About this role
Job summary
Have you ever been arrested, appeared in court on a criminal charge and/or been to prison?
Have you ever struggled with your mental health and/or have overcome difficulties with substance or alcohol use?
Could you use your experiences to support others?
Could you show the people we support in court, custody, and prison that change is possible?
If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join our award-winning Liaison and Diversion team and further develop your skills, experience and career.
Our tailored 18-month development programme will grow your skills and confidence and give you access to a range of accredited training to support your future career in healthcare.Many of our former peer support workers are now permanent members of our team and we have supported others into employment or further training.
We operate across the Thames Valley, but this post is predominately based in Berkshire, working for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust. You will be expected to provide one-to-one practical and emotional support to our clients and encourage them to access services which improve their health and wellbeing.
If you are stable in your recovery journey and can show us how you achieved this this could be an opportunity to start a new career in care.
The role can be part-time or full-time, part-time will be a minimum of 22.5 hrs/3days per week, and up to full time 37.5hrs per week. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
Main duties of the job
By using your own experience of going through the Criminal Justice System, treatment and recovery you will be supporting service users with vulnerabilities going through the Criminal Justice System You will be a positive role model helping to understand, inspire, motivate, guide and support our service users to engage with services and work on their recovery. You will evidence and show visible recovery; showing that change is possible. You will offer emotional and practical support to our service-users by using your own lived experience of the criminal justice system and the challenges and fears this can create which will enable them to achieve a positive future
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
Caring for and about you is our top priority Committed to providing good quality, safe services Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
Flexible working options to support work-life balance 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell Generous NHS pension scheme Excellent learning and career development opportunities 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave Free parking across Trust sites
Job description Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
Must have lived experience of the criminal justice system
Must have direct lived experience and being stable in recovery from an addiction, mental ill health or other vulnerabilities
**please make explicit reference to both of these within your personal statement in order to be shortlisted for this role**
Must have an awareness of modelling appropriate behaviours, having the capacity to cope when unsupervised; setting clear boundaries and seeking support and guidance to support and protect own recovery, health and wellbeing
Must have good listening skills and effective communication skills; to be able to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, and partnership agencies.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Lucy Bashir on 07584 556 882 or email: [email protected] wholl be delighted to help.
If you would like any support or guidance filling out the application form, please contact Tim Mascall on 07773 093 354 or email [email protected] who will be happy to help.Please note: This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK immigration rules. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
Person Specification
Continuous Professional Development Essential
Willingness to undertake Care Certificate training.
Previous Experience Essential
Lived experience of the criminal justice system a minimum of being arrested and taken into police custody and demonstratable recovery of a minimum of 1 year of no longer being in-contact with criminal justice system Required to demonstrate a recovery capital and period of desistance 1-3yrs from using substance (inc alcohol) and a minimum of one year completing any licence conditions/requirements.
Desirable
Having direct lived experience of recovery from substance misuse, mental health or other vulnerabilities.
Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential
Willingness to share personal experiences in an appropriate way and maintain clear boundaries Empathy, patience, and sensitivity to be able to support people whilst maintaining boundaries. Willingness to seek support and guidance
Additional Requirements Essential
To be a UK citizen or have the right to remain status Flexibility to travel to all sites
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 Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address 57-59 Bath Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 2BA
Reading
RG30 2BA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)