Job summary
We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Criminal Justice Engagement Worker to join our team, working with individuals within the criminal justice system to deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference by addressing substance misuse and supporting individuals on their journey to recovery.
In this role, you will engage with service users across Custody Suites, Prisons, and Probation services, facilitating harm reduction initiatives, promoting visible recovery, and collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to achieve positive outcomes. Your work will focus on reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, building recovery capital, and ensuring continuity of care through scheduled appointments and partnership working.
This position is ideal for someone passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals while contributing to a safer and healthier community.
Main duties of the job
- Provide effective and impactful brief interventions to individuals within the criminal justice system.
- Support service users in managing day-to-day challenges that arise upon their release from custody or prison.
- Signpost individuals to appropriate local services and empower them to build strong community networks and recovery capital.
- Promote visible and inspiring recovery to service users, encouraging a contagious sense of hope and progress.
- Collaborate with service users, partner agencies, and stakeholders to address barriers preventing access to comprehensive services, including those focused on substance misuse, mental health, and overall well-being.
- Develop and maintain a localised Recovery Assets Register tailored to the needs of service users within the criminal justice system.
- Ensure that all clients have scheduled appointments aligned with their specific needs, assessing when urgent action is required versus non-emergency situations.
- Empower service users to strengthen their recovery capital and community connections to sustain long-term progress.
About us
Inclusion, created in 2002 is part of the Specialist Services Care Group of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT). We provide caring and effective services across England, including, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, West Mercia, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Thurrock, Essex. We support individuals, families and communities who are affected by addiction, crime, mental health or need treatment for their sexual health.
We believe that the individuals and families who use our services should receive high quality, committed and inclusive care, realising all the benefits a modern NHS organisation can provide. We work with patients and our staff teams to achieve the best outcomes we can. We invest heavily in training and development, and the wellbeing of our people, both staff and service users is central to who we are.
Here at MPFT, we are proud of the comprehensive wellbeing and lifestyle support offer available, in addition to in-house training and coaching support. Our services are robustly governed, evidence-based, inclusive, and designed and provided in conjunction with service users. We are committed to providing the best service we can, and if you share our values, we want you on our team!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities. Here is a summary:
- Engage service users into treatment and through their Recovery Journey
- Complete screening and asset based mapping to identify appropriate recovery focused interventions.
- Complete recovery plans with service users that are SMART goal focussed.
- Identify and effectively manage risk with service users
- To develop and sustain links with multi-disciplinary services including statutory and non-statutory providers of Tier 2,3,4 drug services, criminal justice services and providers of wrap around services.
- To keep up to date records and information for the purpose of internal and external evaluation.
- To provide information and statistics consistent with Inclusions requirements.
- To prepare and present reports when required to do so.
- To participate in regular supervision.
- To take part in annual appraisal and review based on the NHS knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)
- To attend relevant internal and external meetings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities. Here is a summary:
- Engage service users into treatment and through their Recovery Journey
- Complete screening and asset based mapping to identify appropriate recovery focused interventions.
- Complete recovery plans with service users that are SMART goal focussed.
- Identify and effectively manage risk with service users
- To develop and sustain links with multi-disciplinary services including statutory and non-statutory providers of Tier 2,3,4 drug services, criminal justice services and providers of wrap around services.
- To keep up to date records and information for the purpose of internal and external evaluation.
- To provide information and statistics consistent with Inclusions requirements.
- To prepare and present reports when required to do so.
- To participate in regular supervision.
- To take part in annual appraisal and review based on the NHS knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)
- To attend relevant internal and external meetings.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Understanding and awareness of the effects of substance misuse on an individual and the community
- A commitment to and understanding of the recovery agenda
- A commitment to recovery based interventions and harm reduction approaches to working with drug users.
- Counselling skills, case management experience & the ability to work under pressure
- A sound experience of working with techniques such as CBT, Motivational interviewing and Solution focused therapy
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- A thorough knowledge of substances and their effects
- Ability to work with drug/alcohol users in a community environment
- Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
- Demonstrate an understanding of a patients physical health needs and be able to carry out blood pressure checks, infections control checks and ensure the service is in line with COSHH
- The ability to work flexibly across the county to meet the needs to the service
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Commitment to work within the framework of the recovery agenda
- Reliable and punctual
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Understanding and awareness of the effects of substance misuse on an individual and the community
- A commitment to and understanding of the recovery agenda
- A commitment to recovery based interventions and harm reduction approaches to working with drug users.
- Counselling skills, case management experience & the ability to work under pressure
- A sound experience of working with techniques such as CBT, Motivational interviewing and Solution focused therapy
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- A thorough knowledge of substances and their effects
- Ability to work with drug/alcohol users in a community environment
- Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
- Demonstrate an understanding of a patients physical health needs and be able to carry out blood pressure checks, infections control checks and ensure the service is in line with COSHH
- The ability to work flexibly across the county to meet the needs to the service
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Commitment to work within the framework of the recovery agenda
- Reliable and punctual
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).
