HMP&YOI Resettlement Practitioner

All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The post holder must undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

This is a non-operational role in an establishment that is children and young people facing. The role will have comprehensive training and development to provide high quality outcomes within the Resettlement function. The job holder will be responsible for supporting a cohort of very complex children and young people (CYP) within the secure environment, ensuring they are fully represented during their time in custody and beyond. The role involves preparing and facilitating the CYP’s custodial journey, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve outcomes that offer better opportunities over short, medium, and long-term timelines. This will be underpinned by the Youth Care Service theory of change, engaging CYP in meaningful interactions and roles. The job holder will be a core member of the CYP’s support team, contributing to a holistic, community-based, individualised approach for each CYP. The job holder will plan to ensure resettlement-focused outcomes (education, accommodation, relationships, health, etc.) are supported and driven by the needs of the CYP and supported by community-based partners as well as family and carers. The duties will be performed under the National Standards for Youth Justice and the Youth Justice Board’s case management guidance.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Support the achievement of qualitative and quantitative service standards that are compliant with the Youth Justice Board’s National Minimum Standards, the policy on Care and Management of Young People and the YCS & NHSE/I Behaviour Management Strategy (BMS).
• Ensure compliance with Section 11 duty to safeguard and promote welfare under the Children Act 2004.
• Ensure that Resettlement/Transition Planning reflects identified pathways and outcomes contained within YOT planning materials.
• Meet with the child/young people on arrival within required timescales as set out in the “National Standards for Youth Justice”.
• Manage a caseload of children and young people with short, medium- and long-term targets to achieve healthy resettlement outcomes based on the child’s voice and history.
• Set and review targets with children/young people and those involved in their care, updating case management notes on the appropriate young people specific databases.
• Use the young people databases and systems to identify risks and manage children/young people appropriately.
• Ensure that actions/timescales and relevant actions are taken with regards to accommodation, education and training on release.
• Use motivational interviewing and therapeutic skills to engage children/young people.
• Adopt the principles of Constructive Resettlement, Identity Development and a Child First approach.
• Ensure that Release on Temporary Licences (ROTL), early release (incl. HDC) and late releases are identified and discussed at the earliest opportunity and linked with key partners.
• Actively engage children/young people in the RoTL process by accompanying and supporting them on day release in the community.
• Identify all RoTL opportunities on an individual needs basis.
• Ensure that transition to the young adult/adult estate and probation services is managed effectively throughout the resettlement plan.
• Ensure that life sentence children/young people have all their documentation completed within the required timescales and are effectively supported through the transition to the young adult/adult estate.
• Engage effectively with the Youth Offending Team (YOT), local authority social workers, health providers to promote positive outcomes on release.
• Lead the resettlement/transition planning meeting to prepare and review plans tailored to each child/young person.
• Engage with and contribute to the young person’s Support or Enhanced Team in accordance with the YCS & NHSE/I Behaviour Management Strategy (BMS).
• Integrate Resettlement Planning with the Case Formulation approach as part of the YCS & NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) BMS to support healthy identity development.
• Contribute to Parole Board reports and hearings.
• Engage in guided reflective practice for personal development and well-being where available.
• Liaise with children/young people and relevant stakeholders to action the resettlement/transition plan, gather and exchange information, and investigate conflicting opinions on progress.
• Encourage and support children/young people to participate in education, interventions and activities defined within the resettlement plan, developing strategies to overcome reluctance.
• Work closely with external partners to share best practice and developmental/training opportunities.
• Highlight any child/young person who gives significant concerns by their behaviour to the Resettlement Manager or Orderly Officer, using relevant reporting forms.
• Obtain further information from external agencies to complete a comprehensive resettlement plan suitable to manage risk and reduce likelihood of re-offending.
• Be familiar with and respond to a child/young person’s protected characteristics.
• Contribute to and attend MAPPA Boards and work with all relevant external agencies to protect the public when releasing young people under MAPPA.
• Contribute to relevant meetings convened by other functions to support best outcomes for young people (e.g., Enhanced Support Teams, Rule 49 Reviews, Safeguarding Reviews).
• Complete life and indeterminate sentence paperwork as directed by the manager in compliance with standards and set timescales.
• Facilitate multi-agency planning meetings inclusive of Young People and their parents/carers to assess needs and risks upon custody and release.
• Engage in all training and up-skilling relevant to the resettlement practitioner role.
• Attend and contribute to additional training that enhances the Resettlement Practitioner’s role as part of the Framework for Integrated Care.

Other Tasks

• Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification and quality checking purposes.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with children/young people and staff.
• Understand and comply with national and local policies and legislation.

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Ability

• Analyze complex information to make assessments and decisions.
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing with offenders, professionals, and at hearings/meetings such as Parole Boards and Case Reviews.
• Empathise constructively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Complete all mandatory training as required to support the job role.

Technical

• Undertake relevant role-specific training within the stipulated timescale once the post is taken up.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers hybrid working arrangements where business need allows, blending working from the base location, other MoJ sites, or home. This role can only be worked in the UK. Hybrid working may not suit everyone’s circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate.

Eligibility and EEO

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Interview Stage Assessments

Interview Dates: TBA