We are currently recruiting for a RECONNECT Worker, (hybrid working including custody & community locations in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire).
We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime and addiction to move forward and live fulfilling lives.
RECONNECT is a care after custody service that seeks to improve the continuity of care of people leaving prison or an immigration removal centre (IRC) with an identified health need.
We operate a hybrid model of support where we work with individuals up to 12-weeks before their release and up to six months post-release in order to support the transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison or an IRC.
Our East of England RECONNECT service is available for adults over the age of 18 with a designated healthcare need and who are due to be released from prison or an IRC in the next 12 weeks. We also accept referrals up to 28 days post release.
About the role:
You will be responsible for providing a comprehensive, inclusive and bespoke RECONNECT service, including advice and guidance to Forward Trust clients across the region being released.
RECONNECT enables service users to access and sustain supportive interventions upon release from prison, whether that be physical or mental health in addition to general well-being support.
The service will offer mentor link in, signposting, GP referrals, aftercare support and a connection to the wider Forward community. Following a referral 12-weeks prior to release, the service is to identify the service user’s needs via a robust assessment and then working in partnership with many agencies. A bespoke care plan is created with the client at the centre.
Key responsibilities:
As a RECONNECT worker you will be responsible for contributing to the targets set by Forward and the local commissioners to make this service a success. You will be client facing assessing and responding directly to the needs of the service user, whilst communicating with internal and external agencies to ensure an excellent quality service. You will actively seek Service User feedback both during and after their engagement to identify good practice and ways for the service can improve.
Some of the key responsibilities of the role are as follows:
- Process referrals and provide updates to referrer on assessment outcome
- Conduct in-depth needs assessment for all suitable referrals
- Maintain contact and support to Service Users as identified in assessment in preparation for and for 6 months post release.
- To support co-ordinator with the recruitment and training of prison peer supporters
- Maintain excellent partnerships with external agencies and key-stakeholders.
- Implement a clear referral pathway including Offender Management in Custody, Family / Self, Prison and Healthcare.
- Ensure that a holistic service is delivered safely to our clients in line with individual and team targets.
- Working closely with your colleagues you will discuss and share best practice and fully engage with risk assessment processes to deliver a high quality service safely.
- To make referrals to Forward Trust Meet and Greet service
- Ensuring that service users are fully connected in with local services in preparation for release into the community.
All prison-based roles will require enhanced DBS and HMPPS security vetting. Please note this process can take up to 8-12 weeks. All offers are subject to receiving both HMPPS vetting and DBS clearances.
Checks will require you to provide information on the below:
- Yourself (personal information, financial information, police information, criminal history).
- Your family (parents, parents’ partners, siblings, partner(s), children).
- Co-residents.
- Associations that may cause a conflict of interest with your role or the prison service.
- Background checks across police information systems on you, your family and other associates.
- Credit reference checks.
- Social media and Open-Source checks (these are checks on content about you that's publicly available on the internet to ensure there's nothing linked to you that could undermine public trust and confidence in the prison service).
- Other government and overseas agency or police checks.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience of working within mental health, emotional wellbeing or substance misuse services.
- Experience of delivering structured interventions to service users and experience of facilitating groups, and the ability to represent The Forward Trust in a positive and professional manner.
- Good organisational and planning skills, and the flexibility to meet the needs of the service as it develops, together with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and in a variety of formats.
- A diploma in Health & Social Care or a relevant qualification in the field of mental health or substance misuse would also be desirable together with experience of carrying out comprehensive assessments and the design and implementation of SMART care plans.