RECONNECT Team Leader

RECONNECT Team Leader- Norfolk

Location: Norfolk

Salary: GBP27,992 per annum, plus benefits

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date: 07 Aug 2025

We are recruiting for a RECONNECT Team Leader- Norfolk

We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime and addiction to move forward and live fulfilling lives .

RECONNECT is a care after custody service that seeks to improve the continuity of care of people leaving prison or an immigration removal centre (IRC) with an identified health need. We operate a hybrid model of support where we work with individuals up to 12-weeks before their release and up to six months post-release in order to support the transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison or an IRC.

Our East of England RECONNECT service is available for adults over the age of 18 with a designated healthcare need and who are due to be released from prison or an IRC in the next 12 weeks. We also accept referrals up to 28 days post release.

Role Responsibilities

You will be responsible for providing a comprehensive, inclusive and bespoke RECONNECT service, including advice and guidance to Forward Trust clients across HMP Norwich, HMP Bure, HMP Wayland and community services in the local area. There may be occasions where you could be asked to assist with other establishments and regions, either remotely or in person.

RECONNECT enables service users to access and sustain supportive interventions upon release from prison, whether that be physical or mental health in addition to general well-being support needs. The service will offer signposting, GP referrals, accompanying to appointments, meet and greet at the gate, aftercare support and a connection to the wider Forward community. Following a referral 12-weeks prior to release, the service is to identify our clients needs via a robust assessment and then working in partnership with many agencies to create a bespoke client centred care plan.

Some of the key responsibilities of the role are as follows:

• Implement a comprehensive, robust strategy in line with the RECONNECT contract.
• Build and maintain excellent partnerships with external agencies and key stakeholders.
• Recruit and develop a network of lived experience volunteers and peer support workers.
• Manage a team of workers in your area(s) including line management responsibilities such as supervision, quarterly line management reviews and team meetings.
• Implement and maintain clear referral pathways for our stakeholders including custodial partners, family members, and self-referrals.
• Lead your team by example in line with Forward Trust values and mission statement.
• Deliver a high quality and safe service by working closely with your Forward Trust peers and external stakeholders to share best practise, create robust risk assessments and safeguarding of clients.
• Ensure your teams are fully connected with local services in preparation for release of our clients into the community.
• Support the recruitment, training and retention of Forward Trust staff and volunteers.
• Collect and compile data for monthly submission, report on commissioner key performance indicators (KPIs) in line with the contract and any other information requests from your line manager.
• Support your line manager and be prepared to assist them in any duties they deem appropriate.

All prison-based roles will require enhanced DBS and HMPPS security vetting. Please note this process can take up to 3-6 weeks. All offers are subject to receiving both HMPPS vetting and DBS clearances.

Checks will require you to provide information on the below:

• Yourself (personal information, financial information, police information, criminal history)
• Your family (parents, parents' partners, siblings, partner(s), children)
• Co-residents
• Associations that may cause a conflict of interest with your role or the prison service.
• Background checks across police information systems on you, your family and other associates
• Credit reference checks
• Social media and Open-Source checks (these are checks on content about you that's publicly available on the internet to ensure there's nothing linked to you that could undermine public trust and confidence in the prison service)
• Other government and overseas agency or police checks

The Ideal Candidate

Please see below a list of skills and experience needed for this role

• The use of strong IT skills to support project management
• Flexibility to meet the needs of the service as it develops within required timeframes
• Ability to represent The Forward Trust in a positive and professional manner
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and in a variety of formats

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. To Apply

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