Lived Experience Consultant - Full Time (North-West England)

User Voice is looking for a passionate, committed individual with personal lived experience of the criminal justice system to join our team as a Lived Experience Consultant.

This roles is central to ensuring that the voices of people in the justice system shape the services that affect them. You’ll work directly across our Prison Councils in HMP Altcourse and HMP Forest Bank, as well as a range of community‑based projects regionally, and occasionally national. Some projects will require significant travel, so flexibility is essential. You must be off-license to apply, as this role is subject to prison clearance.

Equality and diversity

User Voice actively encourages applications from people with convictions and particularly welcomes applications from underrepresented groups within the criminal justice system. We are committed to creating a diverse and representative workforce, reflective of those that the organisation represents. We actively encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability.

Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) checks 

This post is subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) processes, as the post holder will have regular unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, young people and/or children. The purpose of the check is to ensure that the nature of the applicant’s criminal record, considered alongside evidence of the applicant’s rehabilitation, does not indicate that his or her employment in this role would put current service users at risk. 

HMPPS Vetting

The role includes direct work in custodial settings and with probation and partner agencies. To enable this, the successful applicant will be required to complete HMPPS vetting in accordance with current procedures.

Essential criteria:

• Personal lived experience of the criminal justice system
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people at all levels 
• Experience of engaging in a range of ways, e.g. interviews, surveys, focus groups 
• Experience of recruiting, training, and supporting individuals and groups of people 
• Interest in research and a desire to help others. January 2025 (Adults & Children) 
• Computer literate to a good standard, including collecting and entering data 
• Experience of contributing to project planning and project management 
• Well organised with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively and meet deadlines amid a range of competing demands 
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to project needs 
• Ability to accept and maintain confidentiality 
• Commitment to Equity, Diversity and inclusion for all. 
• A ‘can do’ attitude and the motivation to succeed