GMWSAPRISON LINK WORKER

JOB DESCRIPTION

General Information

Title: GMWSA Prison Link Worker

Job Base:HMP Styal

Hours of Work:35 hours per week

Reports To:Women in Prison Northern Services Manager

Job Summary

The GMWSA Prison Link Worker will:

  • Provide advocacy, support, andadvice services to women whoare leaving HMP Styal and returning to Greater Manchester
  • Ensure women leaving HMP Styal are linked in with ongoing support from their local GMWSA provider on release
  • Create resettlement plans, based on the CRC BCST 2 Screening and/or Resettlement Review that support women to address their multiple needs and enable them to engage with Post Sentence Supervision and License Requirements upon release
  • To work as part of the Greater Manchester Women Support Alliance and other delivery partners to improve holistic services and reduce reoffending
  • To support, liaise with and assist in training designated Peer Mentors with HMP Styal who will assist in promoting GMWSA and linking in women to their local providers

*This post is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010.

Key Responsibilities

  1. CLIENT CARE

1.1To provide an advocacy, emotional/practical support and options service towomen referred at 12 weeks or less prior to leaving HMP Styal

1.2To undertake an initial assessment of and develop an individual support plan with clients that seeks to address all nine reoffending pathways, in conjunction with the BCST Screening and/or Resettlement Review that the CRC must undertake.

1.3To support, liaise with and assist in training designated Peer Mentors with HMP Styal who will assist in promoting GMWSA and linking in women to their local providers

1.4To advise on referral options and arrange for the referral of women to appropriate local agencies based upon their identified needs and in consultation with the client.

1.5To promote a climate of understanding so that women feel able to voice anxieties, needs and concerns on the telephone or face to face.

1.6To utilise counselling skills and proficiency in client advocacy in issues relating to service feed-back given by clients.

1.7To develop expertise in and act as a source of specialist advice and support to GMWSA staff volunteers regarding issues relating to the complexities of the Offender Rehabilitation Act, including Post Sentence Supervision, Rehabilitation Activity Days and License Conditions

1.8 Where necessary, to meet clients on the day of their release and accompany to meet CRC or NPS staff, to assist with any other identified support needs on the day, and to link them into their local GMWSA provider

1.9 Provide intensive support to assist clients in the first 48 hours after release

  1. COMMUNICATION

2.1To develop and utilise a variety of strategies to communicate effectively with clients, external organisations, HMP Styalstaff and the general public.

2.2To be responsible for establishing and maintaining contacts with front-line workers within relevant statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

2.3To organise/attend forums at a local community level with the aim of encouraging dialogue and promoting understanding of issues related to women affected by the Criminal Justice System.

2.4To liaise with and provide advice to staff within probation services, mental health services, substance misuse services, domestic violence services and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies with respect to the needs ofwomen affected by the Criminal Justice System.

2.8To attend regular team meetings

2.9To establish and maintain good working relationships with other members of WIP and GMWSA staff teams.

2.10To organise and attend meetings as appropriate actively participating and disseminating information to colleagues in all GMWSA providers

  1. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

3.1To keep an accurate account of the number of clients seen, telephone calls taken and the nature of such interactions, contributing to the maintenance of GMWSA’sclient database.

3.2To maintain accurate, confidential service-user records of interventions and contact details as per WIP protocols and procedures.

3.3 To produce reports and evaluations in consultation with other WIP and GMWSA staff members on all work carried out and as requested.

3.4To participate in the maintaining of information on relevant referral agencies and contact telephone numbers, specifically researching and developing links with mental health support agencies.

3.5To ensure all client files and documentation are kept in accordance with agreed administrative systems.

  1. PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

4.1To attend and prepare for regular line management meetings.

4.2To participate in annual appraisals in accordance with WIP policy.

4.3To attend regular clinical supervision for service-user work.

4.4To continue to develop information and communication technology (ICT) skills.

4.5To maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of developments in public policy and legislation regarding women offenders and related subjects by attending relevant training courses, regional and national meetingsand conferences.

4.6To develop specialist knowledge of legislation and policy effecting the education, employment and housing rights of women ex-offenders.

5.FURTHER INFORMATION

5.1The post holder must at all times carry out duties and responsibilities with due regard to WIP’s equal opportunities policies and procedures.

5.2The post holder must ensure that personal information for service-users, members of staff and all other individuals is accurate,up-to-date,kept secure and confidential at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998and the common law duty of confidentiality.

5.3The post holder is expected to take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, undertaking on-the-job and other training as required.

5.4The post holder is required to familiarise him/herself with and comply with WIP’s policies and procedures.

5.5The post holder must be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act and identify and report as necessary any untoward accident, incident potentially hazardous environment.

5.6The post holder will be subject to checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service

This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post and not as an exhaustive list of duties and tasks. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to her grade, that are not listed above, at the direction of her manager.

GMWSA PRISON LINK WORKER

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential = E Desirable= D / E or D / Applic form / Interview
EDUCATION/
QUALIFICATIONS / Relevant degree or qualification , NVQ 3/4 / D / A
SKILLS/

ABILITIES

/ Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. / E / I
A demonstrable ability to undertake needs assessments and develop support plans with clients. / E / A / I
Basic counselling skills. / E / I
Ability to work effectively on own initiative without direct supervision. / E / I
Ability to contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of GMWSA and WIP / D / I
IT skills / D / I

EXPERIENCE

/ 2 years experience of supporting vulnerable women with a range of complex needs. / E / A
E / A
Experience of planning and delivering group- based training or workshop programmes.

KNOWLEDGE

/ Knowledge of the possible impact of imprisonment upon women and their families. / E / A / I
I
Thorough understanding of confidentiality issues. / E / A / I
Understanding of issues of diversity. / E / A / I
Sound knowledge of assessment processes. / E / A / I
Understanding of the principles of equal opportunities. / E / A / I
Awareness of legal issues relating to imprisonment and the criminal justice system. / D / A / I

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

/ Interested and motivated to further own skills and knowledge.
Full, clean driving licence and access to a vehicle for work use / E
E / A
A
This appointment is subject to receipt of a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and other security checks as needed for work within prison / E / A

DRAWN UP BY (NAME)

/ Rachel Halford

TITLE

/ Director /

DATE

/ 11th May, 2015

REVIWED/UPDATED (NAME)

/ Hannah Morowa

TITLE

/ WomenMATTA Project Manager /

DATE

/ 4th December, 2015

1