Suffolk RECONNECT Trainee - 12 Month FTC - Suffolk

Want to start a meaningful career where every day helps change lives? We’re looking for a Reconnect Trainee to join our RECONNECT Team, working across HMP Highpoint, HMP Hollesley Bay and HMP Warren Hill on a full-time basis (35 hours per week). This is a 12 month Level 2 apprenticeship, giving you hands-on experience, structured learning, and the chance to build a career in health, justice, and community support.

You’ll support people as they prepare for release and transition back into the community, helping them access vital services and stay connected to support that improves health, wellbeing, and stability.

What you’ll be doing

• Processing referrals and sharing assessment outcomes
• Supporting in-depth needs assessments and care planning
• Maintaining contact with service users for up to 6 months post-release
• Linking individuals into health, substance use, and wellbeing services
• Coordinating referrals to community support prior to release
• Keeping accurate case notes, assessments, and risk documentation
• Supporting peer mentor recruitment and training where required

About RECONNECT

RECONNECT supports people leaving prison to build and sustain positive change. Through personalised care planning and ongoing support, we help ensure continuity of care into the community, whether that’s physical health, mental health, substance use support, or wider wellbeing. You’ll work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure individuals receive safe, consistent, and joined-up support.

What we’re looking for

No prior experience is required, this is a trainee role designed for development. We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about supporting people with complex needs
• Strong in communication and organisation
• Comfortable working in a sensitive environment
• Willing to learn admin systems and accurate record keeping

You’ll gain experience in assessments, case management, safeguarding, and multi-agency working, alongside your apprenticeship qualification.

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. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity.

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)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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.

To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here.

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

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 follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.