Unplanned Release Coordinator
Location: Brixton
Salary: £30,082 per annum plus benefits
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
Advertising End Date: 07 Aug 2025
We are currently recruiting for a Unplanned Release Co-ordinator to work within a team providing recovery orientated Health and Wellbeing Services to service users aged 18 and over at HMP Brixton.
Here at Forward Trust, we deliver a complex range of drug and alcohol services in the unique prison environment.
Our support includes providing advice, health and wellbeing, motivational work, clinical services, and a wider range of group work and treatment programmes.
The Forward Trust services which are delivered within prison settings are commissioned by NHS England and are delivered in partnership with primary healthcare providers and HMPPS. Integration and partnership are integral to the work we do.
We believe that everyone can live a fulfilling life, whatever their past. Our work in prisons aims to support those affected by drug or alcohol issues to create lasting change and reduce dependency, homelessness, unemployment, and re-offending.
About the role:
HMP Brixton is a dynamic and forward-thinking prison which accommodates a diverse and complex population of individuals both sentenced and/or remanded from courts across London. Services are designed to deliver psychosocial interventions and accredited group programmes.
This role aims to offer transitional support (working both inside and outside of the prison setting) for those engaged with the Substance Misuse team at HMP Brixton. In this role you will be expected to support service users and make responsive arrangements on release ensuring effective continuity of care.
As unplanned release coordinator you will focus on enabling continuity of care specifically for service users upon 'unplanned release'. This definition includes both releases with short term notification (recalls/bail release/HDC etc.) and those attending court who are discharged on the day.
Key responsibilities:
* Notification and liaison with a broad range of community services and areas to alert to service user discharge from prison.
* Contingency planning for ongoing care and treatment for service users unexpectedly released from prison.
* Ensuring needs are met with regards to ongoing prescribing on release and at weekends where service users do not have prearranged appointments or release plans in place.
* Establishing a single point of contact for the service relating to short notification release.
* Offering support and transitionary care to service users that support and encourage ongoing engagement in treatment.
* Bridging the gap in terms of communication and information provided to service user regarding ongoing treatment options and arrangements.
* Building better links with courts, community providers, the prison offender management and release/reception teams to ensure smoother transition of care where there is the potential for release (either short term recall, recalculation of sentence or court discharge).
* Contributing to the development of a pathway of care for those being discharge from court.
* Monitoring court attendance lists daily and be prepared to respond to need as arising.
* Working collaboratively with prison offender management teams and administrators to monitor sentence calculation outcomes for short term recalls (up to 28 days).
* Contributing to establishing more effective processes and relationships with community providers to reduced risk and use of bridging scripts (FP10s).
The role will be hybrid working, based mostly on site within HMP Brixton prison and providing outreach to courts and community services which will enable responsive action to be taken in making arrangements for ongoing care for service users who experience 'unplanned release'.
There will be travel required and close working in partnership with prison and healthcare colleagues.
Please note, a driving licence and access to vehicle is essential to the role as you may be required to travel. (please note personal vehicle use will not be permitted for the purposes of escorting service users), reasonable travel expenses will be covered by the organisation.
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.
The ideal candidate will:
* Hold a Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social care or equivalent experience.
* Have a thorough knowledge of Criminal Justice services and an understanding of the issues faced by those experiencing substance misuse treatment.
* Be experienced in providing interventions within a substance misuse service or other relevant healthcare setting and be able to manage their own workload effectively to meet deadlines and targets.
* Have experience of multi-disciplinary working including community-based agencies.
* Possess good organisational, communication and administrative skills, including IT skills.
* Have the ability to set and hold sound professional boundaries and understanding of and commitment to, the principles of equal opportunity and service user confidentiality.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
https://careers.forwardtrust.org.uk/vacancies/80/unplanned-release-coordinator.html