Job Description

Do you have experience of working in the Justice Sector?

Have you got experience of providing advice, guidance and support?

Then consider the role of Ex-OffenderSupport Worker at Reed in Partnership!

We are on a mission to be the partner of choice for developing people and their communities. Reed in Partnership is a public service provider specialising in skills training for the long-term unemployed, increasing employment opportunities by working with employers and providing youth services.

Due to the nature of the role and Participants on the programme, we welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and therefore individuals with convictions would be considered. If successful you will be required to pass an Enhanced Level 1 Security Vetting Check. This includes ID and proof of address checks, an Enhanced DBS, referencing and checks of both spent & unspent cautions & convictions. Therefore, your recruiter may ask for this information during the recruitment process, and your start date may be affected by the length of the checks.

What is the role about?

A Support Worker is responsible engaging people serving a community sentence or on licence from prison and providing services to aid them to lead law abiding lives and access mainstream activity. They will provide one-to-one and group support to help programme participants overcome personal and work related barriers.

A Support Worker will work towards targets and guidelines in accordance with the programme obligations and Reed in Partnership processes.

Just some of your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

Attraction

• Attraction includes developing and maintaining strong relationships with front-line staff in referral organisations such as the National Probation Service. Support Workers will conduct outreach activity to promote the programme to staff and potential participants including via events and briefing sessions.

Engagement and Assessment

• Support Workers plan for their appointments with Participants to ensure effective use of time, rapport building and an adequate two way exchange with the Participant. Using a variety of forms and processes, Support Workers will identify Participants goals, aspirations, barriers and needs either directly or through internal and external contacts.

Participant Progression

• Support Workers help participants to identify suitable activities to support progression. Support Workers actively help participants to address their personal and work-related barriers with the aim of progressing them to mainstream provisions (such as drug and alcohol services, employment programmes etc.) following their completion of the programme.

One to One and Group Activity Delivery

• Support Workers deliver specific interventions to participants, on both a one-to-one and a group basis. Activities will vary, depending on a Support Workers caseload, and it is important that each activity represents a positive experience for the participant, ensuring engagement is sustained.

Administration & Quality

• Support Workers ensure accurate and timely recording and review of all Participant details and requirements through every intervention. Adherence to all administrative requirements of programme delivery is mandatory.

Monitoring and Managing Risk

• Support Workers work with those responsible for Offender Management to regularly review participant risk management strategies in order to protect the public and agree work to strengthen participant protective factors.

What’s in it for you?

A generous base salary (pro-rata for part time), and great flexibility with your working schedule, we offer training, development and progression opportunities. You will have access to the range of Reed in Partnership benefits, which include:

• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) plus statutory bank holidays
• Reed Pension Scheme
• Award Winning Management & Leadership training
• Professional & Personal Development Funds
• Bi-annual pay reviews
• Plus much more that can be found Here
• With the chance to dramatically make a difference to the local community, this role offers immense job satisfaction.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone with:

Essential Attainments:

• Experience of working in the Justice Sector, e.g. Ministry of Justice, Probation Service or working with offenders
• Experience of working in a performance target driven environment.
• Experience of providing advice, guidance & support to a caseload of participants.
• A minimum of 2 A-Levels or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.
• GCSE English Language at a minimum of a Grade B (or equivalent Level 2 qualification). OR achievement of a Level 2 in Literacy Assessment at interview stage. OR International Equivalents.
• Support Workers attributes include Achievement Orientation, Accuracy Orientation, Advice and Guidance, Challenge and Resilience, Flexibility and Adaptability, Empathy and Empowerment, Honesty and Integrity, Planning and Decision Making, Selling and Influencing, and Team Orientation.
• Technical skills include strong administration skills, good computer/technology skills, basic numeracy skills and good written communication/record keeping skills.
• Personal interests include interest in people and willingness to learn.
• Personal circumstances include willingness to travel locally (e.g. to meet Participants/Partners).

Desirable Attainments:

• Experience of working in a fast paced environment.
• Degree or relevant qualification. Degree topics may include psychology, sociology, criminology, social care/science. Relevant qualifications would include Information Advice and Guidance NVQs, Brokerage Standard, Social Work qualifications or qualifications relating to work with the specific client groups this role will involve.
• Level 3 or 4 NVQ in Advice & Guidance or equivalent or Probation qualification. xbpsjku
• Fluency in community languages.