Job summary
RECONNECT is a health-based programme aiming to bridge the transition from prison to community health services for vulnerable people (including both sentenced and remand prisoners).As a care after custody service, RECONNECT seeks to improve the continuity of care of vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave and support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison . RECONNECT services aim to improve the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours. Whilst not a service that provides clinical interventions, the RECONNECT service offers liaison, advocacy, signposting and support to those leaving prison to support engagement in community- based health and support services.
This post is working with prisoners within HMP Erlestoke Prison to establish a smooth transition from prison to community health services across the South West.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based within the Liaison and Diversion Service. The unique aspect of this role will involve working with people leaving Prison who are returning to the Wiltshire locality to support engagement with the relevant health services.The role is dynamic and challenging. The Service aim is to offer support to individuals as they are released from prison. To ensure that any health vulnerabilities are considered and then given the support to engage with appropriate pathways on release from prison. Helping them integrate back into the community.The post holder will provide time limited 1:1 or 2:1 support to service users, enabling them to access a wide range of services that can provide help and advice with, for example, mental health, housing, social exclusion, substance misuse, education, employment and debt management difficulties. The post holder will be expected to develop good links with community resources in order to enable improved and supported access to services.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Foundation 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 some parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and well-being. 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 Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities 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
The post holder will be based within the Liaison and Diversion Service. The unique aspect of this role will involve working with people leaving Prison who are returning to the Wiltshire locality to support engagement with the relevant health services.
The role is dynamic and challenging. The Service aim is to offer support to individuals as they are released fromprison. To ensure that any health vulnerabilities are considered and then given the support to engage withappropriate pathways on release from prison. Helping them integrate back into the community.
The post holder will engage with individuals prior to release from prison, to consider their vulnerabilities. A Support plan can then be formulated to offer contact on release from prison and on their onward journey in integrating back into the community. Contact will vary in frequency according to need and the post holder will engage with individuals to organise and attend appointments with support services to reduce the identified vulnerabilities. Liaising with partnership agencies including probation and health will be key to trying to establish support and stability within the community.
The post holder will provide time limited 1:1 or 2:1 support to service users, enabling them to access a wide range of services that can provide help and advice with, for example, mental health, housing, social exclusion, substance misuse, education, employment and debt management difficulties. The post holder will be expected to develop good links with community resources in order to enable improved and supported access to services.
The post holder will have lived experience and will use their experience to support service users who often find it difficult to engage and access a range of community services. In doing so you will improve individual health and social outcomes and reduce re-offending. The post holder will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories who are likely to have a wide range of vulnerabilities such as mental health problems, learning disabilities, substance misuse difficulties and co-existing complex needs. This may also include people with significant risk histories, social exclusion and challenging behaviours.
The post holder will offer support and release planning to individuals for up to 12 weeks prior to release or as soon as they are referred within the 12 weeks prior to release. Offer support for up to 6 months post-release date, or when all health care needs are met, whichever comes soonest (this may be extended in exceptional circumstances when it would be detrimental to the health of the individual to be discharged at 6 months).
Undertake assessment of appropriateness of the referral and gain patient consent: assessment to include identification of physical and/or mental health vulnerabilities, substance misuse needs, alongside barriers that may impact on the patient's ability/motivation to engage with community-healthcare services and/or support services upon their release.
Offer a minimum of 2 points of contact to the patient prior to release, these should be face to face, where it is not possible to access an individual face to face, virtual, telephone or a combination of these contact will be undertaken.
- Work in a trauma informed way.
- To ensure we have discharge health plans where indicated in a specified time frame.
- To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the Prison with partners in Prison services including other agencies to assist in discharge planning.
- To help identify, with ASCC and Prison discharge services nationwide, and refer to appropriate services for the identified needs of the service user.
- Where diversion is indicated, to refer to ASSC RECONNECT Project Lead to assess if Mental Health Act assessments in the Community in conjunction with the local Mental Health Assessment teams.
- To provide mental health information to Probation in the formulation of their pre-sentence reports, where a potential mental health need has been identified.
- To be responsible for adhering to all Trust Policies and procedures.
- To be able to communicate clearly with a diverse group of service users.
- To possess a good working knowledge of the Integrated Care Programme Approach (ICPA), including the ability to follow, under supervision, a risk assessment and risk management plan.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be based within the Liaison and Diversion Service. The unique aspect of this role will involve working with people leaving Prison who are returning to the Wiltshire locality to support engagement with the relevant health services.
The role is dynamic and challenging. The Service aim is to offer support to individuals as they are released fromprison. To ensure that any health vulnerabilities are considered and then given the support to engage withappropriate pathways on release from prison. Helping them integrate back into the community.
The post holder will engage with individuals prior to release from prison, to consider their vulnerabilities. A Support plan can then be formulated to offer contact on release from prison and on their onward journey in integrating back into the community. Contact will vary in frequency according to need and the post holder will engage with individuals to organise and attend appointments with support services to reduce the identified vulnerabilities. Liaising with partnership agencies including probation and health will be key to trying to establish support and stability within the community.
The post holder will provide time limited 1:1 or 2:1 support to service users, enabling them to access a wide range of services that can provide help and advice with, for example, mental health, housing, social exclusion, substance misuse, education, employment and debt management difficulties. The post holder will be expected to develop good links with community resources in order to enable improved and supported access to services.
The post holder will have lived experience and will use their experience to support service users who often find it difficult to engage and access a range of community services. In doing so you will improve individual health and social outcomes and reduce re-offending. The post holder will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories who are likely to have a wide range of vulnerabilities such as mental health problems, learning disabilities, substance misuse difficulties and co-existing complex needs. This may also include people with significant risk histories, social exclusion and challenging behaviours.
The post holder will offer support and release planning to individuals for up to 12 weeks prior to release or as soon as they are referred within the 12 weeks prior to release. Offer support for up to 6 months post-release date, or when all health care needs are met, whichever comes soonest (this may be extended in exceptional circumstances when it would be detrimental to the health of the individual to be discharged at 6 months).
Undertake assessment of appropriateness of the referral and gain patient consent: assessment to include identification of physical and/or mental health vulnerabilities, substance misuse needs, alongside barriers that may impact on the patient's ability/motivation to engage with community-healthcare services and/or support services upon their release.
Offer a minimum of 2 points of contact to the patient prior to release, these should be face to face, where it is not possible to access an individual face to face, virtual, telephone or a combination of these contact will be undertaken.
- Work in a trauma informed way.
- To ensure we have discharge health plans where indicated in a specified time frame.
- To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the Prison with partners in Prison services including other agencies to assist in discharge planning.
- To help identify, with ASCC and Prison discharge services nationwide, and refer to appropriate services for the identified needs of the service user.
- Where diversion is indicated, to refer to ASSC RECONNECT Project Lead to assess if Mental Health Act assessments in the Community in conjunction with the local Mental Health Assessment teams.
- To provide mental health information to Probation in the formulation of their pre-sentence reports, where a potential mental health need has been identified.
- To be responsible for adhering to all Trust Policies and procedures.
- To be able to communicate clearly with a diverse group of service users.
- To possess a good working knowledge of the Integrated Care Programme Approach (ICPA), including the ability to follow, under supervision, a risk assessment and risk management plan.
Person Specification
Interview
Essential
- Qualifications
- Knowledge and Experience
- Skills
- Personal Qualities
Desirable
Person Specification
Interview
Essential
- Qualifications
- Knowledge and Experience
- Skills
- Personal Qualities
Desirable
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.
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