Support Time and Recovery Worker for Reconnect Bristol

Reconnect is a health-based programme aiming to bridge the transition from prison to community health services for vulnerable people who have complex needs (including both sentenced and remand prisoners).

As a care after custody service, Reconnect seeks to improve the continuity of care of vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave and support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison. Reconnect services aim to improve the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours. Whilst not a service which provides clinical interventions, the Reconnect service offers liaison, advocacy, signposting and support to those leaving prison or Immigration Removal Centres (IRC) to support engagement in community- based health and support services.

The post holder will be based within the ASCC Team. The unique aspect of this role will involve working with people leaving Prison who are returning to the Bristol locality to support engagement with the relevant health services.

The Service aim is to offer support to individuals as they are released from prison. To ensure that any health vulnerabilities are considered and then given the support to engage with appropriate pathways on release from prison. Helping them integrate back into the community.

The post holder will engage with individuals prior to release from prison, to consider their vulnerabilities. A Support plan can then be formulated to offer contact on release from prison and on their onward journey in integrating back into the community.

The post holder will have lived experience and will use their experience to support service users who often find it difficult to engage and access a range of community services. In doing so you will improve individual health and social outcomes and reduce re-offending. The post holder will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories who are likely to have a wide range of vulnerabilities such as mental health problems, learning disabilities, substance misuse difficulties and co-existing complex needs. This may also include people with significant risk histories, social exclusion and challenging behaviours.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust)a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset. Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

The post holder will offer support and release planning to individuals for up to 12 weeks prior to release or as soon as they are referred within the 12 weeks prior to release. Offer support for up to 6 months post-release date, or when all health care needs are met, whichever comes soonest (this may be extended in exceptional circumstances when it would be detrimental to the health of the individual to be discharged at 6 months).

Undertake assessment of appropriateness of the referral and gain patient consent: assessment to include identification of physical and/or mental health vulnerabilities, substance misuse needs, alongside barriers that may impact on the patient’s ability/motivation to engage with community-healthcare services and/or support services upon their release.

Offer a minimum of 2 points of contact to the patient prior to release, these should be face to face, where it is not possible to access an individual face to face, virtual, telephone or a combination of these contact will be undertaken.

Work in a trauma informed way.

A successful discharge will occur when all identified health needs have been met, or the individual has been engaged for a full 6 months, whichever comes soonest.

The successful applicant will be working with people within the criminal justice system, to identify robust care pathways. This involves a commitment to close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies, and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with vulnerabilities and varying needs.

The post holder will preferably have lived experience and will use their experience to support service users who often find it difficult to engage and access a range of community services. In doing so you will improve individual health and social outcomes and reduce re-offending. The post holder will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories who are likely to have a wide range of vulnerabilities such as mental health problems, learning disabilities, substance misuse difficulties and co-existing complex needs. This may also include people with significant risk histories, social exclusion and challenging behaviours.