About this role
Job summary
Reconnect is a health and justice service supporting people leaving prison (and, in some cases, immigration removal centres) to access health, social care and community services. The Band 4 Engagement Worker is a Derbyshire wide, community based role, reporting to the Reconnect Lead Practitioner and accountable to the Service Manager.
The post holder provides structured, time limited engagement and coordination for people who face barriers to mainstream provision, including mental health needs, trauma, substance misuse, homelessness and social exclusion. Working to an agreed caseload under practitioner oversight, they complete screening and information gathering, contribute to transition planning, and deliver delegated psychosocial support (for example motivational enhancement, problem solving and emotional regulation). The role uses assertive outreach pre and post release to help people engage with housing, primary care, substance misuse, benefits and wider community pathways.
A key component is multi agency liaison with probation, prisons, housing, local authorities, GP practices, voluntary sector partners and, where required, police custody. The role includes dynamic risk screening, prompt escalation of safeguarding or safety concerns, accurate record keeping, and contribution to service monitoring and quality improvement.
Main duties of the job
The Engagement Worker provides person centred engagement and practical support for people leaving prison or immigration removal centres. Managing an agreed caseload under Lead Practitioner oversight, they complete screening and information gathering, contribute to transition planning, and deliver delegated, time limited psychosocial interventions (motivational enhancement, problem solving and emotional regulation).
The role uses assertive outreach and proactive follow up to reduce barriers and improve access to housing, primary care, mental health, substance misuse, benefits and community resources, including accompanying individuals to appointments where appropriate.
They liaise with probation, prisons, GP practices, local authorities, housing and voluntary sector partners, contribute to multi agency meetings, and escalate safeguarding or public protection concerns. The post holder undertakes dynamic risk screening, follows lone working and safeguarding procedures, may lead a pathway area, and maintains high quality records, case updates, data collection and contribution to audit, quality improvement, supervision, mandatory training and CPD.
About us
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the trust."
Benefits include
- Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
- 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
- Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
- Health service discounts and online benefits
- Incremental pay progression
- Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
- Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
- Health and wellbeing opportunities
- Structured learning and development opportunities
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
Please see the attached document titled 'JD and PS' for a detailed job description and person specification.
Please contact Kim Hopkinson for more information.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Safeguarding, confidentiality and information sharing
- Barriers faced by people leaving custody
- Community services and referral pathways
Desirable
- Trauma-informed practice
- Substance misuse or motivational approaches
- Health-justice/forensic pathway knowledge
Skills
Essential
- Strong communication and engagement skills
- Organise and prioritise workload independently
- Recognise and escalate risk appropriately
Desirable
- Deliver structured psychosocial interventions
- Group facilitation or peer-support skills
- Quality improvement/service development skills
Experience
Essential
- Supporting people with complex vulnerabilities
- Working in health, social care or criminal justice
- Working within multi-agency arrangements
Desirable
- Multi-agency meetings or risk discussions
- Forensic, L&D or health-justice experience
- Contributing to assessments or support plans
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent experience
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
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
St Andrew's House
London Road
Derby
DE1 2SX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)