Community Support Worker

Community Support Worker

Starting salary £17,853 (within band 2, £17,853 – £22,149)

12 months Fixed Term Contract (then will be seconded over to the CRC on a permanent contract)

Full-Time (35 hrs p/w with St Giles Trust) and 37 hrs p/w with the CRC

Leicester

Ref code: CSW-191

An exciting opportunity as arisen to join the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire & Rutland Community Rehabilitation Company. We are recruiting for the role of a Community Support Worker, this will be a full-time post assigned to the Through the Gate Team based in Leicestershire. This role will initially be seconded to St Giles Trust for a period of 12 months to deliver the pilot Meet at the Gate scheme.

For this post DLNR would like to encourage applications from peer mentors and people with personal experience of the Criminal Justice System.

Purpose of the post (permanent CSW role)

To provide a community outreach service for CRC service users living either their own home or in temporary accommodation who need additional support to minimise their risk of disengaging and becoming homeless and to enable service users to access relevant resources in the community to promote a constructive lifestyle.

Purpose of the post (initial 12 month secondment to St Giles Trust)

The St Giles Trust (SGT) MATG service will support the CRC to reduce re offending in Leicester by delivering a practical support service to prisoners on release identified by the CRC as their most ‘at risk’ clients.

The role will provide an assessment, tailored and holistic resettlement support service for Service Users within the Criminal Justice System with complex needs. The Meet at the Gate service includes initial assessment prior to release, meeting clients at the gate on the day of release, and accompanying them to pre-arranged appointments e.g. housing assessments, Homeless Persons Units or DIP teams.

The post-holder will also be expected to support and work closely with our Peer Advisors (offenders who have been through our Peer Advisor programme in prison) to maximise the support and impact for the people we work with.

The Ideal person will have:

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by offenders in accessing and sustaining accommodation and how these can be overcome.
• Knowledge and understanding of housing options available to ex-offenders.
• The ability to work effectively with offenders on an individual basis
• Willingness and ability to undertake training to achieve the NVQ 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance or an equivalent relevant qualification
• The willingness to work some weekends, early mornings and evenings and where necessary travel throughout the region

In order to successfully deliver the St Giles secondment role the ideal person will have:

• Lived experience of the Criminal Justice System.
• Experience of working successfully with challenging people, for example with complex and multiple disadvantages, who are reluctant to discuss their needs, and who are angry and confused.
• An understanding of the barriers facing service users with complex needs within the criminal justice system.
• Ability to assess service users’ needs and provide tailored, client-led support with a knowledge and understanding of providing support, advice and advocacy to vulnerable service users and the ability to communicate this knowledge in a variety of ways.
• Thorough understanding of the principles of needs and risk assessment, and care co-ordination/planning, and the ability to coach others in these skills

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much more.

To apply please complete an application form via our website by clicking apply to visit our website.

Closing date: 11pm, 19^th April 2019

Interview date: 7^th May 2019.