About this role
Job summary
Have you been to Prison?
Is this impacting your ability to return to employment? Would you like to use your lived experience of Prison to support other people like you to resettle back into the community. If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join Liaison, Diversion & Reconnect (LD&R) and make a real difference as a Prison Resettlement Peer Support Practitioner.
The vacancy is a 6-month fixed term contract to enable the successful applicant to gain valuable experience within an NHS Trust/Service.
Written applications will be accepted (CV/Cover letter) - Please contact Deanna Wood (Reconnect Manager) for further information on 0800 197 5542.
LDR is a countywide service to Kent and Medway with the aim of improving service user experience by connecting them with the right service at the right time, potentially reducing rates of reoffending and improving health and social care outcomes for the people that we serve.
We are interested in hearing from applicants who have lived experience of time spent either on remand or serving a prison sentence. Successful candidate(s) will be able to use their life experience to support the engagement of others who may find themselves in familiar life circumstances.
We have a firm commitment to rehabilitation so in order to support your application, please declare all offences for transparency. This will be discussed further for those applicants who are shortlisted for interview.
Main duties of the job
Peer support practitioners complement the Trust's expertise with their own insight, experience and potential to support others.
You will therefore need to be able to share your recovery journey to motivate and encourage others to reach their full potential. You will work alongside our team of practitioners in community support roles. You will provide support and advice to service users, screening for any unmet needs to enhance their recovery journey. You will initiate and maintain communication with individuals during their time with LD&R, supporting them to find, engage and benefit from the correct community services to address their needs. You must be in a positive position of wellbeing/recovery and motivated to take on a rewarding new opportunity.
About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main responsibilities of the role.
Person Specification
Training Desirable
NVQ level 2 or equivalent
Experience Essential
Lived experience of time spent either on remand or serving a Prison sentence. Personal experience of using services that support wellbeing/recovery from the above vulnerabilities.
Desirable
Lived experience of a vulnerability that LD&R currently identify, including but not limited to: mental health issues, learning difficulties, social care needs, drug/alcohol misuse, homelessness, financial or employment problems. Experience of working or volunteering with people with similar vulnerabilities.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
Good IT skills including Word and Outlook, or be willing to undergo training.
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 Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Address The Red House, Maidstone
22 Oakapple Lane
Maidstone
ME16 9NW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)