Supporting People on Probation Practitioner

Forward Trust; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development opportunities

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Wellbeing days

Blue Light Card

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Forward Trust in Colchester is seeking a dedicated Supporting People on Probation Navigator to help adult men and young men progress in the community. You will deliver tailored support, complete assessments, and develop personalised care plans in collaboration with probation teams.

This role requires travel within the local area, strong communication, and a person-centred approach. You will work as part of a team to monitor progress, report safeguarding concerns, and support successful

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people in probation or similar setting.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel within the commutable distance to Colchester.
• Good organisational skills to manage a caseload and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload, completing assessments and developing personalised support and care plans.
• Deliver one-to-one interventions and group sessions focused on wellbeing, relationships, lifestyle and social inclusion.
• Support individuals transitioning from prison into the community with partner agencies.
• Monitor progress, record outcomes and maintain case management records.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns, ensuring safety and wellbeing.
• Work with colleagues and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes.

Skills

Caseload management

Assessments

Interventions

Group sessions

Communication skills

Collaboration

Travel mobility

Job description

Supporting People on Probation Practitioner

• Supporting People on Probation Practitioner

About The Role

Are you passionate about helping people make positive changes and build a brighter future?

Join us as a Supporting People on Probation Navigator in Colchester, Essex, working full-time (35 hours per week) to support adult men and young men in the criminal justice system. You’ll help people improve their wellbeing, strengthen relationships and develop the skills they need to move forward. Candidates must be able to travel to Colchester or live within a commutable distance.

Working alongside practitioners, probation teams and partner agencies, you’ll deliver tailored support that addresses individual needs, helping people overcome challenges and make lasting changes in their lives.

What you’ll be doing

• Manage a caseload, completing assessments and developing personalised support and care plans.
• Deliver one-to-one interventions and group sessions focused on emotional wellbeing, relationships, lifestyle and social inclusion.
• Support individuals transitioning from prison into the community, working closely with partner agencies to promote continuity of care.
• Monitor progress, record outcomes and maintain accurate case management records.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those you support.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes.

What we’re looking for

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and motivate people.
• A person-centred approach, with the understanding of the challenges faced by people in the criminal justice system.
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and meet deadlines.
• Confidence working collaboratively with a range of professionals and partner agencies.
• Flexibility to travel to other local projects when required, with occasional evening or weekend work.

All probation-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 6- 16 weeks to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.

Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Support for Families – We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks' continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace. If you'd like more information about our family-friendly benefits, please contact our Recruitment Team at [e-mail]
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Please note that some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around 3 years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances. When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.