SUSSEX PATHWAYS
Supporting the offender from the inside out
Post
Volunteer Coordinator (West Sussex)
Accountable to
Project Manager
Based
Sussex
The work of Sussex Pathways
Sussex Pathways is a multi-faith volunteer mentoring project. Its main objectives are:
To reduce the risk of re-offending for people being released to Sussex, from prisons at
Lewes, High Down, Bronzefield and Ford, through the provision of a mentoring
support service.
To facilitate, encourage and support offenders to engage with specialist agencies in
the community, so that they address and overcome underlying problems & work
towards rehabilitation.
To encourage the longer term community engagement of offenders by recognising
and supporting their interests and guiding them towards voluntary work, membership
of local clubs, faith groups etc.
To work in partnership with the Probation Service, Police, Faith Communities, Local
Church Communities, Statutory and Voluntary Agencies, and all individuals and
groups who show an interest in resettlement and restorative justice.
To co-operate with local crime reduction agencies, partnerships and initiatives, so that
together we reduce re-offending and the fear of crime
The purpose of the Volunteer Coordinator (West Sussex) post is to develop the
volunteer mentoring support service in West Sussex, to include support for women,
young offenders and people serving life sentences; to build up the work in prisons at
High Down, Bronzefield, Ford and Feltham, and support the work in Lewes prison.
Background to the post
Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust have funded this new post, to help Sussex
Pathways to strengthen and develop its work (targets detailed on page 3). The post
holder will work with mentors and mentees in West Sussex, and will co-operate
closely with the Volunteer Coordinator for East Sussex, Brighton & Hove.
1
Sussex Pathways, Chaplaincy Office, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Lewes, BN7 1EA
Tel: 01273 785335
Email (general): sussexpathways@googlemail.com
Email (job applications): pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Company number: 6741227 Reg. Charity number: 1127086
SUSSEX PATHWAYS
Supporting the offender from the inside out
PRINCIPAL TASK AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To work as a member of the Sussex Pathways management team, in cooperation with the
Project Manager, Volunteer Coordinator (East Sussex), and the trustees.
2. To develop the mentoring support service in prisons at High Down, Bronzefield and Ford.
3. To develop the mentoring support with young people, in the community, and released from
Feltham.
4. To support the mentoring work based in Lewes prison, particularly for people being
released into West Sussex; to work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator (East Sussex)
based in Lewes.
5. To support and guide mentors in their work, ensuring that they provide reports of each
meeting, to respond to them; to evaluate reports using the Spider Tool grid.
6. To work with the Volunteer Coordinator (East Sussex) to ensure that we receive adequate
information about potential mentees, and the risks for mentors of working with them; to
ensure that mentors are allocated to potential mentees, taking into account risks,
geography, strengths, and needs.
7. To brief mentors with details of their new mentee guiding the mentor to the appropriate
specialist services within the prison and the community.
8. To ensure that mentors agree and adhere to Sussex Pathways’ policies and procedures.
9. To coordinate and lead monthly Action Learning Meetings within small, geographical
groups of mentors.
10. To monitor mentors’ experiences of partnerships and share relevant information within the
wider group of mentors.
11. To support the training for new mentors and assist with the delivery of courses.
12. To ensure the service is well publicised and accessible to all within the prisons and
maintain good working relationships within all the relevant prison departments.
13. To cooperate and ensure effective working relationships with Surrey and Sussex
Probation, and with all those involved in Integrated Offender Management (IOM).
14. To provide reports required for the Project Manager, the Board of Trustees, and Funders.
15. To undertake any identified relevant training.
The Volunteer Coordinator will assist trustees and colleagues in these roles:
- To ensure that Sussex Pathways implements agreements with the Big Lottery, with SSPT
and Sussex Police.
- To recruit volunteers by further developing and sourcing new links with all faith
communities, CVS organisations and universities.
- To identify effective specialist support agencies within the community and develop new
partnerships to enable collaborative working.
- To publicise the work, engaging with local communities on issues of criminal justice,
restorative justice and resettlement.
- To attend relevant network meetings.
2
Sussex Pathways, Chaplaincy Office, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Lewes, BN7 1EA
Tel: 01273 785335
Email (general): sussexpathways@googlemail.com
Email (job applications): pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Company number: 6741227 Reg. Charity number: 1127086
SUSSEX PATHWAYS
Supporting the offender from the inside out
Contract between Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust (the Trust) and Sussex Pathways.
Sussex Pathways will:
i.
Recruit, train and support mentors to work with offenders leaving prison who plan to
resettle in East Sussex, West Sussex or Brighton & Hove.
ii.
Provide mentoring support for 40 offenders who are soon to leave prison, or who have
recently been released from prison, 60% of whom will be serving sentences of 12 months
or less.
iii.
Provide continuing training and support for 30 mentors.
iv.
Track the progress of all mentees, measure re-conviction rates, assess progress on the
main resettlement pathways, and assess progress towards community engagement.
v.
Establish a working relationship with HMP Bronzefield with a view to work with women
released from there who resettle in Sussex.
vi.
Report to Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust on 30 November 2010 and quarterly
thereafter subject to continuing funding.
vii.
The Volunteer Coordinator’s responsibilities will include:
a. strengthening the links between Sussex Pathways and faith communities in Sussex
b. recruiting people from faith communities to be mentors with Sussex Pathways
The Trust and Sussex Pathways have agreed to deliver additional support in West Sussex,
in line with these contract amendments. Sussex Pathways will:
i.
Recruit an additional volunteer coordinator to recruit, train and support mentors to work
with offenders leaving prison who plan to resettle in West Sussex.
ii.
Work with offenders identified by the Trust as falling under the scope of Integrated
Offender Management (IOM), which will include offenders that have been serving a
sentence of 12 months or less and are resettling to West Sussex
iii.
Develop the volunteer mentoring support service in West Sussex, to include support
for women, young offenders and people serving life sentences
iv.
Continue to work with HMP Lewes, and provide support for:
a. 11 people being released from HMP High Down
b. 3 from HMP Bronzefield
c. 3 from HMP Ford
d. 3 from Feltham YOI, or other Young Offenders.
These target numbers relate to people settling in Sussex, not only to West Sussex.
3
Sussex Pathways, Chaplaincy Office, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Lewes, BN7 1EA
Tel: 01273 785335
Email (general): sussexpathways@googlemail.com
Email (job applications): pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Company number: 6741227 Reg. Charity number: 1127086
SUSSEX PATHWAYS
Supporting the offender from the inside out
Person Specification
Attributes
Experience
E = Essential
P = Preferred .
Managing, encouraging and inspiring the work of volunteers
E
Working with prisoners/offenders
E
Working co-operatively in a small team
E
Working with Christian churches and faith communities
P
Working in a prison or other secure environment
P
Skills,
Presentation skills
E
Abilities,
Written communication skills; preparing formal papers
E
Knowledge
To influence through negotiation and persuasion, without formal E
authority
Personal
To work with a range of people at all levels
E
To work on own initiative and be self-motivated
E
To work flexibly within a small team
E
Knowledge of the criminal justice system
E
Administration and IT systems, including databases
E
Knowledge of some of the areas of need of ex-prisoners:
P
-
Housing
P
-
Employment
P
-
Benefits
P
-
Drug and alcohol dependency
P
-
Training and Education
P
Committed to working with prisoners and ex-prisoners
E
Inspiring and encouraging
E
Flexible and resilient
E
Self starter and persistent
E
4
Sussex Pathways, Chaplaincy Office, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Lewes, BN7 1EA
Tel: 01273 785335
Email (general): sussexpathways@googlemail.com
Email (job applications): pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Company number: 6741227 Reg. Charity number: 1127086
SUSSEX PATHWAYS
Supporting the offender from the inside out
Terms and Conditions
Salary:
£24,500 per year.
Pension:
The post holder is required to make their own provision for pension from
salary. Sussex Pathways will direct up to 10% of salary to a Pension
Scheme, at the request of the post holder.
Hours:
Not less than 40 hours per week, including paid breaks of up to 5 hours
per week.
Holidays:
22 days paid leave in addition to public holidays.
Term:
The employment contract is for one year. Extension will be subject to
funding.
Office:
You will work with mentors and partners throughout West Sussex. You
will regularly visit the office in Lewes prison, and will establish a
presence for Sussex Pathways in the prison at High Down and, to a
lesser extent, at Bronzefield and Ford. We will consider requests for
home based working.
Recruitment Process
Please download the Application Form from our website: www.sussexpathways.org.uk
Please email your completed application form to pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Do please respond to the requirements listed in the Person Specification when you fill
in your application form.
We will acknowledge receipt of all emailed applications
Closing Date for Applications is 5.00 pm on Wednesday 16th March
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 29th March, in Lewes.
Or you could post your completed application to:
Pauline Prior
Sussex Pathways
HMP Lewes
1 Brighton Road
Lewes
BN7 1EA
5
Sussex Pathways, Chaplaincy Office, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Lewes, BN7 1EA
Tel: 01273 785335
Email (general): sussexpathways@googlemail.com
Email (job applications): pauline@sussexpathways.org.uk
Company number: 6741227 Reg. Charity number: 1127086