Peer Coordinator - HMP Highdown

Overview

Are you looking for a meaningful career that helps others break the cycle of addiction and live a positive life? The impact you will have in this role is far more reaching than the day to day contact with service users, the service we provide reverberates through families and society

Who we are?

The Forward Trust are a social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We believe and are committed to providing opportunities to all people including those with ‘Lived Experience’ we encourage applications from all background including those in recovery from addiction, co-dependency or gambling, have experience of previous offending or homelessness.

What you will be doing?

The role will be based on site working seamlessly with substance misuse teams delivering services directly to service users aged 18 and over residing across Surrey Prisons. The substance misuse services take a recovery-orientated and trauma informed approach to deliver holistic health and wellbeing interventions and various treatment programmes for those coming into the prison who identify as having issues with drugs and/or alcohol. You will therefore be expected to work with those presenting with low-level mental health needs and/or issues relating to substance misuse and dependency.

The Peer Coordinator role is one that aspires to champion the 'lived experience' and work with those who will be engaged in the service as service users but with aspirations to take on a role in promoting and assisting in delivery of services on site across our Surrey Prisons (HMP Highdown, HMP Downview, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Coldingley & HMP Send). This is an exciting time to join the services as we implement a new contract model and continue to develop projects and initiatives across the region. Please note this role will be based working across the region of Surrey, therefore travel will be required between sites.

As Peer Coordinator you will support the team and the prison delivering ‘peer led’ elements of service delivery. This will involve the appropriate recruitment, training and supervision of a number of peer supporters and mentors at each site. Your work will enable training and supervision of peer supporters and mentors to operate effectively across all wings of the prison to promote engagement and delivery of recovery pathways and peer support. In addition to this you will play a key role in the development and delivery of Health and Wellbeing Champions (HAWCs) within the prisons in partnership with healthcare providers. HAWCs will work to motivate and encourage service users to take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing whilst in custody with appropriate signposting and support. The Peer Coordinator role is vital in building and improving links between the substance misuse service, prison and wider healthcare services and service users within the prison.

What we are looking for?

• Knowledge of the criminal justice sector
• Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers
• Ability to develop, coordinate and deliver the training on a peer support programme
• Previous experience of providing a peer support service to this or a similar client group
• A thorough knowledge of and commitment to the process of recovery from addiction
• A Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care or equivalent

What we offer

• Season Ticket Loan Scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 3 x wellbeing days in addition to annual leave allowance
• Simply Health scheme
• Therapy allowance (£90 per month for frontline staff)
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays.
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter.
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary).
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria).

Person specification

Peer Coordinator prison