THE WELCOME DIRECTORY - helping faith communities welcome people leaving prison. Established as a charity in 2016 the Welcome Directory is entering a new and exciting phase of development. Already 125 Faith Communities have registered with us to state clearly that people leaving prison will find a welcome with them. Over the next two years our aim is to substantially increase that number, moving towards our simple yet powerful vision: to help faith communities become places where people who leave prison find acceptance. A place to belong that not only nurtures faith but also offers appropriate practical support.

People are at the very heart of this work; people who have found the benefits of being part of a faith community whether inside or outside the prison gates. If nothing else, we hope that engaging with The Welcome Directory will help faith communities to understand that in a deeper way; that those leaving prison have a name, a story as well as hopes and dreams for their lives beyond the prison gate.

JOB SUMMARY: The post holder will ensure overall leadership and day to day management of all operational aspects of The Welcome Directory.

This will include, but may not be limited to:

• Ensuring adequate funding is available for the financial stability of the project
• Developing the population of the directory with Registered Communities
• The engagement of appropriate partners in helping to establish the work of the Welcome Directory nationally, especially
  • Funding Partners
  • Operational partners
• The implementation of the authorisation framework for communities applying for inclusion in the “Welcome Directory”
• Oversight of the Prisons Awareness course, particularly to facilitate the “in-prison” element
• Oversight and development of suitable online resources to host and communicate the Welcome Directory
• From time to time, you may be required to undertake additional activities which are appropriate to the development nature of this role as required by your line manager.
• In the early stages of the contract the post-holder will identify and appoint additional key staff to assist in fundraising, communications and regional development roles as funding and operational requirements dictate.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

General: The post is to be home-based. Travel expenses as required for the successful development of the project may be claimed and suitable equipment for fulfilling the job will be provided.

Salary: £32,000 pa

Contract Type: Two Year Fixed Term

Hours of Duty: Normal hours of work are 40 hours per week over 5 days, excluding an hour’s unpaid break for lunch.

Annual Leave: 20 days paid leave per year exclusive of public and additional holidays.

Pensions: As the employer, The Welcome Directory pays National Insurance contributions under the ‘not-contracted-out’ contributions scheme and all members of staff not in a pension scheme are required to join one. The Welcome Directory will, during the term of the post contribute 5% of salary provided that the staff member also makes a contribution.

Location: Home based and at the London Office of The Welcome Directory, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH

Accountable to: The Trustees via single appointed trustee

Key relationships: The Welcome Directory Trustees and staff, Registered Faith Communities, Prison Chaplains, All Funders

PERSON SPECIFICATION: The post is open to any person with recent or ongoing experience of the resettlement of offenders. The ideal post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of awareness of the resettlement issues faced by those leaving prisons as understood by Prison Chaplains.

Essential Qualities

Personal Attributes:

• Self-directing with capacity to prioritise
• Ability to set and meet deadlines
• Commitment to their own faith
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly

Education

• Educated to at least degree level or equivalent

Skills/Aptitudes

• Advanced leadership and motivational skills
• Advanced written and oral communication skills
• Ability to relate well to people of all faiths
• Analytical skills
• IT skills to an Advanced level

Experience

• Resettlement issues faced by those leaving prison
• Working with / alongside Prison Chaplaincy
• Working with / alongside those in leadership in church, society, and other faith groups
• New Project development
• Planning and executing meetings

Circumstances

• Willingness and ability to travel, with occasional overnight stays

Desirable Qualities

Education

• Higher degree and/ or evidence of research/ reading in proffered area of interest

Experience

• Prison Chaplaincy structures and the justice systems
• Experience of working within a multi-faith team
• Experience of web design / use of social networking in a corporate setting

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

Equality of opportunity, and diversity

Equal treatment amongst people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives is one of the central precepts of The Welcome Directory. The Welcome Directory as an employing body values the richness which this equal treatment brings to the workplace.  It therefore has an equal opportunities policy in place which not only requires the employer to fulfil certain obligations but also places responsibilities on staff.  Staff found to be contravening the policy or acting outside its spirit will be subject to disciplinary action, which could lead to dismissal.

The Welcome Directory is committed to implement the terms of all relevant Diversity legislation and to improving opportunities for people safeguarded by the protected characteristics.

Standards of Behaviour and Conduct

Staff are expected to act at all times with due consideration for others and in a manner befitting their position as employees of a body representative of the Churches and as professionals, whatever their job.

It is important that all members of staff present a neat and tidy appearance at all times. The post holder will be expected to model this to all staff and stakeholders. The general appearance should help convey a professional and efficient approach to work. Whilst not wishing to impose unreasonable obligations on staff, The Welcome Directory nonetheless expects you to look smart in appearance at all times while representing the organisation.

In this post, any action that would exclude the holder from prisons will disqualify them from this employment.

It is a condition of employment that the post holder is in possession of a recent and valid DBS certificate

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Staff must ensure that they do not endanger themselves or others by any act or omission on their part.

Home-working staff must ensure that they are mindful of health and safety responsibilities in their work place.

Confidentiality

Staff must not pass on to unauthorised persons, any information obtained in the course of their duties without the permission of their line manager or the trustees.

Please apply by submitting a letter of application explaining why you think you would be suited to this role and a current CV

Penrose Criminal Justice Services are recruiting for Offender Resettlement Workers (x8) to be based in of our London prisons.

Working in partnership with the London Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) and MTCNovo, our service supports all adult males who are sentenced to a custodial order to resettle into the community and to break the cycle of reoffending. We provide guidance and support with a wide range of issues, from accommodation to training to financial advice, signposting our clients to relevant services in their area, as well as supporting them with any referral processes. We engage with agencies both within the CRC and across London, tailoring a package of support to best meet each individual’s needs. Our resettlement workers are trained in risk management and motivational interviewing and with a set of trainings that will be catered around the role being carried out.

We are looking for motivated staff who want to deliver services differently, and develop new skills in the process. The role will be based in a London prison, where you will be the representative for Penrose Criminal Justice Services. However, you will also meet with your wider Penrose team in full Penrose custodial Team meetings on a six weekly basis. All our Resettlement workers will receive a holistic training package before they are able to manage a caseload of service users, and Penrose is committed to continual professional development through additional training, supervisions and appraisals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and/or deliver individual support and resettlement packages for the offenders, liaising with the appropriate agencies and care professionals to ensure successful delivery of the plans.
• Work directly with prison staff to facilitate resettlement planning.
• Ensure that the offender is designated to a named Responsible Officer within the cohort most relevant to their needs, with specific arrangements to support the allocated persons on the day of release organised according to individual need.
• To complete reports (either electronically or written), including offenders resettlement plans, case notes and other documentation for managers, members of the management board and other agencies
• Positively promote an environment within the service which respects the different ethnic cultures of the service users.

Experience Required:

• Clear evidence and experience of successful reintegration of offenders into the community
• Excellent understanding of the resettlement and social needs of vulnerable individuals
• Understanding and practical application of key legislation regarding criminal justice, social care, housing, and mental health
• Understanding and practical knowledge interventions of the social and societal marginalisation can be attached to people with mental health issues and offending behaviour
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral with both internally and externally with outside agencies and bodies