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- Tasks: Support individuals transitioning from custody to community health services with tailored care plans.
- Company: Join Forward, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering lives and breaking cycles of crime.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and a contributory pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in mental health or substance misuse services and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Full UK driving licence and vehicle access essential; excellent career growth opportunities await.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 33600 £ per year.
Location: Bedfordshire
Salary: £24,000
Vacancy Type: Permanent
About The Role
We are Forward, a social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime and addiction so they can move forward and live fulfilling lives. Our services focus on supporting individuals to make positive and lasting change through compassionate, person-centred support. The RECONNECT service is a care after custody programme that improves the continuity of care for people leaving prison or an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) who have identified health needs. We work with individuals up to 12 weeks before their release and for up to six months post-release, ensuring they can successfully transition into community-based health and wellbeing services while maintaining the progress made while in custody. Our East of England RECONNECT service supports adults aged 18 and over who are due to be released from custody within 12 weeks, or within 28 days post-release, and who require ongoing healthcare or wellbeing support.
As a RECONNECT Practitioner, you will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive, inclusive and bespoke RECONNECT service to individuals preparing for release from HMP Bedford, HMP Woodhill and Yarl’s Wood IRC. Working closely with service users prior to release and throughout their transition back into the community, you will identify individual needs through robust assessments and develop personalised care plans. These plans will ensure individuals are connected to appropriate health, wellbeing and community services to support long-term recovery and stability. You will work collaboratively with prison staff, healthcare professionals, community organisations and other partner agencies to ensure that individuals receive seamless support. The role requires strong relationship-building skills and a proactive approach to coordinating services that safeguard and sustain health and wellbeing outcomes.
Key responsibilities include:
- Processing referrals and providing updates to referrers on assessment outcomes
- Conducting in-depth needs assessments for all appropriate referrals
- Developing and implementing personalised, SMART care plans centred on the needs of the service user
- Maintaining regular contact and support with service users in preparation for release and for up to six months post-release
- Ensuring service users are effectively connected to GP services, healthcare support, mentoring, aftercare and wider community services
- Building and maintaining strong partnerships with prisons, healthcare providers and external agencies
- Implementing clear referral pathways including Offender Management in Custody, Prison Healthcare, and Family or Self-referrals
- Delivering structured interventions and using motivational interviewing techniques in both one-to-one and group settings
- Supporting the safe delivery of services by actively engaging with risk assessment and safeguarding processes
- Maintaining accurate records and using databases to collect and report data for audit, research and service monitoring
About You
We are looking for a compassionate and motivated professional who is committed to supporting individuals as they rebuild their lives after custody. You will have experience working with people facing complex challenges and be confident in delivering person-centred support within multi-agency environments. You will bring strong assessment, communication and organisational skills, along with the ability to build trust and maintain professional relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. To be successful in this role you will have:
- Experience working within mental health, emotional wellbeing or substance misuse services
- Experience conducting comprehensive assessments and developing tailored SMART care plans
- Experience delivering structured interventions with service users
- Experience using motivational interviewing techniques in both one-to-one and group settings
- Strong IT and database skills to support case management and reporting
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with service users and partner agencies
- Experience working collaboratively with partner organisations to achieve positive outcomes
- Good organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage a varied caseload
- Flexibility to respond to the evolving needs of the service
A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle is essential for this role.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- 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)
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
RECONNECT Worker Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes employer: Forward Trust
Contact Detail:
Forward Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land RECONNECT Worker Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field, attend local events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and understanding their mission. Tailor your responses to show how your values align with theirs, especially in supporting individuals post-custody.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Whether it's through mock interviews or casual chats with friends, being able to articulate your experiences and passion for the role is key.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace RECONNECT Worker Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for helping others shine through. We want to see how committed you are to supporting individuals in their journey towards recovery and stability.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills. We’re looking for specific examples of how you've worked with complex challenges and delivered person-centred support.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your writing clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and how they align with the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Trust
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the RECONNECT Worker role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and the specific needs of individuals transitioning from custody. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the job.
✨Showcase Your Compassionate Approach
Since this role is all about supporting individuals facing complex challenges, be prepared to share examples of how you've demonstrated compassion and empathy in previous roles. Highlight any experiences where you've successfully built trust with service users or collaborated with multi-agency teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle sensitive situations. Think of specific instances where you've conducted assessments or developed care plans, and be ready to discuss your thought process and outcomes.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, the types of partnerships they have with other organisations, or how they measure success in their programmes. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.