At a Glance
- Tasks: Support women in the Criminal Justice System to overcome challenges and rebuild their lives.
- Company: Changing Lives, a nationwide charity dedicated to helping those in need.
- Benefits: Join a passionate team, gain valuable experience, and make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and impactful work.
- Why this job: Empower women to break the cycle of crime and create positive change in their lives.
- Qualifications: Strong motivational interviewing skills and knowledge of community services required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About us
Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.
Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.
Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.
About the Service - Criminal Justice Services
Changing Lives delivers a range of projects that support women involved in the Criminal Justice System. We believe that individuals become involved in the Criminal Justice System for a complex range of reasons. Our experience has taught us that to help women stop offending and to rebuild their lives, we must address the underlying causes of crime. Our services are underpinned by an in-depth understanding of trauma and we support women to address challenges such as domestic abuse, homelessness or poor housing, helping women to develop tools to ensure that trauma in their past does not define the rest of their lives. We know that with the right support around them, women so often are able to break the cycle of crisis and crime.
We currently deliver diversion from custody schemes, education, training and employment services, and holistic services to women serving community sentences or following release from custody. We also provide some pre‑release services and have a presence across a number of women’s prisons nationally. Our criminal justice services cover Northumbria, Cleveland, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire.
About the Job
Changing Lives has been commissioned as part of the West Midlands Police & Crime Commission to deliver an early intervention caution diversion programme in Walsall & Wolverhampton. Our Women’s Justice Partnership (WJP) comprises of leading Midlands Charities: Changing Lives, Anawim, Black Country Women’s Aid & Green Square Accord. Anawim are the lead partner for this contract.
There is robust evidence to show that the underlying causes of women’s offending often links to experiences of victimisation and lack of access to appropriate gender‑specific support. Risk of reoffending can be most effectively addressed through access to appropriate community support rather than more punitive disposals in the first instance.
A Conditional Caution can be issued by Police in cases where the offence is considered less serious and the person responsible does not have a significant criminal record. If the person accepting the Conditional Caution successfully completes it, they will then not have to attend Court. Failure to comply however can result in prosecution for the original offence.
We are looking for a dynamic individual who possesses excellent motivational interviewing and engagement skills for this bespoke service across Walsall and West Midlands. The successful candidates will be responsible for identifying individual needs attributed to offending and brokering access into local services to address needs. They will develop referral routes to community interventions, so knowledge of the existing community provision is essential - this includes our own community probation contract. The ability to foster a quick rapport with stakeholders, including service users, commissioners and referrers are vital.
The Diversion Worker will be responsible for undertaking offending needs assessments with women referred to the service, whilst also delivering a motivational intervention alongside, within specific timescales and providing onward referral. All support will be delivered using approaches which are trauma‑informed, non‑judgemental, strengths based and understanding the distinct needs of women.
Feedback to West Midlands Police on compliance and non‑engagement is an essential part of this role, along with the collation of outcomes. Therefore, an eye for detail, excellent IT and time management skills are required.
Specialist Womens Criminal Justice Practitioner in London employer: Changing Lives
Contact Detail:
Changing Lives Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialist Womens Criminal Justice Practitioner in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the criminal justice field, especially those who work with women. Attend events or workshops where you can meet potential colleagues and learn more about the sector.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with someone from Changing Lives, let your enthusiasm for helping women in the criminal justice system shine through. Share your experiences and how they align with our mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding the specific challenges women face in the criminal justice system. Be ready to discuss how your skills can help address these issues and support their journey towards positive change.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Changing Lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Specialist Womens Criminal Justice Practitioner in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for helping others shine through. We want to see your commitment to making a positive change in people's lives, especially for women involved in the Criminal Justice System.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have that aligns with the role. Whether it's working with vulnerable groups or understanding trauma-informed care, we want to know how your background can contribute to our mission.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to identify. Avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised!
How to prepare for a job interview at Changing Lives
✨Know the Organisation Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Changing Lives and its mission. Familiarise yourself with their services, especially those related to women's criminal justice. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you align your answers with their values.
✨Showcase Your Empathy and Understanding
As a Specialist Women's Criminal Justice Practitioner, empathy is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported individuals facing challenges. Highlight how you approached these situations with compassion and understanding, as this aligns with the charity's ethos.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care
Given the focus on trauma-informed approaches, be ready to discuss what this means in practice. Share your insights on how trauma can affect behaviour and how you would apply this understanding in your role. This will demonstrate your readiness to engage with the complexities of the job.
✨Prepare Questions That Matter
Interviews are a two-way street! Think of thoughtful questions to ask about the role, the team, and the impact of the services provided. This shows that you're not just interested in the position, but also in how you can contribute to the organisation's goals.