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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week (Full and part time hours available)
Job ref
186-808-24-FS
Employer
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Westminster House / Heatherdene
Town
Nottingham
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust logo

Reconnect Community Support Worker

Band 3

Job overview

We are looking for 2 innovative and motivated Community Support Workers to work in the Reconnect Service across HMP Ranby, HMP Nottingham and into the community.  

The Reconnect Service aims to improve the continuity of care of vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave and support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison.

Whilst not a service which provides clinical interventions, the Reconnect Service offers liaison, advocacy, signposting and support to those leaving prison to support engagement in community- based health and support services.  This approach aims to support the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours.

The Reconnect Service aims to increase access to and uptake up of healthcare or relevant support services for individuals who have health vulnerabilities upon release from prison or immigration removal centres who would otherwise struggle to engage.  Key to this service success is close partnership working with justice agencies, health and social care and third sector voluntary agencies.

If you would like a challenge and the opportunity to be an inclusive, creative practitioner, this job may be for you.

Main duties of the job

This is a new development within Notts Healthcare and is a great opportunity to work on developing and establishing a vital service for service users leaving prison, creating the best opportunity for supporting their engagement within the community and helping to break the cycle of offending. 

The Community Support Worker role is an integral part of the Reconnect Service and will enhance the work of the Reconnect Team in supporting people whilst in custody in preparation for release into the community and once in the community.  The community support offered will aim to support service users to engage with services such as physical health, mental health, housing etc. and will include support to attend appointments with agencies referred to supporting an effective transition into the community and health equalities.  All work will be carried out under the supervision of the Team Manager/Reconnect Practitioners.

The service works with individuals who are ordinarily resident in Nottingham.  The service has a base in HMP Ranby and HMP Nottingham, however the staff member will be expected to support individuals who are residing in Nottingham/Nottinghamshire and potentially in range of HMPs across the country (who will be returning to Nottingham or Nottinghamshire).

Working for our organisation

Nottinghamshire Healthcare employs over 10,000 colleagues who help #MakeADifference every day. We provide intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. Care is delivered from over 120 sites within the community from acute settings and across low, medium and high secure environments including prisons.

As one of the largest mental health and community trusts in the East Midlands and one of the biggest employers in Nottinghamshire.  We are also home to national and regional services such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We are committed to flexible and agile working, including the opportunity to join our bank.

Your health and wellbeing is our priority and as such we invest significantly in this via our in-house Occupational Health Service, Staff Counselling Service and Health and Wellbeing Team.

We offer a number of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) groups, our Green Champions Network, Freedom to Speak Up Network. Health and Wellbeing Champions Network and Menopause Champions.  We provide care to a diverse range of communities and are passionate about supporting diversity and inclusion in the Trust.

If you believe in our values of Trust, Honesty, Respect, Compassion and Teamwork, then we would love to hear from you!

#TeamNottsHC

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This new service has 2 Community Support Worker posts and you will be one of 3 CSWs working in the team.  The role is primarily focussed on the community support, however there will be some expectation of working with people in prison, prior to their release.  The role will involve outreach to service users in the community, local Nottingham/Nottinghamshire and supporting those in prison establishments across the country who, at the end of their sentence, are returning to the Nottingham area.

Screening/team held caseload - To support the team’s screening process for all referrals into the service.  To support the team’s assessment of individuals and develop a plan of support in conjunction with the service user and the wider Reconnect Team. 

Active engagement - Be actively involved in the assertive follow up of individuals with a range of vulnerabilities. Working with Reconnect Practitioners and criminal agency staff, social care, health and voluntary, charitable agencies.

Caseload - To work with team-held caseload of service users with a range of complex vulnerabilities and to ensure support plans are formulated acted upon and reviewed. To support service user engagement, the post holder will be expected to be involved in the development of collaborative support packages/support plans.  They will be expected to implement, promote and evaluate safe, creative and effective support plans in collaboration with the patient’s diverse needs, their carers and other professionals. 

Develop good working relationships - To effectively liaise and develop links with services within the prison setting and, in the community, to establish effective through care and after care pathways.  

Appointed applicants will have access to robust clinical and managerial supervision and career development opportunities.  The service is committed to ensuring the staff in the team are well equipped to work with the complex service users accessing the service and so training is well supported and there is a range of access to robust supervision.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Level 1 or equivalent
  • GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English
Desirable criteria
  • Other qualifications relevant to post

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of using computer systems.
  • Experience of working with individuals of all ages within a healthcare/social care setting.
  • Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services.
  • Experience of communicating with range of other agencies within health/social care settings.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of the Criminal justice system.

skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to keep accurate records on computer system
  • Ability to motivate others.
  • Ability to communicate to a range of people on a range of matters, in a range of forms.
  • Ability to identify own development needs with support of others.
  • Ability to identify risk and to take responsibility for self and others in ensuring legislation, policies and procedures are followed in the work place.
  • Ability to actively participate in development of the service.
  • Skills in communicating with people with a range of communication needs
Desirable criteria
  • Other skills relevant to the post.
  • Evidence of decision-making skills.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates an awareness of wide range of vulnerabilities inclusive of mental health/LD needs
  • Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals
  • Has an awareness of health and safety issues
Desirable criteria
  • Awareness of the Reconnect Service

Contractual

Essential criteria
  • A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010

Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Employers for CarersApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jacqui Smith
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07812 460880
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