RECONNECT worker- Bedfordshire

Forward Trust is looking for a dedicated and compassionate RECONNECT Practitioner to support people leaving prison or immigration removal detention to access the healthcare, wellbeing support and community services they need to rebuild their lives.

RECONNECT provides a comprehensive, inclusive and person-centred service, helping individuals transition safely from prison into the community. Working with service users from 12 weeks before release and for up to six months post-release, you will assess individual needs, develop bespoke care plans and connect people with appropriate health and wellbeing services.

You will work collaboratively with prison teams, healthcare professionals, community organisations and other key partners to ensure service users receive the right support at the right time.

Please note:

A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this role.

What you will be doing

• Managing referrals:
  Process referrals, assess suitability and provide timely updates to referrers on assessment outcomes.
• Assessing individual needs:
  Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify each service user's physical health, mental health, wellbeing and wider support needs.
• Providing ongoing support:
  Build positive relationships with service users, offering guidance and practical support before release and for up to six months afterwards.
• Developing tailored care plans:
  Work collaboratively with service users and partner agencies to create personalised plans that support a successful transition into the community.
• Connecting people to services:
  Facilitate GP referrals, healthcare access, mentoring, aftercare support and signposting to appropriate local and community services.
• Building partnerships:
  Develop and maintain effective working relationships with prison staff, healthcare teams, Offender Management in Custody, external agencies and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinating referrals:
  Maintain clear and effective referral pathways involving prison teams, healthcare services, Offender Management in Custody, families and self-referrals.
• Supporting safe transitions:
  Ensure service users are connected with relevant community services and support networks before their release.
• Delivering a high-quality service:
  Provide inclusive, holistic and person-centred support in line with service standards, safeguarding requirements and individual and team targets.
• Managing risk:
  Participate in risk assessments and work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure support is delivered safely and effectively.
• Sharing best practice:
  Work closely with colleagues to share knowledge, strengthen partnership working and continually improve service delivery.

What we are looking for

• A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential.
• A compassionate, empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting people with complex needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and engage positively with a diverse range of people.
• The ability to identify individual needs and provide tailored advice, guidance and practical support.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage referrals, maintain accurate records and prioritise a varied workload.
• The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with external agencies, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
• A collaborative approach, with the confidence to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• An understanding of the challenges people may face when leaving prison, including accessing healthcare, maintaining wellbeing and reconnecting with community support.
• A commitment to delivering inclusive, person-centred services that promote dignity,…