Support Worker

Job Overview
We are recruiting for a full time Support Worker / Health & Justice Navigator based at Eastbourne/Hastings Police Custody in Sussex.

The post holder will be responsible for working within a multi-disciplinary team, with the flexibility of working across Sussex, dependent on skill and service need. The Post holder with be part of a multi-disciplinary team, primarily completing screenings of individuals needs at different stages of their journey through the Criminal Justice System.

The post holder will require additional vetting from Sussex Police / His Majesty's Prison Service for roles based within the Police Custody settings and Prison Settings.
Main duties of the job

The post holder will use screening tools to identify health and social care needs. The post holder will assist individuals to navigate health and social care services to address identified needs, will be required to complete onward referrals where appropriate and provide short term intensive support to patients and their families.

Working for our organisation

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Clinical
Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a high standard of clinical care for service users, under the supervision of the qualified staff, acting within the standards, protocols and guidelines of The health and justice service.

• Independently undertake face to face and electronic screening to support the identification of multiple vulnerabilities of people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system or immigration centre, such as police custody, courts, and prison and community settings. Working to guidelines.
• Work within limitations and escalate to qualified staff as appropriate.
• To support qualified staff, STR Workers and Lived Experience workers and Admin as necessary.
• Provide an embedded service in police custody suites, courts and prisons working within legislation requirements, such as PACE
• Work as part of a team with the freedom to work independently, particularly in relation to providing advice to service users, carers, and professionals who contact the service.
• Work with service users in conjunction with other professionals, to devise and implement effective individualised programmes of support.
• Liaise with other agencies as required dependant on the person's presentation, work closely with other agencies, such Custody and Prison Health Care Professionals, and community agencies.
• Be accountable for aspects of own clinical practice.
• Ensure that those aspects of service, delivered as part of remit, meet local quality standards.
• Ensure that the dignity and respect of service users is maintained.
• Be proactive in maximising health, well-being and social inclusion.
• Participate in relevant health promotion aspects of the service.
• Deliver care in a variety of settings including police custody, prison, courts and other community settings.
• Obtain informed consent prior to undertaking any intervention.
• Participate in the assessment of any risk associated with delivering the service. This includes taking appropriate action to minimise the risk consistent with local protection procedures e.g. applying child or adult safeguarding procedures.
• Support and enable service users to maintain their own personal care needs
• Monitor and report any changes, both positive and negative, within the service users life to relevant others; housing, care coordinators, line managers etc.
• Support service users to gain access to resources to include benefits, welfare rights, housing and health promotion.
• Actively promote the service to external agencies as a positive example of user led services.

Screening, Assessment, Planning & Therapeutic Interventions

• Provide compassion to vulnerable individuals at points of acute vulnerability in the criminal justice process.
• To support criminal justice agencies to better identify vulnerabilities in their respective environments.
• Provide criminal justice agencies with advice and information regarding pathways to access further support.
• To provide high quality information to key decision makers in youth and criminal justice agencies, including the police, courts, probation, prison and Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) relating to individual vulnerability.
• To secure referrals into mainstream health and social care services and other relevant interventions and support services from a range of statutory and voluntary providers.
• Please see the attached JD/PS for further details on this role.**

Person specification

Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care (or willingness to work towards) or equivalent experience.
• The post holder will require additional vetting by partner agencies; this includes Police Vetting and / or Prison Clearance.

Experience
Essential criteria

• The post holder will require additional vetting by partner agencies; this includes Police Vetting and / or Prison Clearance.

Desirable criteria

• Experience and/or sound knowledge of the Criminal Justice System.
• Experience of working in a community based setting.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential criteria

• Awareness of a range of vulnerabilities. An awareness of the impact of vulnerabilities on individuals.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times, even in challenging and complex situation.
• Ability to travel across the MPFT footprint.

Salary : $45,000 - $75,000