Job summary
Based across Swindon and Wiltshire area, the Liaison and Diversion Service (LaDS) operates using an all vulnerability model that offers assessment and support and to individuals within the Courts, Police Custody suites and Prisons with the Reconnect team. Our Support Workers offer time limited support to people whilst they are engaged with the Criminal Justice Service. We are an experienced, enthusiastic and growing team who will support you to develop in your role.
An integral aspect of LaDS is the employment of people who have used services themselves. We recognise the barriers some people with lived experience face when looking for employment and are passionate about providing opportunities as well as utilising your unique still set to support vulnerable people.
The successful applicant will have lived experience of engaging with the Criminal Justice System, Mental Health or Drug and Alcohol Services. This is an essential aspect of this role as you will use your own personal experience to engage others and support them to engage with the services that will promote their recovery. We understand that some applicants may find this difficult to talk about, but assure you we maintain a supportive and non judgemental approach at all times.
Main duties of the job
With support and guidance from the team you will complete your apprenticeship alongside working directly with service users as part of the team. You will utilise your own experiences to empower others by promoting hope and helping people engage with, and navigate services that will support in improving their health and social care outcomes.
The post holder will be expected to work across all of our sites when required, including Police Stations, Courts and Prison.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and lived experience, and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Promote the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.
Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families and carers.
Contribute to the planning, implementation and review of care packages, including implementing specific parts of an individual care plan on behalf of different care professionals.
Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters.
Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including sometimes difficult or potentially difficult relationships.
Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care, in accordance with their care plan.
Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local policies and procedures.
Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.
Apprenticeship Programme
As this is an apprentice position, you will be required to successfully complete a L3 Peer Worker apprenticeship whilst undertaking the requirements of the position. Applicants will be required to complete a screening assessment which includes English & Maths before an unconditional offer of employment can be made, you will need to successfully complete this within 1 week of being contacted by the apprenticeship training provider.
To undertake the Peer Worker apprenticeship, people will need to demonstrate that they have previous lived experience relevant to the role, there is a statutory or professional requirement for people within a Peer support worker role to be aged 18 or over, and therefore a minimum age limit would apply to this role.
Your exact pattern of work and study time will need to be agreed with your line manager. You will need to be able to evidence 20% of your working hours, across the full duration of your programme as new learning. Depending on the delivery mode of your apprenticeship programme this requirement may be met through a combination of assessor contacts, online attendance and workplace learning and mentoring.
Eligibility for an apprenticeship programme
Eligibility criteria for apprenticeships is set by the National Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) we as a Trust have no influence on this, as funding rules are dictated by the UK government. Within these rules it stipulates that:
(1)You must have been an ordinary resident of the UK/EU country for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the apprenticeship (which does not include time on a student visa)
(2)You must have enough time remaining on your current visa to cover the full duration of the apprenticeship programme.
We will be required to check the above eligibility criteria before an offer of employment, which includes the apprenticeship programme can be made.
You will also be asked to undertake an initial assessment if successful in securing this apprenticeship post. This will include a short English and Maths assessment to assess your current competency level, this is to identify whether you are able to meet the required entry criteria level for the apprenticeship. If a candidate is unable to meet the required entry level for the apprenticeship then they will be unable to commence the apprenticeship post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Promote the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.
Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families and carers.
Contribute to the planning, implementation and review of care packages, including implementing specific parts of an individual care plan on behalf of different care professionals.
Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters.
Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including sometimes difficult or potentially difficult relationships.
Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care, in accordance with their care plan.
Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local policies and procedures.
Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.
Apprenticeship Programme
As this is an apprentice position, you will be required to successfully complete a L3 Peer Worker apprenticeship whilst undertaking the requirements of the position. Applicants will be required to complete a screening assessment which includes English & Maths before an unconditional offer of employment can be made, you will need to successfully complete this within 1 week of being contacted by the apprenticeship training provider.
To undertake the Peer Worker apprenticeship, people will need to demonstrate that they have previous lived experience relevant to the role, there is a statutory or professional requirement for people within a Peer support worker role to be aged 18 or over, and therefore a minimum age limit would apply to this role.
Your exact pattern of work and study time will need to be agreed with your line manager. You will need to be able to evidence 20% of your working hours, across the full duration of your programme as new learning. Depending on the delivery mode of your apprenticeship programme this requirement may be met through a combination of assessor contacts, online attendance and workplace learning and mentoring.
Eligibility for an apprenticeship programme
Eligibility criteria for apprenticeships is set by the National Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) we as a Trust have no influence on this, as funding rules are dictated by the UK government. Within these rules it stipulates that:
(1)You must have been an ordinary resident of the UK/EU country for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the apprenticeship (which does not include time on a student visa)
(2)You must have enough time remaining on your current visa to cover the full duration of the apprenticeship programme.
We will be required to check the above eligibility criteria before an offer of employment, which includes the apprenticeship programme can be made.
You will also be asked to undertake an initial assessment if successful in securing this apprenticeship post. This will include a short English and Maths assessment to assess your current competency level, this is to identify whether you are able to meet the required entry criteria level for the apprenticeship. If a candidate is unable to meet the required entry level for the apprenticeship then they will be unable to commence the apprenticeship post.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of criminal justice, mental health or drug and alcohol services.
- The ability and willingness to successfully complete a suitable apprenticeship programme.
- The ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health and social care setting.
- Previous experience of working for services in the community
Skills
Essential
- Well- developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills such as to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies, both face to face and by phone.
- Written communication skills, with the ability to produce written reports, maintain accurate records and establish statistical data.
- The ability, with supervision, to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner.
- Demonstrate ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set.
- Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service.
- Team-working skills within a multi-disciplinary group.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of criminal justice, mental health or drug and alcohol services.
- The ability and willingness to successfully complete a suitable apprenticeship programme.
- The ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health and social care setting.
- Previous experience of working for services in the community
Skills
Essential
- Well- developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills such as to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies, both face to face and by phone.
- Written communication skills, with the ability to produce written reports, maintain accurate records and establish statistical data.
- The ability, with supervision, to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner.
- Demonstrate ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set.
- Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service.
- Team-working skills within a multi-disciplinary group.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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