Supporting People On Probation Navigator - Essex

Adults have a proven reoffending rate of 25%[1]. Forward Trust are on a mission to change that because we believe another life is possible.

We support People on Probation in Essex to successfully complete their Probation Supervision, to stop offending, and to live their potential. Delivering interventions and providing support so that they build relationships with their community, other services, pro social friends, families, and themselves. Building a crime free life stops the cycle of harm.

[1] Proven reoffending statistics: October to December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We are looking for more people who share our vision to join our Supporting People on Probation Team in Essex as a Supporting People on Probation Navigator. You might have worked in prisons, probation, police or the courts before. You could be a psychology graduate, life coach, counsellor or psychotherapist. You might have worked in education, social services, health, or social prescribing, maybe you were or are a foster carer. Perhaps right now are able to bring different life skills and experiences that are transferable. The important thing is that you really enjoy working with others, are good at building rapport, are passionate about making a difference, and believe that everyone can turn their life around. Join us as a Supporting People on Probation Navigator, at Forward Trust, make a difference to individual lives whilst building your career in a leading Charity who prove every day that “another life is possible”. We believe that everyone can live a fulfilling life, whatever their past.

Our People on Probation Interventions help adult men understand their lifestyle and associates, their family and significant other relationships, their emotional wellbeing, and how to overcome social exclusion.  You will walk alongside them as they navigate the consequences of their crimes on their relationships and themselves, leave behind relationships that lead to offending, and repair and build relationships that move them Forward to another life.

In Essex we work alongside the Probation Service within the Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow and Basildon probation offices and we also use community spaces like the Gemini Centre in Chelmsford or Carraway House in Basildon. We also work alongside prison Resettlement Teams in HMP Colchester and HMP Chelmsford. A full UK driving license is desirable for this role as travel between venues is essential.  A work day for you might include facilitating a group music intervention, checking on the progress of a community allotment project, meeting someone prior to  being released from prison, delivering a 1:1 with a Service User experiencing family breakdown, taking someone to the Doctors for the first time in their adult life, and finishing the day taking the winning penalty in a game of football – nice shot by the way!

It's important work, and with it comes responsibility. You will have close relationships with Probation Practitioners and will agree with them and your Service Users their Action Plans and interventions. These form part of your Service Users enforceable sentence conditions. Some of your clients are vulnerable in their mental and physical health, and for all of them there are consequences if they are unsuccessful. Therefore, you will make every contact matter and keep excellent records. We provide training and support, but we need you to understand and be highly motivated to engage with all aspects of this role right from your application.  

Your Essex Team is a part of Forward Trust’s national Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS), which we provide directly for HMPPS. The Essex Service is part of the Personal Wellbeing umbrella where we are lead provider in 7 areas (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Sussex, Surrey); and subcontractor in Kent and Cheshire, providing family support. We also provide CRS Accommodation services preventing homelessness for people on probation in Wales in Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent. And, across all London and Yorkshire and The Humber we provide Dependency and Recovery support. Join a vibrant and passionate wider CRS team as part of Forward Trust where 30% of our staff have lived experiences of addiction or offending.

The Job:

• Supporting People on Probation Navigator – Essex.
• 35 hrs per week. We welcome family friendly / student friendly applications / pro rota applications, state your availability on your application and we can discuss at interview.
• You will be based within one of the Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow or Basildon probation offices and will also be required to travel to our community spaces like the Gemini Centre in Chelmsford or Carraway House in Basildon and to our prison locations HMP Colchester and HMP Chelmsford. We can discuss your base at interview. Travel between all of these locations is essential.
• Some interventions may be delivered virtually to meet the need of the Service User; however, this is an in-person service, and you should expect to attend a work location daily.
• Some evening work.

• Belief in the ability of anyone to change, that another life is possible. 

• A genuine passion for helping others and an ability to form strong working alliances with Service Users, Colleagues, Probation Practitioners, and all stakeholders.  

• Transferable skills or direct experience of needs and risk assessment, action planning, delivering 1:1 and group interventions, keeping detailed accurate records, safeguarding self and others, taking part in continuous professional development.  

• Trustworthy, a team player, confident and safe when working independently.  

• Creativity, collaboration, and flexibility.  

• Strives to meet and exceed own and shared targets as well as high standards for delivery. 

• Salary band of £24,000 – £28,647. Starting salary depending on experience 

• 25 days annual leave and bank holidays (annual leave rises to 30 days with length of service) 

• 3 additional wellbeing days to be spent by you in any way that supports your health, no questions asked.  

• 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) 

• Simply Health Benefits (optional) 

• Flexible working options  

• Bluelight Card eligibility 

• Season Ticket Loan Scheme 

• Cycle to Work Scheme 

• Electric Car / Bike Scheme 

• Crisis loan 

• Enhanced sick pay policy.