Reentry & Health Support Practitioner

Forward Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Blue Light Card

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Contributory Pension Scheme – employer

Death in Service

Job summary

The Forward Trust is recruiting a RECONNECT Practitioner to support people leaving prison at HMP Chelmsford and across Essex. You will manage caseloads, assess needs and create person-centred care plans to aid health, wellbeing and community reintegration.

You will collaborate with GPs, mental health and substance misuse services, and external agencies to secure appropriate support and successful transitions post-release.

Qualifications

• Has relevant lived experience of physical or mental ill health, substance misuse and/or the criminal justice system, or has significant experience supporting people with these needs.
• Is passionate about helping people make positive changes and successfully transition from prison into the community.
• Can build trusting, respectful and professional relationships with people who may have complex or multiple needs.
• Has experience of completing assessments, identifying support needs and developing person-centred plans.
• Is confident managing a busy and diverse caseload.
• Has good knowledge of, or experience working with, health, wellbeing and community services.
• Understands the importance of safeguarding, risk assessment and safe working practices.

Responsibilities

• Managing a busy and varied caseload of people preparing for release from prison.
• Processing referrals and providing feedback to referrers following assessments.
• Completing comprehensive, person-centred health and wellbeing assessments.
• Working collaboratively with service users to develop individualised care and support plans.
• Identifying health, wellbeing and social needs and helping individuals access appropriate support.
• Providing ongoing support for up to six months post-release.
• Supporting people to successfully reintegrate into the community following release.
• Helping service users access and engage with GPs, mental health services, substance misuse services and other community healthcare providers.
• Making appropriate referrals and providing effective signposting to relevant services.
• Supporting individuals to connect with the wider Forward Trust community.
• Making referrals to the Forward Trust Meet and Greet service and supporting Meet at the Gate releases where appropriate.
• Ensuring service users are fully connected with local services before and following their release.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of effective referral pathways with internal and external services.
• Working closely with Offender Management in Custody, prison healthcare, families, self-referrals and external agencies.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with partner organisations and key stakeholders.

Skills

Lived experience related to health/crj

People-focused

Relationship building

Assessment experience

Job description

The Forward Trust is recruiting a RECONNECT Practitioner to support people leaving prison at HMP Chelmsford and across Essex. You will manage caseloads, assess needs and create person-centred care plans to aid health, wellbeing and community reintegration.

You will collaborate with GPs, mental health and substance misuse services, and external agencies to secure appropriate support and successful transitions post-release.