Recovery Navigator South East (Predominately Covering Croydon/Lambeth/Southwark Probation Offices

We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 30 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

The role will predominately be based in Croydon/Lambeth/Southwark Probation Offices. 

Forward Trust now delivers services within the Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) as part of the Ministry of Justice’s new probation system, procured by Regional Probation Directors to provide flexible, responsive services to help break the cycle of reoffending.

You will be working remotely as part of a flexible, multi-disciplinary team, covering clusters across London as a Recovery Navigator (RN) in the Dependency and Recovery Services as part of the CRS probation system.

You will carry a diverse caseload of adult male prison leavers and those on community orders within the Probation services, supporting to implement their action plan and navigate their recovery journey, building trust, and providing support/continuity of contact and signposting.

You will be responsible for completing comprehensive assessments, creating a collaborative action plan, delivering structured one to one, group work/virtual sessions,  whilst maintaining accurate record keeping throughout.

RN’s will be multi-skilled/trained to provide a range of support/interventions across all complexity levels and be able to work across London (not just in allocated cluster region),  providing flexibility and resilience against changing demand.

You will deliver services which enhance access to treatment as well as providing additional support and guidance meeting the needs of those People on Probation (POP) whose substance use disorders often co-occur alongside other mental illnesses and other complex needs.

The Dependency and Recovery Service should not duplicate provision where Clinical Commissioned Services are already in place, instead you will work to ensure POP’s access and sustain engagement with statutory and existing provision to include building motivation, practical assistance and ongoing support and/or achieve controlled dependent behaviour or abstinence with the aim to reduce re-offending.

Some RN’s will be nominated subject matter experts (SME) in particular vulnerable groups (e.g. BAME) or needs (e.g. chemsex), providing support to colleagues across the team.

You will be responsible for adhering to the targets set by Forward and the local commissioners. Co-operative working relationships with other partner agencies and probation staff are vital to this role.

In addition to Monday-Friday we will provide out of hours support, so some degree of flexibility will be required (eg. evenings 5– 9pm/weekends 9am–5pm) provided virtually 1:1 and through an online and telephone helpline.

You may at times be required to attend our head office for training.

• Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice sector.
• Excellent experience of substance misuse field and/or experience of working in a related field or similar field.
• Demonstrable experience of managing high caseloads, carrying out risk/ comprehensive assessments, SMART action plans and effective case records.
• Experience of delivering both 1:1 and group-work interventions using motivational techniques and trauma informed approaches.
• Experience of working with treatment and/or healthcare services.
• The ability to set and stick to professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively with key partners in order to successfully deliver outcomes
• Demonstrate the ability to organise workload , ensuring effective time management and prioritisation to meet targets.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of equal opportunity and GDPR requirements including client confidentiality.
• Experience of strong communication skills with people from a range of backgrounds in a sensitive, supportive and professional manner.
• Level 3 substance misuse related qualification/working knowledge of substance misuse services or relevant experience in a comparable role
• Proactivity – Quick thinking with a high level use of initiative.
• Resilience – Solves problems, takes learning on board from mistakes to aid personal and professional growth.
• Adaptability – Can work in fast-paced changing environments.
• Confidence – Has confidence in own abilities, has good eye contact and able to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Team Work – Works in harmony with colleagues to deliver results.
• Open to Feedback - Open to constructive feedback in order to further develop.

We value the dedication and commitment of our employees by rewarding them with market-leading pay and benefits.

We also offer:

• Flexible working
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Recovery Navigator JD- South East London DR- Cluster 6

Please note we reserve the right to close this role before the closing date *