Assertive Outreach Worker - Liaison and Diversion Team in Guildford

Catalyst, in partnership with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, are providing the Liaison and Diversion services to the Surrey community. The aim of the service is to provide early intervention for vulnerable people of all ages as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. People will be assessed and individuals with mental health concerns, learning disabilities, substance misuse problems and other vulnerabilities will be identified as soon as possible and offered support, signposting and referrals to appropriate support services based on their needs. Information gained from the assessments will be shared with the relevant youth and criminal justice agencies to enable key decision makers to make more informed decisions on diversion, charging, case-management, effective participation in criminal justice proceedings, remand and sentencing for these vulnerable individuals.

Main duties of the job

• The Assertive Outreach Worker will work with colleagues in the Liaison and Diversion Service to offer person-centred and community based support and interventions, which will improve the health and social care for individuals whilst reducing offending and supporting the best possible decision-making within criminal justice partnerships.

Job responsibilities

• To work with Liaison and Diversion colleagues in locality criminal justice settings to engage with individuals following assessment.
• To actively engage with clients in their local community to support the client achieve their goals following assessment.
• To conduct continuous risk assessments and develop and update risk management plans with partners.
• To adhere to all the policies and practices of the Liaison and Diversion service.
• To provide advice, information and appropriate harm reduction advice based on an individual's needs.
• To support the client to engage with key local services to improve their health and wellbeing e.g. primary care, housing, benefits etc.
• To jointly work with the client's other support workers to ensure client meets any criminal justice requirements.
• To transport clients to appointments as required and support clients at assessments and ongoing appointments, where appropriate and if needed.
• To develop joint working arrangements with key local services, attend joint assessments if required and attend partnerships meetings.
• To support individuals to find employment, undertake training, access support services, and cultivate positive social networks.
• To keep up-to-date records, data and outcomes in line with the service contract.

This is not an exhaustive list of the duties that may need to be undertaken. It may be necessary to undertake other duties in order to fulfil the objectives of the charity.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years community experience of working with adults relating to mental health, learning difficulties, drug and alcohol work, and accommodation issues.

Knowledge and skills

• An understanding of confidentiality, consent, information sharing, in line with GDPR.
• A working knowledge of assertive outreach work, assessing and managing risk and Safeguarding, and policies and procedures supporting these.
• An ability to work with complex clients (alcohol, homelessness, learning difficulties, mental health issues) in the community.
• A good working knowledge of harm reduction approaches.
• Skilled in providing support within a multi-skilled/disciplinary approach within teams and with external organisations.
• A working knowledge of supporting clients to access services such as: hostels/housing, benefits, primary care, mental health, physical health, and treatment services.
• Good communication and written skills and a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping on case management systems.
• Ability to interact effectively with the clients, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries.
• Ability to work to all the policies, procedures and standards of the service and joint working arrangements with statutory and voluntary sector partners.
• A good understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support, and deal with issues in a professional manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and basic Excel.
• Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service.
• Ability to work flexibly across operational hours and evenings where required.
• Ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis.

Qualifications

• A diploma or degree in appropriate subject i.e. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, learning difficulties and/or Health and Social Care (NVQ level 3).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.