Resettlement and Community Links Worker

Job Introduction

HMP Bronzefield are currently recruiting for a Resettlement and Community Links Worker.

As a Resettlement and Community Links Worker, you will scope and develop employment and training opportunities for offenders upon release by building and maintaining strong long term relationships with national & local organisations.

We house up to 572 women (approximately 14.5% of the national female prison population). The women in our custody have a diverse and complex set of needs and range from mothers and babies, young offenders, life and long term sentenced women, short to mid-term sentenced women, foreign nationals and women on remand. HMP/YOI Bronzefield is a closed local prison serving courts across the South of England. Our mission is to deliver quality of life services which make a meaningful difference to women in the criminal justice system by supporting them to change their lives for the better. To achieve this we focus on providing needs-based services and programmes to rehabilitate and improve the well-being of our women. 

We have been awarded a bronze accreditation by Investors in People for our commitment to our staff, their development, engagement and investment in a sustainable future.

Sodexo Justice aims to change lives for the better by reducing reoffending and improving the quality of life for those under our supervision and in our care. We deliver safe, effective and innovative custodial and community rehabilitation services that challenge offending behaviour, protect the public and offer individuals the opportunity to change their lives for the better. We deliver the total operation of five prisons within the UK and own six Community Rehabilitation Companies in partnership with crime reduction charity Nacro.

Role Responsibility

• Liaise with the IOMU Caseworkers with regards to offender suitability for ROTL.
• Supervision of offenders that have been released on licence to attend a work placement.
• Follow up and engage as necessary with women discharged from HMP YOI Bronzefield.
• Liaise with IOMU Administrators to organise ROTL boards
• Create and maintain offender working ROTL files
• Log ROTL Mobile phone/locker allocation and security checks
• Log and conduct weekly work ROTL checks
• Collate information to build case studies of success stories.
• Record and deliver working ROTL regime hours
• Ensure offender wages are paid daily
• Provide employment support to the workshops, sourcing placements for offenders nearing release
• Attend internal meetings relating to Learning & Skills and IOMU
• Provide additional support to IOMU undertaking OASys, Sentence Planning, Risk Management and any other risk assessments as required to do so
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with residents, colleagues, voluntary sector and partner agencies
• Maintain accurate paper and computer records (including updating information on NOMIS and CMS), and complete other administrative tasks.
• Work at all times in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidance and policy (including PSOs/PSIs, information assurance and data protection). 

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Non-judgmental understanding of the life experiences and social problems affecting women in custody and how these also affect their ability to access employment and resettle effectively and safely into the community.
• Confident in public speaking, networking and delivering presentations.
• Ability to build professional pro-social relationships (with residents; with other prison staff; and with partner agencies).
• Ability to question and evaluate information about individuals (including identify patterns and trends in offending behaviour), assess risks, write reports and make appropriate defensible decisions based on your analysis.
• Effective organisational skills suited to a busy department, including the ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and maintain high standards across all elements of the job
• Ability to work effectively both in a team and on an individual basis
• Experience of establishing relationships with employment agencies and resettlement services.
• Experience of working with ex-offenders in the community
• Full UK drivers licence

Desirable

• Experience in offender case management
• Experience of risk assessment and/or risk management
• Degree in a related subject (eg, criminology, sociology, psychology/forensic psychology) or relevant vocational qualification.

Package Description

£24,970.32 + London weighting £287.75 recurring monthly

Excellent benefits including season ticket loans, free meals, free parking, subsidised gym membership, group discount schemes, pension and 28 days holiday.

About the Company

Sodexo Justice aims to change lives for the better by reducing reoffending and improving the quality of life for those under our supervision and in our care. We deliver safe, effective and innovative custodial and community rehabilitation services that challenge offending behaviour, protect the public and offer individuals the opportunity to change their lives for the better. We deliver the total operation of five prisons within the UK and own six Community Rehabilitation Companies in partnership with crime reduction charity Nacro.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

Please note all roles within Sodexo Justice are subject to security and recruitment checks which may include a Social Media Check. You will also be asked to provide 3 years’ worth of references and request employment history details from the HMRC.