About this role
Job summary
We are looking for 1 fulltime innovative and motivated Community Support Worker to work in the Reconnect Service across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County.
The Reconnect Service aims to improve the continuity of care for vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave and supporting their transition to community-based services, safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison.
The Reconnect Service does not provide clinical interventions but instead offers liaison, advocacy, signposting and support to men and women leaving the detained estate, to support engagement with community-based health and social services. This approach aims to support the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours.
The Reconnect Service aims to increase access to and uptake of healthcare or relevant support services for individuals who have health vulnerabilities, who would otherwise struggle to engage. Key to the success of the service is close partnership working with justice agencies, health and social care and third sector agencies.
If you would like a challenge and the opportunity to be an inclusive, creative practitioner, this job may be for you.
Main duties of the job
This is a relatively new development within Notts Healthcare and is a great opportunity to work on developing and establishing a vital service for service users leaving prison, creating the best opportunity for supporting their engagement and helping to break the cycle of offending.
The Community Support Worker role is an integral part of the Reconnect Service and will enhance the work of the Reconnect Team in supporting people whilst in custody in preparation for their release and once in the community. The community support offered will aim to support service users to engage with services such as physical health, mental health, substance misuse, and will include support to attend appointments with other agencies, supporting an effective transition into the community and health equalities. All work will be carried out under the supervision of the Team Manager/Reconnect Practitioners.
The staff member will be expected to support individuals who are residing in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and potentially being released from HMPs across the country who are returning to the area. It is essential that the candidate is willing to travel across different sites, work autonomously and effectively manage their time.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
Job description Job responsibilities
This role is primarily focussed on community support, however, there will be some expectation of working with people in prison, prior to their release. The role will involve outreach to service users in the community, local to Nottingham/Nottinghamshire and supporting those in prison establishments across the country who are returning to the Nottingham area.
Active engagement - Be actively involved in the assertive follow up of individuals with a range of vulnerabilities. Working with Reconnect Practitioners and criminal justice agency staff, social care, health and charitable agencies.
Caseload - To work with team-held caseload of service users with a range of complex vulnerabilities and to ensure support plans are formulated acted upon and reviewed. To support service user engagement, the post holder will be expected to be involved in the development of collaborative support packages/support plans. They will be expected to implement, promote and evaluate safe, creative and effective support plans in collaboration with service users, their carers and other professionals.
Develop good working relationships - To effectively liaise and develop links with services within the prison setting and, in the community, to establish effective through care and after care pathways.
Appointed applicants will have access to robust clinical and managerial supervision and career development opportunities. The service is committed to ensuring the staff in the team are well equipped to work with the complex service users accessing the service and so training is well supported and there is a range of access to robust supervision.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill levelrequiredfor a Skilled worker visa.
Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary/ skill levelis below the minimumrequiredfor sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.
Applicantsrequiringa Skilled Worker Visa candeterminethe likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 1 or equivalent GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English
Desirable
Other qualifications relevant to post
Experience Essential
Experience of using computer systems. Experience of working with individuals of all ages within a healthcare/social care setting. Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services. Experience of communicating with range of other agencies within health/social care settings.
Desirable
Experience of the Criminal justice system.
Skills Essential
Ability to keep accurate records on computer system Ability to motivate others. Ability to communicate to a range of people on a range of matters, in a range of forms. Ability to identify own development needs with support of others. Ability to identify risk and to take responsibility for self and others in ensuring legislation, policies and procedures are followed in the work place. Ability to actively participate in development of the service. Skills in communicating with people with a range of communication needs.
Desirable
Other skills relevant to the post. Evidence of decision-making skills.
Knowledge Essential
Demonstrates an awareness of wide range of vulnerabilities inclusive of mental health/LD needs Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals Has an awareness of health and safety issues
Desirable
Awareness of the Reconnect Service
Contractual Requirements Essential
A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010 Ability to adapt to changing services and be flexible in approach.
Values and Behaviours Essential
All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Physical Requirements Essential
Ability to undertake relevant mandatory training and engage in the management of violence and aggression to breakaway level, commensurate to the role.
Training Desirable
Training specific to mental health care. Training specific to boundaries and health and safety.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address Westminster House / Heatherdene
598 The Wells Road, Nottingham / 3 Crow Hill Drive, Mansfield
Nottingham
NG3 3AA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)