Supporting People on Probation Navigator in Luton

We are looking for more people who share our vision to join our Supporting People on Probation Team in Bedfordshire. You might have worked in prisons, probation, police or the courts before. You could be a psychology graduate, life coach, counsellor or psychotherapist. You might have worked in education, social services, health, or social prescribing, maybe you were or are a foster carer. Perhaps right now you are able to bring different life skills and experiences that are transferable. The important thing is that you really enjoy working with others, are good at building rapport, are passionate about making a difference, and believe that everyone can turn their life around.

Join us at Forward Trust, make a difference to individual lives whilst building your career in a leading Charity who prove every day that "another life is possible". We believe that everyone can live a fulfilling life, whatever their past. Our People on Probation Interventions help adult men understand their lifestyle and associates, their family and significant other relationships, their emotional wellbeing, and how to overcome social exclusion. You will walk alongside them as they navigate the consequences of their crimes on their relationships and themselves, leave behind relationships that lead to offending, and repair and build relationships that move them Forward to another life.

In Bedfordshire we work alongside the Probation Service within the Bedford and Luton probation service offices. We may also be required to work alongside prison Resettlement Teams in prisons within HMP Bedford. A full UK driving license is desirable for this role as travel between venues is essential.

A work day for you might include:

• Facilitating a group music intervention
• Checking on the progress of a community allotment project
• Meeting someone prior to being released from prison
• Delivering a 1:1 with a Service User experiencing family breakdown
• Taking someone to the Doctors for the first time in their adult life
• Finishing the day taking the winning penalty in a game of football

It's important work, and with it comes responsibility. You will have close relationships with Probation Practitioners and will agree with them and your Service Users their Action Plans and interventions. These form part of your Service Users enforceable sentence conditions. Some of your clients are vulnerable in their mental and physical health, and for all of them there are consequences if they are unsuccessful. Therefore, you will make every contact matter and keep excellent records. We provide training and support, but we need you to understand and be highly motivated to engage with all aspects of this role right from your application.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

• You will be based within the Bedfordshire probation delivery offices and will also be required to travel to the various probation delivery offices as well as to HMP Bedford.
• Travel between these locations is essential.
• Some interventions may be delivered virtually to meet the need of the Service User; however, this is an in‑person service, and you should expect to attend a work location daily.
• Some evening work.
• Belief in the ability of anyone to change, that another life is possible.
• A genuine passion for helping others and an ability to form strong working alliances with Service Users, Colleagues, Probation Practitioners and all stakeholders.
• Transferable skills or direct experience of needs and risk assessment, action planning, delivering 1:1 and group interventions, keeping detailed accurate records, safeguarding self and others, taking part in continuous professional development.
• Trustworthy, a team player, confident and safe when working independently.
• Creativity, collaboration and flexibility.
• Strives to meet and exceed own and shared targets as well as high standards for delivery.

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)

Diversity at Forward Trust:

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio‑economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work:

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding:

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follows safer recruitment practices and supports a culture of openness and accountability.