Health and Wellbeing Practitioner at Forward Trust, Ashford, Kent

Health and Wellbeing Practitioner

Location: Middlesex – Ashford

Salary:  £27,857 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time

The Forward Trust provides clinical and psychosocial Substance Misuse Services across Surrey Prisons, working in partnership with NHS Trust healthcare providers. Our services operate within a Health and Wellbeing framework, taking a trauma-informed and gender-responsive approach to deliver a wide range of interventions and integrated pathways tailored to the needs of each prison and the people we support.

We are looking for a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner to join our team at HMP Bronzefield, a closed and restricted-status adult female prison located in Sutton.

Working as part of a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team, you will provide recovery-orientated Health and Wellbeing Services to people aged 18 and over who may present with low-level mental health needs and/or substance misuse issues.

As a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Managing a caseload and providing consistent, person-centred support.
• Providing appropriate harm reduction advice, information and guidance.
• Completing comprehensive assessments and identifying individual needs.
• Developing, implementing and reviewing SMART care plans in partnership with service users.
• Delivering structured one-to-one interventions.
• Facilitating structured group-work sessions.
• Using motivational interviewing techniques to support engagement and positive change.
• Undertaking second signatory duties.
• Supporting individuals with release planning and ensuring effective through-care arrangements.
• Working collaboratively with community services to support individuals as they transition from prison back into the community.
• Maintaining accurate, timely and high-quality records in line with service requirements.
• Contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of the service, recognising that effective data recording and outcome measurement are vital to demonstrating the impact of our work.

The service operates 7 days a week, so weekend working will be required on a rota basis. Please be advised that this position is subject to obtaining prison vetting. 

About You

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting people to make positive changes in their lives and who can build effective, trusting relationships with individuals who may have complex and varied needs.

You will have experience of working within a mental health or substance misuse service and be confident delivering structured interventions in both one-to-one and group settings.

You will also have:

Experience of carrying out comprehensive assessments and designing and implementing SMART care plans.

Experience of delivering structured interventions.

Experience of facilitating group-work sessions.

The ability to use motivational interviewing techniques effectively in both one-to-one and group settings.

Strong IT skills and the ability to maintain accurate and timely electronic records.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

The ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

A person-centred, trauma-informed and non-judgemental approach.

The ability to work collaboratively with service users and colleagues to achieve positive outcomes.

An understanding of the importance of partnership working, release planning and continuity of care.

You will be organised, resilient and able to manage your own caseload while contributing positively to a wider team. Most importantly, you will share our commitment to supporting people affected by substance misuse and mental health difficulties to improve their health, wellbeing and recovery.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits - 

• Flexible working
• Support for Families
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.