Peer Mentor Co-ordinator

Ministry of Justice; Burton upon Trent; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body in the United Kingdom is looking for a Peer Mentor Coordinator to manage recruitment, training, and ongoing support for Peer Mentors in the region. You will play a vital role in enhancing Peer Mentor capabilities, ensuring effective service delivery, and promoting the involvement of Peer Mentors across various rehabilitative settings. This position offers benefits such as a generous leave policy, pension plan, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Annual Leave – 25 days increasing to 30 days

Pension coverage through LGPS

Extensive training and development opportunities

Employee-run support networks

Family Friendly policies

Flexible benefits

Paid parental leave

Free annual sight tests

Qualifications

• Desirable lived experience of prison and/or probation.
• Understanding of the Probation Service's role in Criminal Justice.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience working flexibly to achieve performance targets.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and assess new Peer Mentors across the region.
• Manage and supervise Peer Mentors, offering support and coaching.
• Develop a comprehensive Peer Mentoring service locally.
• Promote Peer Mentor involvement among rehabilitative services.

Skills

Lived experience of prison and/or probation

Communication skills

IT skills

Ability to work under pressure

Team collaboration

Understanding of risk management

Evaluation of practice

Diversity and inclusiveness advocacy

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Responsibilities

• Recruitment, assessment and training of new Peer Mentors across the region.
• Ongoing management and supervision of Peer Mentors, including wellbeing support, coaching and development work to improve Peer Mentor skills and capability.
• Supporting the establishment of a Development and Progression Pathway for all Peer Mentors.
• Working with Peer Mentors and colleagues to develop, review and harmonise the Peer Mentoring arrangements across the region, implementing ‘Peer‑Led Work: Conditions of Success’.
• Delivery of Peer Mentor‑led activities in a variety of group based settings to include where appropriate (list not exhaustive):
• Probation offices
• Approved Premises
• Community Payback inductions and group sessions
• External providers of women’s services
• Identifying further opportunities for the involvement of Peer Mentors.
• Liaising with Commissioned Rehabilitative Service Providers to identify opportunities for Peer Mentor involvement and employment.
• Promoting the Going Forward into Employment scheme across the region and with Peer Mentors.
• Supporting the regional Engaging People on Probation (EPOP) Plan, including:
• Maximising opportunities to capture PoP insights
• Establishing local PoP Focus Groups
• Establishing a regional Lived Experience Panel
• Liaising with the EPOP Contract Supplier as required.
• To manage and maintain systems to provide a comprehensive Peer Mentoring service in the local area.
• To assist in the development and delivery of the regional Peer Mentoring Delivery Plan.
• To attend Team Meetings with regional counterparts.
• To contribute to the development of the national Peer Mentoring picture as required.
• Champion the value of Peer Mentors, and of the Engaging PoP agenda, to colleagues and partners.

Qualifications

• Desirable – lived experience of prison and/or probation.
• Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi‑disciplinary setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence engagement with victims.
• Understanding of risk management and assessment, understanding of multi‑agency risk assessment and management procedures.
• Evidence of ability to evaluate practice.
• Evidence of ability to provide a practice perspective on policy development.
• Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines.
• Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve performance targets.
• Experience of contributing to the provision of effective administration and information systems.
• Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvement in quality and efficiency.
• Able to demonstrate well developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports.
• Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both internally and externally.
• Ability to implement the service’s health and safety policies.
• Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Good written and communication skills, including familiarity with report writing at senior levels and writing communications that are appropriate at all levels of literacy.
• Proven ability to build effective working relationships, both within a team and through networking with other organisations to achieve an aim.
• Show a capacity to work independently and the ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Good IT skills including proven experience of using Word, Excel and Outlook in a similar work environment.

Benefits

• Annual Leave – 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays.
• Pension – The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).
• Training – The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks – The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed directly to senior management.
• Family Friendly policies – Opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Flexible benefits – Voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• Paid parental leave – Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.