Support, Time & Recovery Worker

Interviews are due to be held on 30 April 2025.

We are looking for a Band 4 Support Worker to join our Thames Valley Liaison and Diversion team. You will have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion and a passion about supporting our service users as they make their way through police custody, court and up to prison.

We are a dynamic, people-centred team who are looking for someone who is passionate about health outcomes for those making their way through the criminal justice system.

With a reputation for excellence, our service is committed to improving the health of our clients, identifying care pathways, and reducing reoffending.

Recognised with a number of awards, including a Thames Valley Commendation, a Gold Award from the Lived Experience Charter, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.

We value our employees and put people first. We achieved an 'Outstanding' rating overall in our latest CQC inspection, which found that: 'Managers across Berkshire Healthcare promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.'

We operate across Thames Valley, but this post is predominately based in Oxfordshire working for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

• Monday - Friday 9am-5pm based primarily within court settings within Buckinghamshire but also meeting service users within the community.
• You will support people within court and custody settings who are typically hard to engage, you will talk to families and friends, to gain a holistic understanding of the client's circumstances and facilitate their access to support services, providing individualised support with practical problems or difficulties that may be affecting their health and wellbeing.
• An empathetic advocate of service users, you will promote their rights and responsibilities, building a rapport, whilst maintaining appropriate and transparent boundaries. You will be emotionally resilient, able to cope with people potentially displaying challenging behaviour and distressing situations.
• To provide help and advice to service users that includes housing, social isolation and exclusion, education, debt management and employment problems etc.
• To provide the court with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and probation acting as a single point of contact for health.
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust site

Job responsibilities

The "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:

• An NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent or relevant training to diploma level.
• A warm personality, good communication and people skills.
• Licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel across multiple sites in Hampshire as required.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Lucy Bashir on 07584 556882 or email: lucy.bashir@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent.
• Minimum of 12-18 months relevant experience at band 2/3 level

Continuous Professional Development

• Evidence of qualifications
• Evidence of attendance at relevant conferences/training courses
• Evidence of recent reading research around speciality

Previous Experience

• Knowledge of the Liaison & Diversion agenda
• IT competent
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system
• Knowledge of the health & social care systems

Additional Requirements

• Full driving License and car owner
• Skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.