Cambridgeshire RECONNECT Worker

Overview:

We are looking for a Reconnect Worker. This is an exciting new opportunity to join our team.

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 bui 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.

RECONNECT aims to address the health inequalities experienced by those released from prison. The service starts working with people before they leave prison and continues with this work post release when in the community. Our clients have access to a RECONNECT worker who helps them to make the transition to community-based services that will provide the health and care support that they need. RECONNECT service was first announced in the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) and is the biggest new investment in Health and Justice services for the past six years.

You will be responsible for providing a comprehensive, inclusive and bespoke RECONNECT service, including advice and guidance to Forward Trust clients across in HMP Chelmsford being released into Essex.

RECONNECT enables service users to access and sustain supportive interventions upon release from prison, whether that be physical or mental health in addition to general well-being support. The service will offer mentor link in, sign-posting, GP referrals, aftercare support and a connection to the wider Forward community. Following a referral 12-weeks prior to release, the service is to identify the service User’s needs via a robust assessment and then working in partnership with many agencies. A bespoke care plan is created with the client at the centre.

Some of the Key responsibilities of the role are as follows:

• Process referrals and provide updates to referrer on assessment outcome
• Conduct in-depth needs assessment for all suitable referrals
• Maintain contact and support to Service Users as identified in assessment in preparation for and for 6 months post release.
• To support co-ordinator with the recruitment and training of prison peer supporters
• Maintain excellent partnerships with external agencies and key-stakeholders.
• Implement a clear referral pathway including Offender Management in Custody, Family / Self, Prison and Healthcare
• Ensure that a holistic service is delivered safely to our clients in line with individual and team targets.
• Working closely with your colleagues you will discuss and share best practice and fully engage with risk assessment processes to deliver a high quality service safely.
• To make referrals to Forward Trust Meet and Greet service
• Ensuring that service users are fully connected in with local services in preparation for release into the community.

• Good organisational and planning skills
• Flexibility to meet the needs of the service as it develops
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and in a variety of formats
• Ability to represent The Forward Trust in a positive and professional manner
• Experience of delivering structured interventions to service users
• Experience of facilitating groups
• Experience of working within mental health, emotional wellbeing or substance misuse services

• Training and development opportunities
• Flexible working 
• 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)

Diversity at Forward Trust

Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

Please note the closing date for this role is 3rd March 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

NEW TEMPLATE - RECONNECT Cambs worker JD