**Please be advised that this a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave**
About the Role
We're looking for a passionate RECONNECT Peer Coordinator to join our NHS-commissioned RECONNECT service on a maternity cover basis. This is an exciting opportunity to use your lived experience to help shape and support a service that makes a real difference to people leaving prison.
RECONNECT supports people with identified health needs as they transition from custody back into the community, helping them access the healthcare, wellbeing and support services they need to build healthier, more stable futures.
As our Peer Coordinator, you'll lead and support a network of Peer Support Workers, Peer Mentors and Volunteers across custodial and community settings throughout the East of England. You'll recruit, train and supervise peers, helping them use their own lived experience to inspire and support others.
Working closely with colleagues and partner organisations, you'll develop volunteering pathways, facilitate training and workshops, coordinate peer activities, and ensure accurate recording of service data. You'll also play an important role in embedding lived experience throughout the service and creating opportunities for peers to develop and progress within The Forward Trust.
This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll build strong relationships with prisons, healthcare providers and community organisations, helping to deliver high-quality, person-centred support that improves health outcomes and reduces inequalities.
About You
We're looking for someone who believes in the power of lived experience and is passionate about supporting others to make positive, lasting change.
You'll have lived experience of the criminal justice system, substance use, and/or physical or mental ill health, together with the confidence and resilience to use your experiences positively within a professional setting.
You'll also have:
- Strong IT and administrative skills, with experience maintaining accurate records and databases.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of people and partner organisations.
- The ability to motivate, encourage and support others to achieve their goals.
- A flexible, organised approach and the ability to manage a varied workload.
- A commitment to equality, inclusion and delivering person-centred services.
- The ability to represent The Forward Trust professionally and positively.
It would be an advantage if you have experience of working within mental health, substance misuse or wellbeing services, supervising peers or volunteers, facilitating groups, using motivational interviewing techniques, or working within the criminal justice sector, although these are not essential.
If you're passionate about empowering others, championing lived experience and helping people move forward with their lives, we'd love to hear from you.