Supporting People on Probation Navigator - Staines in Surrey

Make a real difference where it matters most. We are looking for passionate, people-focused individuals to join our Supporting People on Probation Team in Surrey as a Supporting People on Probation Navigator. This is a full-time role (35 hours per week), based across Surrey, working in Staines, Guildford, and Redhill, with occasional work alongside prison resettlement teams at HMP Highdown and HMP Coldingley. A full UK driving licence is desirable as travel between sites is essential.

This isn't about ticking boxes on a CV. You might come from probation, prisons, police, courts, social care, education, health, counselling, coaching, foster caring, or simply bring transferable life experience and a strong belief that people can change. What matters most is your ability to build trust, engage others, and believe that another life is possible.

What you'll be doing:

• Deliver 1:1 support sessions and group interventions
• Support emotional wellbeing, relationships, and social reintegration
• Work closely with Probation Practitioners on structured action plans linked to sentence requirements
• Support service users through real-world challenges, from GP appointments to community activities
• Help prepare individuals for release from prison and resettlement into the community
• Get involved in creative and practical interventions (music groups, allotments, sport, and more)

What we're looking for:

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Passion for supporting behaviour change and rehabilitation
• Resilience, empathy, and a non-judgemental approach
• Confidence working within structured, accountable frameworks
• Ability to work collaboratively with professionals and service users

You will be part of a leading national charity delivering Commissioned Rehabilitative Services for HMPPS. Our Surrey team sits within a wider, vibrant network supporting people across the UK. If you want a role with purpose, challenge, and real impact, this is your chance to help people turn their lives around and build a future beyond their past.

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.

Equally, the wellbeing of the employees who work for us is also important. Joining us as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• BHSF 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. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around 3 years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances. 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, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work: Dependent on the 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.