At a Glance
- Tasks: Support adults in prison to improve their health and wellbeing through peer support.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking cycles of crime and addiction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity to work across multiple prison sites and grow within a dynamic team.
- Why this job: Empower others while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Passion for health and wellbeing, strong communication skills, and ability to motivate others.
Regional Peer Co-ordinator
Salary: £16,200 per annum About The Role We are looking for a Peer Coordinator to join our Integrated Substance Misuse Service, working within an integrated healthcare framework to support adults aged 18 and over who use drugs and/or alcohol.
The Integrated Substance Misuse Service provides a combination of clinical, psychosocial substance misuse, health and wellbeing interventions and accredited treatment programmes for people entering prison who have been identified as having an alcohol or drug problem.
As a Peer Coordinator, you will play an important role in supporting the service and the prison to develop a strong peer support network, helping service users to take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
What You'll Be Doing
* As a Peer Coordinator, you will
- Champion the Integrated Substance Misuse Service within the prison.
- Support and work alongside the wider Substance Misuse Services team.
- Train and support service users to become Peer Supporters.
- Develop and support peer-led interventions across all wings of the prison.
- Support Peer Supporters to engage with and assist other service users.
- Develop and support Health & Wellbeing Champions within the prison.
- Encourage Health & Wellbeing Champions to motivate and support their peers to take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
- Support Champions to listen to and understand the issues and concerns raised by other service users.
- Signpost service users to relevant health, wellbeing and support services within the prison.
- Support Health & Wellbeing Champions to provide interventions to their peers, where agreed with the prison.
- Build and strengthen links between the Integrated Substance Misuse Service and service users within the prison.
- Promote positive engagement with health, wellbeing and substance misuse services.
- Work collaboratively with prison staff, colleagues and other services to ensure effective support for service users.
- Work across multiple prison sites, which may include HMP High Down and HMP Downview.
- Travel between prison sites as required.
- Work flexibly, including some evening and weekend shifts on a rota basis, with reasonable notice. What We're Looking For We are looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Able to build positive and professional relationships with service users.
- A confident communicator who can engage and motivate others.
- Able to encourage individuals to take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
- Comfortable supporting and developing others through training and peer support.
- Able to work effectively with people from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
- Organised and able to coordinate peer support activities across the prison.
- Able to work collaboratively as part of a wider integrated team.
- Committed to promoting positive health and wellbeing within a prison environment.
- Able to identify appropriate services and support individuals to access them through effective signposting.
- Flexible and adaptable to the needs of the service.
- Willing and able to travel between prison sites when required.
- Available to work occasional evening and weekend shifts as part of a rota.
The Peer Coordinator role is vital in strengthening the connection between the Integrated Substance Misuse Service and service users within the prison.
By developing Peer Supporters and Health & Wellbeing Champions, you will help create opportunities for service users to support one another, share concerns, access appropriate services and take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing while in custody.
About Us 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 build 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.
Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.
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
Locations
Regional Peer Co-ordinator in Kent, Sutton employer: Forward Trust
The Forward Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome the challenges of crime and addiction. Located in Hertfordshire, we offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, flexible working arrangements, and comprehensive training and development opportunities. Our commitment to social impact, combined with family-friendly policies and a collaborative environment, makes us an ideal place for passionate professionals looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Peer Co-ordinator in Kent, Sutton
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Forward Trust.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Forward Trust!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Forward Trust, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Forward Trust or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Peer Co-ordinator in Kent, Sutton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Forward Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Forward Trust! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Trust
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
