Criminal Police, Prison and Probation Liaison Worker
15-month fixed term contract or 15-month secondment for internal candidates
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen working across Bracknell Forest, to reduce drug related offending and increase engagement in treatment service.
As the Police, Prison and Probation Liaison Worker you will contact, assess, refer and support drug and alcohol users in criminal justice settings (including courts, police stations, prisons, probation offices), outreach, the community, and other appropriate settings in order to maximise their uptake of treatment services. Working closely with the National Probation Service you will establish links to ensure that individuals on court orders and licences are provided with high quality advice, information and support to reduce the risks of them re-offending.
You will maintain contact with local individuals during custodial sentences, arrange visits and develop a clear plan in terms of their release which may include liaising with the Rough Sleepers Team and collection from the prison to ensure that first appointments are kept to reduce the risk of drug and/or alcohol use, overdose and re-offending or re-call to custody.
We want to help our most vulnerable residents to get their lives firmly on track. It’s why this post will support people to reduce their levels of offending, engage with services and re-integrate into the community. We’re working towards success for our clients, and we do what we think should be done, not just what needs to be done. Boasting one of the highest successful completion rates in the South East of England. Put simply, we change lives for the better. Because we’re Bracknell Forest.
What it’s like working in our team…
Drug related offending can lead to custodial sentences and does not only effect the individual. It also affects their families and the wider community. Working with a variety of criminal justice settings such as custody suites, courts, police stations and probation offices, it will allow us to engage with offenders at the earliest opportunity and support them to change their lives and build a better future.
This role will be both challenging and rewarding, however team working will be essential in ensuring that this service is successful and you will have an opportunity to build and develop relationships across each team which will benefit the individuals who access the service.
Relationships with custody, probation and liaison and diversion staff will allow you to optimise opportunities to prevent people being sentenced to prison.
You will be supported to carry out the following duties, responsibilities and training…
To ensure high quality Substance Misuse recovery services are provided to people involved in criminal activities who live in Bracknell Forest to reduce re-offending rates by:
- To carry out initial screening / assessments, e.g. triage and comprehensive assessments, within a range of criminal justice settings including courts, police stations, probation and prisons. To carry out risk assessments in accordance with organisational and local protocols and risk management plans to address and manage identified risks.
- Increase the number of IOMs in treatment and maintained in treatment to reduce the cycle of offending behaviour and harm caused to the community by providing intensive support for this cohort who reside in Bracknell Forest
- Actively re-engage service users that DNA appts
- Carrying out risk assessments in accordance with organisational protocols
- Risk management plans to address and manage risks
- Identify and establish contact with alcohol and drug (mis)users in a variety of different criminal justice settings
- Offer harm reduction interventions to service users, including provision of alcohol interventions and brief advice and Naloxone as required
- To create initial support plans with service users
We offer an extensive training programme for all members of staff which is designed so that members of staff are knowledgeable on substance misuse.
The benefits you will experience are…
- Regular opportunities for development with internal and external training courses.
- An inclusive and social working environment.
- A great office location next to travel links and the regenerated town centre (The Lexicon).
- Internal sports and social club opportunities.
- Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
- An interest free loan for a rail season ticket.
- Supermarket discount.
What we’re looking for…
The suitable candidate for this post will need to have excellent skills in assessing needs and identifying risks as well as experience of working within the criminal justice system. Experience of dealing with people with complex needs is desirable as is attention to detail. They will also need to have experience of partnership working and be prepared to visit various criminal justice establishments on regular basis.
The ideal candidate will be in a position to develop working relationships with both criminal justice and community partners to optimise opportunities to engage individuals. A high standard of computer literacy and data management is required as is a clear understanding of confidentiality.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on 21st May 2024.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role. Please contact:
Nicole Hoskins, Team Leader or Paul Blanchflower on 01344 312360.
At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age. As a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you need any adjustments at any point during the recruitment process by contacting our friendly recruitment team on recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Any candidates that are currently residing in the UK and wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant criteria.
No agencies please.
Equal Opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.