Job summary
We are looking for part-time Peer Support Workers with essential lived experience / expert by experience of the criminal justice system to join the Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion (CJL&D) Service for Devon. This initiative has been introduced across Liaison & Diversion teams, with a view to service improvement led by the people that use them and to widen the pool of people in the NHS by establishing a vocational pathway.
CJL&D is a very different service from other community mental health services and operates across Devon. We are an all‑age service and sit at the start of someone’s pathway through the criminal justice process usually when they come to the attention of the police and are arrested. Practitioners conduct triage assessments, signpost and support that person on their journey through the criminal justice pathway until an outcome is reached. Peer support workers are key to helping and supporting a person on that journey. We work with people with all vulnerabilities including substance misuse, homelessness, social issues, learning disabilities and mental health. The aim of the service is to improve health and well‑being, reduce vulnerability, and the risk of re‑offending. Practitioners have to use many skills to achieve positive outcomes for the people that use the service. We work very closely with our partner agencies including the police, courts, probation and prisons. Our service is expanding and taking on exciting new initiatives all the time.
Responsibilities
You will work as part of a multi‑agency team alongside Support Time & Recovery Workers and qualified Senior Mental Health Practitioners as part of the CJL&D Service and contribute to the support and brief targeted interventions for people coming into contact with Criminal Justice agencies e.g. police custody, courts and probation.
You will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories combined with a wide range of mental health and social problems who may also have co‑existing complex needs including homelessness, substance misuse, significant risk to self or others, are socially excluded and at times may present with extremely challenging behaviours.
Ensuring that individuals engage with the services they have been referred into by supporting them to attend relevant appointments. Working with our ST&R Workers to obtain the best outcome for our clients. Provide time‑limited 1:1 support to clients giving advice, information and/or support to access a wide range of agencies and services that can provide support and advice with issues such as housing, social isolation and exclusion, debt management, training, education and employment.
Support people who typically find it hard to access and utilise community services and resources. Advocate and liaise with relevant community services.
Working as part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, we expect all our staff to recognise the equal value of everyone involved in service design and delivery.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people’s recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of co‑production, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience – we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Person Specification
Experience (Essential)
- At least 2 years experience of working with people with complex co‑morbidities and vulnerabilities e.g. mental health, learning disability, ADHD, autism, offending behaviours, substance misuse, homelessness, debt etc.
- At least 1 year experience of working with people who are hard to engage through their vulnerability, who are challenging in presentation or employ risk behaviours including self‑harm.
- Working within a community setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
- Ability to assess and manage risk.
- Lone working with people who use services.
Desirable (Experience)
- Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency environment.
Knowledge (Essential)
- An awareness of other relevant legislation, e.g. Children’s Act, Criminal Justice, Housing, Benefits, Social care.
- An awareness of Health and Criminal Justice organisations working with adults & young people e.g. Probation, Youth Offending Services (YOS), Mental Health & Learning Disability Services, Drug & Alcohol services, Child & Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS).
Desirable (Knowledge)
- A basic understanding of the Mental Health Act (2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), The Care Act (2014).
Skills (Essential)
- Good listening skills and ability to deal with complex or sensitive information.
- Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings (verbal & written).
- IT skills.
- Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
- Ability to work without direct supervision.
- Ability to use own initiative and to work independently.
- Ability to assess situations quickly and decide upon the appropriate course of action.
- Good general standard of health.
- Mobility throughout the area covered by service.
- Computer literacy.
Additional Criteria (Essential)
- A *Standard / Enhanced DBS Check will be required for this role alongside Police Vetting.
Qualifications (Essential)
- Basic education.
- Relevant lived experience as stated in the job advert.
- To complete Care Certificate training within the first 3‑6 months of joining unless already obtained.
Desirable (Qualifications)
- Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).
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.
Employer details
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Probation Service
New North Road
Exeter
EX4 4EP
Employer’s website
https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/
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