Custody Engagement & Diversion Keyworker (Female)

One Wales is an innovative service aimed at providing engagement, support and diversion for Women and Young Adults (18-25) from the criminal justice system including at first contact within police custody. 

The One Wales is a partnership between Nelson Trust, Media Academy Cymru, PACT, and BtheChange dedicated to reducing reoffending and diverting people into appropriate support at the earliest opportunity. 

As an engagement and diversion keyworker you will:

• Work within police custody providing early identification and on the day support and engagement, triage and continuity of care, enabling Women and Young Adults to engage in wider community based support which addresses their individual needs. These needs may include housing, substance misuse, health, finance, previous trauma, children & families and education, training and employment with the aim of reducing social harms and re-offending whilst empowering women and Young Adults to access opportunities to reach their full potential. 

• Work across the service and extended community teams and partners  providing ‘flex’ support in the community where needed.

This role is subject to review and change as the One Wales service develops. 

This vacancy is only open to female applicants as an occupational requirement exception under Sch 9 of the Equality Act 2010. 

This vacancy is subject to Enhanced DBS, HMPPS/Police vetting. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) as it involves access to vulnerable adults and/or children and successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced level Disclosure & Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders, which have been made against them. Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain effective relationships within police and custody units promoting the service, and working with the police to divert women and young adults into the One Wales service 

• Undertake cell sweeps and engagement with all women and young adults (18-25) 

• Undertake triage to identify needs and risks ensure women and young adults have access to the right service at the right time, and any risks are managed and communicated to wider teams 

• Build rapport to understand the offence and situation that led to offence as to advise on support and next steps 

• Support women and young adults into community support teams 

• Liase and work in close collaboration with the wider One Wales teams, arranging first appointments, handholding to support smooth transitions and on the day of release support where need dictates 

• Work with the wider One Wales team to provide flex support across the service where required this could include delivering group interventions within the community, supporting individual clients 

• Work closely with police colleagues, attending Voluntary appointments advocating for clients for diversion as appropriate 

• Work with partner organisations and assist women and young adults to access support services in response to need- facilitating seamless transitions between support services as appropriate 

• Attend multi-agency meetings where appropriate and to act as an advocate within prescribed protocols 

• To contribute to developing partnerships – e.g with other services providing substance misuse, gambling – seeking to streamline support 

• Maintaining up to date knowledge of services available and communicate this to women and young adults 

• To develop and maintain positive and mutually supportive stakeholder and networking relationships particularly with: Police and Criminal Justice, housing providers, Social Services, substance misuse and health services

• To adopt a support co-ordination approach, communicating and keeping all relevant parties informed of any issues, concerns and successes with particular attention to risk

• To work with your colleagues and managers to ensure the service delivers and maintains excellent standards

• To work within the Women and Young Adults partnership – providing support in the absence of other team members and to work within a multiagency ethos – sharing best practice, learning and resources across the One Wales Service. 

General

• To work to The Nelson Trust ethos and values
• To be responsive to women’s and young adults needs and utilise a trauma-informed approach 
• To be aware of and work to confidentiality and information sharing protocols
• To work across the partnership  from police stations, co-location and satellite sites within the service delivery area as appropriate 
• To be aware of, and work to Child and Adult Safeguarding principles, practice, and procedures
• To make use of internal line management and supervision as provided

• To be responsible for own safety and others affected by your activities and to ensure adherence to the Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety including lone working

• To maintain and update clear and accurate written and computer records and onwards referrals 

• To utilise a range of qualitative and quantitative tools to monitor engagement 

• To attend relevant training and development events

• To keep abreast of issues affecting women and young adults both locally and nationally

• Perform any other duties as may be reasonably expected from you as directed by line management

All posts within The Nelson Trust are subject to a 3-month probationary period.

Safeguarding
The Nelson Trust takes seriously it’s responsibility for safeguarding and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its service users. Therefore, we require that all staff share this and act accordingly by applying organisational policy and procedure and attend annual safeguarding training.

Equality & Diversity
Through personal example and clear action demonstrate commitment to equality and diversity ensuring equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery to all.

Health & Safety
Promote the Health and Safety at Work Policy and Procedure and ensure these are implemented effectively within the department and at no time act in a way that may jeopardise the health and safety of clients, staff of visitors to the Nelson Trust.

The list of duties in the job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with your job and, in addition, as a term of your employment you may be required to undertake various other duties as may reasonably be required.

The Nelson Trust periodically reviews job descriptions to ensure that they reflect the requirements of the role as the service develops.