

Members of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) are unpaid public appointees (volunteers) who provide statutory, independent scrutiny of the treatment and care of people in prisons and immigration detention. There are approximately 1100 IMB members, organised into around 130 Boards, each with its own Chair. They are appointed by ministers and operate in prisons and young offender institutions (run by HM Prisons and Probation Service - MOJ), in immigration removal centres, various short-term holding facilities and on repatriation flights for those being removed from the UK (run by the Home Office).

Lay Observers (LOs) are also unpaid volunteers appointed by ministers, whose responsibility it is to check on the welfare of individuals in court custody suites and while they are traveling in the care and custody of escort contractors.

As independent scrutiny bodies, IMBs and LOs have a growing public profile and play an increasingly crucial role in providing assurance to ministers and the public on the conditions and treatment of those held in detention. They are members of the UK’s National Preventive Mechanism, under the UK’s international human rights obligations to prevent torture and other ill-treatment of people in detention. They work closely with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who also play a key part in the oversight and assurance of places of detention. The findings of IMBs and LOs are fed into the performance and scrutiny information used by government to contribute to prisons and immigration detention policy and process changes, in line with the government’s commitment to ensuring safe, humane and effective places of detention.

About the role

The Communications team sits within the Impact team, alongside colleagues working in policy and publications. We work closely together and support one another as needed, ensuring a joined‑up and collaborative approach across the team. We welcome new ideas and encourage thoughtful and practical ways of developing and improving our work. We’re looking for someone who is keen to learn, works well with others, and is happy to share ideas and contribute positively to the team’s work.

This role will work closely with the Communications Manager to support the delivery of both internal and external communications across the organisation. You will play a key part in helping to ensure our messaging is clear, consistent, and effective, supporting engagement with members and stakeholders.

We are looking for a confident and versatile communications all‑rounder who is able to operate effectively from the outset and support a wide range of communications activity. You will be comfortable working across different channels and formats and able to adapt your approach to meet the needs of varied audiences, from internal colleagues to external stakeholders.

You will be organised and proactive, able to manage competing priorities, and confident working independently while also contributing positively as part of a team. You will have a good understanding of how clear, timely, and well‑judged communications support organisational objectives, and be keen to learn, develop, and take on new challenges.

The role requires a degree of flexibility in working hours on occasion, for example to support external events or engagement activity. There may also be occasional travel to places of detention when required, to support relationships with IMB members and to develop an understanding of the context in which members carry out their work.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our teams and welcome applications from less represented groups. We do not require you to have experience of working in either immigration detention or prison settings.

Key Responsibilities

Will include, but may not be limited to:

• Working with volunteers to draft and finalise press releases to accompany annual reports

• Ensuring annual reports are published to the IMB website on the expiry of the non-publication embargo and managing the circulation of annual reports to contact lists, via online platform Brevo

• Managing the receipt of, and publication of ministerial responses to reports

• Supporting the Communications Manager with media enquiries

• Providing advice to Boards, on media queries, this includes presenting at bi-annual Board leaders training events

• Organisation and running of virtual recruitment events

• Support drafting and publishing the monthly CEO update for IMB members and newsletters for the Lay Observers

• Supporting colleagues with the circulation of ad-hoc communications to volunteers

• Leading on ensuring our external facing websites (IMB and Lay Observers) contain appropriate information for stakeholders and members of the public

• Working with colleagues to adapt and develop appropriate content for internal members’ intranets (IMB and Lay Observers)

• Management of shared advertising materials to raise awareness of IMBs in prisons and immigration detention facilities

• Supporting regional colleagues with recruitment outreach, including scheduling radio interviews, creation and editing of magazine adverts and press releases focused on local publications

• Monitoring of media coverage relating to the IMB and Lay Observers and maintaining an awareness of media coverage of the justice system, in particular places of detention

• Acting as a shared point of contact for day-to-day communications matters, dealing with a wide range of queries from external organisations and IMB members

• Working with colleagues to design a calendar of member learning and engagement events, covering relevant issues to volunteers

• Working collaboratively with the IMB staff group and supporting the Publications Team and Policy Team when necessary

• Creation of digital imagery to support social media

• Manage the IMB Instagram and Facebook page

• Occasional support to colleagues with in-person events

• Occasional visits to Boards to support relationships with members.
  
  

Essential criteria

• Experience of using content management systems, primarily WordPress, or willingness to learn

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Experience working with the media, preferably within the criminal justice sector

• Ability to tailor messages to specific audiences to maximise impact and effectiveness

• Experience of creating material to attract attention and pass on key messages

• Ability to work well as part of a team

• Experience of managing multiple responsibilities and working with numerous teams

• Ability to engage with a range of stakeholders, and deal with difficult situations and challenging relationships

• Ability to manage multiple projects, work to tight deadlines and under pressure

• Good all-round IT skills and ability to take advantage of technology including Canva and social media

• Experience of working with volunteers to deliver a service, or a genuine interest in being involved in such work

• Experience of writing and editing for websites and newsletters desired, or adapting copy for different audiences