Lived Experience Worker

Do you have lived experience of the Criminal Justice System? Do you have a drive to help others who may have difficulty in the transition from Custody to a healthy and fulfilling life in the community? Reconnect NHSis a health-based programme aiming to bridge the transition from prison to community health services for vulnerable people who have complex needs (including both sentenced and remand prisoners).

As a care after custody service, Reconnect seeks to improve the continuity of care of vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave and support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison. Reconnect services aim to improve the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours. Whilst not a service which provides clinical interventions, the Reconnect service offers liaison, advocacy, signposting and support to those leaving prison or Immigration Removal Centres (IRC) to support engagement in community
- based health and support services.

As a Lived Experience support worker, you would be responsible for supporting a caseload of clients who may have health vulnerabilities and assisting them to engage with care services after custody. You will be working as part of a Multidisciplinary team, drawing on your unique knowledge and experience to connect with others, by helping them discover their strengths and developing skills that will lead to wellness. This is only possible with the help of people like you

We provide an inclusive and supportive environment for you where you're driven to stay and grow. You will have a positive attitude and be committed to our values around service user involvement.

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;
- Supporting your career development and progression
- Excellent NHS Pension scheme
- Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Options for flexible working
- Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
- Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
- If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
- Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
- Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, milage paid at business rate s
- Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
- Free car parking at all trust sites
- Free flu vaccinations every year
- Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. As such we would actively seek peers who have lived experience of both the criminal justice system and a health and social care need, e.g. mental health, substance misuse, etc.

You will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to engage with appropriate services, develop an identity outside of the criminal justice system, regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. The Lived Experience Worker will come alongside a service user through their recovery journey, and assist them when aspiring and considering the initial steps on their recovery journey.

Lived Experience Workers work as part of the IOH community pathway and work in collaboration colleagues within the team. Lived Experience Workers engage with IOH service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting service users to gain and maintain independence in the community. The role of the Lived Experience Worker is focused around supporting an individual to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. The Lived Experience Worker will assist service users in raising aspirations and developing personal goals, with the aim to be supported and increase further social capital.
- Working in the RECONNECT and Outreach service in West Mercia, with the flexibility of working across the locality Liaison & Diversion Services, dependent on skill and service need.
- To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, sharing own narratives to raise aspirations of life.
- To work primarily in direct work with service users on a 1:1 and in group settings as agreed with team supervisor and team manager.
- To help individuals identify strengths, interests and their own ac