Job overview

Do you want to support people by using your own experience of mental health, care, police arrest, court or prison?

The Dorset Integrated Non-Custodial Service has a vacancy with the Reconnect care after custody team, for a Lived Experience Support Time Recovery Worker who feel they are now in a position to use their experiences to help others in the criminal justice system with their health needs.

Our service supports people who are arrested and in police custody, going to court or being released from prison. We work with people who have a mental illness, learning disability, substance use problem, or need support registering for a GP or dentist.  Our aim is to reduce re-offending by giving people the right support and access to health services.

This vacancy is for our Reconnect prison release support service, which focuses on helping those being released from prison to connect back to community health services. Whilst training, you will work and gain experience of all of our service’s teams such as those working with people being arrested and those going to court.

We are looking for full time (37.5 hours per week) applicant, but part time can be offered. Please contact us if you wish to discuss working hours.

Main duties of the job

This is a progressive post, starting as a Band 3 Support Worker you will be co-working cases with experienced Support Workers whilst undertaking training and learning new skills.  Once you have gained the necessary knowledge and skills you will move into a Band 4 Support Worker role for Reconnect which will involve holding your own case load.

You will provide support for up to 6 months to help prison leavers to gain access a wide range of agencies and services that provide help and advice on any health issue they have, and barriers that may impact them from accessing health services. For example, mental health services, physical health services, housing support, social isolation and exclusion, education, debt management and employment problems.

To achieve this, you will be supported by the Reconnect team and will need to work alongside other agencies such as Police, Probation, prison healthcare and community healthcare settings and the local authority.

We offer extensive support to all staff to maintain their own health and wellbeing and success in their post. As a team member with lived experience, you will have a tailored support network and wellbeing at work plan, co-produced with your line manager, to help maintain your own welfare and success at work too.

Working for our organisation

 At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

 Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.