RECONNECT worker

Location: Bedfordshire

Salary: £26,000 per annum

Closing Date: 3 of November 2026

Forward Trust is looking for a dedicated and compassionate RECONNECT Practitioner to support people leaving prison or immigration removal detention to access the healthcare, wellbeing support and community services they need to rebuild their lives.

RECONNECT provides a comprehensive, inclusive and person-centred service, helping individuals transition safely from prison into the community. Working with service users from 12 weeks before release and for up to six months post-release, you will assess individual needs, develop bespoke care plans and connect people with appropriate health and wellbeing services.

You will work collaboratively with prison teams, healthcare professionals, community organisations and other key partners to ensure service users receive the right support at the right time.

Please note: A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this role.

What you will be doing

• Managing referrals: Process referrals, assess suitability and provide timely updates to referrers on assessment outcomes.
• Assessing individual needs: Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify each service user's physical health, mental health, wellbeing and wider support needs.
• Providing ongoing support: Build positive relationships with service users, offering guidance and practical support before release and for up to six months afterwards.
• Developing tailored care plans: Work collaboratively with service users and partner agencies to create personalised plans that support a successful transition into the community.
• Connecting people to services: Facilitate GP referrals, healthcare access, mentoring, aftercare support and signposting to appropriate local and community services.
• Building partnerships: Develop and maintain effective working relationships with prison staff, healthcare teams, Offender Management in Custody, external agencies and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinating referrals: Maintain clear and effective referral pathways involving prison teams, healthcare services, Offender Management in Custody, families and self-referrals.
• Supporting safe transitions: Ensure service users are connected with relevant community services and support networks before their release.
• Delivering a high-quality service: Provide inclusive, holistic and person-centred support in line with service standards, safeguarding requirements and individual and team targets.
• Managing risk: Participate in risk assessments and work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure support is delivered safely and effectively.
• Sharing best practice: Work closely with colleagues to share knowledge, strengthen partnership working and continually improve service delivery.

What we are looking for

• A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential.
• A compassionate, empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting people with complex needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and engage positively with a diverse range of people.
• The ability to identify individual needs and provide tailored advice, guidance and practical support.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage referrals, maintain accurate records and prioritise a varied workload.
• The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with external agencies, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
• A collaborative approach, with the confidence to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people leaving prison by helping them access the support, healthcare and community connections they need to move forward positively.

If you are passionate about helping people overcome barriers, improve their wellbeing and build a more stable future, we would love to hear from you.

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 – We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks' continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace.
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

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

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.