6 Month Maternity Cover - Styal Link Worker - August to January

This job is for you if you are someone who shares in our belief in the inherent capacity and potential of all women, and that empowering them to support each other leads to positive change; not only for themselves, but also for their communities.

Our successful candidate will ideally have experience in probation / social care or experience working within the criminal justice sector. However, we appreciate that not everyone can tick every single box, so we’re looking for someone confident who is comfortable working with a diverse range of women from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances and who can coach / mentor them.

As this is a short terms cover we are looking for someone who already has an enhanced DBS check and successful completion of HMPPS prison vetting and barring processes at Enhanced Check Levels 1 & 2 in place.

Purpose of the Role. 

You will provide high-quality outreach and early engagement services for women leaving Styal Prison. You will be supporting vulnerable women who may find themselves separated from their children and families, struggling with substance misuse, and potentially homeless to connect with GMWSA member women’s centres and other relevant support services. Working in a challenging environment with potentially chaotic clients, you will need excellent engagement skills to motivate individuals to address their needs and seek positive change.

The post holder must:

• At all times carry out duties and responsibilities with due regard to GMWSA Policies and Procedures.
• Work within GMWSA Values, Ethos and Vision.
• Ensure that personal information for service-users, members of staff and all other individuals is accurate, up to date, kept secure and confidential at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the common law duty of confidentiality.
• Take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, undertaking on-the-job and other training as required. 
• Familiarise themselves with and comply with GMWSA policies and procedures.
• Be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act and identify and report as necessary any untoward accident, incident potentially hazardous environment.
• Identify and attend training as required.
• Comply with operational reporting procedures.
• Work as part of a team.
• Adhere to ethical, legal, and quality standards.
• Be responsible for ensuring the provision of high quality, effective services.
• Support and promote user involvement in all aspects of service development and delivery.

This role description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post and is not an exhaustive list of duties and tasks. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the post, at the direction of the Health Services Manager.

The duties described in this role description must be carried out in a manner which promotes equality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and service users and is consistent with our Equal & Diversity Policy.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Client Care

• To provide advocacy, emotional/practical support and options service to women at HMP Styal.
• To undertake an initial assessment and develop an individual support plan with clients that seek to address all nine reoffending pathways, in conjunction with the BCST and/or Resettlement Review.
• To support, liaise with and assist in training designated Peer Mentors with HMP Styal who will assist in promoting GMWSA and linking in women to their local providers.
• To advise on referral options and arrange for the referral of women to their local Women’s Centre and other appropriate local agencies based upon their identified needs and in consultation with the client.
• To promote a climate of understanding so that women feel able to voice anxieties, needs and concerns.
• To utilise counselling skills and proficiency in client advocacy in issues relating to service feedback given by clients.
• To develop expertise in and act as a source of specialist advice and support to GMWSA staff regarding issues relating to the complexities of the Offender Rehabilitation Act, including Post Sentence Supervision, Rehabilitation Activity Days and License Conditions.
• Where necessary, meet clients on the day of their release and accompany to meet NPS staff, assist with any other identified support needs on the day, and to link them into their local Women’s Centre.
• Provide intensive support to assist clients in the first 48 hours after release In specific cases, provide ongoing support to assist with community reintegration and help reduce the likelihood of breach or recall.

Communication

• To develop and utilise a variety of strategies to communicate effectively with clients, Women’s Centres, external and partner organisations, HMP Styal staff and the general public.
• To be responsible for establishing and maintaining contacts with front-line workers within relevant statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
• To organise/attend forums at a local community level with the aim of encouraging dialogue and promoting understanding of issues related to women affected by the Criminal Justice System.
• To liaise with and provide advice to staff within probation services, mental health services, substance misuse services, domestic violence services and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies with respect to the needs of women affected by the Criminal Justice System.
• To attend regular team meetings.
• To establish and maintain good working relationships with other members GMWSA staff team, Women’s Centres, and partner organisations.
• To organise and attend meetings as appropriate actively participating and disseminating information to colleagues GMWSA and Women’s Centres.
• To keep accurate and up-to-date records, using appropriate IT systems including evidence of assessments undertaken and visits completed, together with any other work carried out. All reports to be placed within client files.

Information Management

• To keep an accurate account of the number of clients seen, phone calls taken and the nature of such interactions, contributing to the maintenance of GMWSA’s client database.
• To maintain accurate, confidential service-user records of interventions and contact details in line with GMWSA protocols and procedures.
• To produce reports and evaluations in consultation with GMWSA staff and Women’s Centres on all work carried out and as requested, working within set deadlines.
• To participate in the maintaining of information on relevant referral agencies and contact telephone numbers, specifically researching and developing links with mental health support agencies.
• To ensure all client files and documentation are kept in accordance with agreed administrative systems

Personal / Professional / Development Training

• To continually reflect on your own professional performance through participation in regular supervision sessions with Line Manager.
• To participate in annual appraisals in accordance with GMWSA policy.
• To attend regular therapeutic supervision for service-user work.
• To continue to develop information and communication technology (ICT) skills.
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of developments in public policy and legislation regarding women offenders and related subjects by attending relevant training courses, regional and national meetings and conferences
• To develop specialist knowledge of legislation and policy to support the rights of women ex-offenders.
• To contribute to the development of the team and to new forms of work or service