Criminal Justice Peer Support Apprentice

Location: Thinford Investigative Police Hub, Meadowfield Avenue, Durham Gate, Spennymoor, Durham, DL16 6YJ

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (including study time)
Contract: Fixed-term, 15-month apprenticeship
Salary: £20,875.40 per annum

A driving Licence is Essential in this role.

Please note:

The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

We’re looking for a Criminal Justice Peer Support Apprentice to join our Durham and Darlington Liaison and Diversion Team.

You’ll receive dedicated support and on-the-job experience while working towards a Level 2 Health and Social Care apprenticeship. You’ll learn alongside experienced practitioners and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to build a career supporting people within criminal justice and community settings.

You don’t need previous experience of working in a support service. What matters is your willingness to learn, your ability to build positive relationships and your genuine desire to use your experience to help others.

The Durham and Darlington Liaison and Diversion Team works with people who come into contact with the criminal justice system and may have mental health, substance misuse, learning disability or other support needs.

As a Criminal Justice Peer Support Apprentice, you’ll work alongside experienced colleagues to help people access appropriate support and services.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and understanding while supporting people in a range of settings, including custody, court and the community.

With support from your colleagues, you’ll learn how to:

• Build positive, trusting and professional relationships with people accessing the service.

• Meet with individuals alongside Lead Practitioners, Support Workers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

• Support individuals to engage with appropriate health, wellbeing and community support services.

• Contribute to care planning and risk management alongside experienced colleagues.

• Work alongside police, probation, youth offending teams and other partner agencies.

• Support people in custody to engage with community services and other sources of support.

• Provide information, advice, guidance and emotional support to individuals and, where appropriate, their families and carers.

• Help people identify and access services that can support their physical and mental wellbeing and improve their life circumstances.

• Use your own lived experience appropriately and professionally to help people feel understood, valued and supported.

• Promote the value of lived experience within the wider Liaison and Diversion Team.

• Develop your knowledge of referral pathways and the support available across Durham and Darlington.

• Help develop resources such as service directories, posters and information for people accessing the service.

• Support service user engagement activities, including surveys and feedback.

• Develop effective relationships with partner organisations…