CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE
NORTHERN IRELAND REGION
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Prison Support Coordinator
SALARY: £24,508 pro rata – (initially until the end of March 2018)
WORKING HOURS: 12 hours per week
RESPONSIBLE TO: Regional Prison Support Manager
(based in Regional Office, Belfast)
LOCATION: Maghaberry and Hydebank Wood College
PURPOSE OF JOB:
This is an opportunity to further develop a service to clients within Maghaberry prison and Hydebank Wood College. The post holder will be responsible for the coordination and delivery of bereavement support to clients within the prisons and with helping to identify other service opportunities within the criminal justice system.
It is envisaged that the post will be based in Maghaberry prison on a 9-hour per week basis, and in Hydebank Wood College on a 3-hour per week basis. There is a possibility that the post will be extended beyond March 2018.
Please note that this post will be subject to both Access NI & the relevant security checks by the Prison Service.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. To further develop bereavement services in Maghaberry prison and Hydebank Wood College in line with the Cruse regional strategy for the development of bereavement support in all prison sites in Northern Ireland.
2. To assist the Cruse Regional Prison Support Manager in the development of services within the Criminal Justice system.
3. To assist the Cruse Regional Prison Support Manager in the implementation of the Bereavement Support Strategy and to function as part of the Cruse Prison Support Team.
4. To assess, recruit, manage and support volunteers who have the required skills to join the Prison Support Team.
5. To undertake assessments of clients, and to deliver one to one bereavement support to clients when there is greater demand for the service than volunteer capacity to deliver.
6. To identify training needs for volunteers in conjunction with the Prison Support Manager and Team, and organize and deliver training in partnership with prison staff to develop the skills of volunteers for the delivery of the service.
7. To provide support for volunteers as well as coordinate supervision and ongoing training.
8. To deliver internal training and facilitate group-work where appropriate within the prison.
9. To maintain and further develop systems for the development of the service, and co-ordinate the delivery of the service by liaising with prison staff and volunteers regarding the allocation of clients for face to face support.
10. To promote Cruse services available in the community to prisoners prior to release.
11. To liaise with Cruse branches with reference to the referral of clients to services within the community.
12. To monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of Cruse Prison Support Service, and to produce evidence and reports as required to support this information.
13. To provide information and reports as required, pertaining to budgets.
14. To undertake a programme of self-development and ensure that personal training skills and knowledge and understanding of training, counselling and bereavement issues are kept up to date.
15. To raise the profile of the Cruse service within the prison to staff and relevant agencies.
16. To ensure that referral, group-work and training targets are met, in line with service user and prison service requirements.
CARING FOR CUSTOMERS / SERVICE USER PARTICIPATION
The post-holder will be expected to:
· Identify and provide high quality services, within the strictest boundaries of confidentiality.
· Give clients the opportunity to comment or complain if they need to, and to ensure that comments and complaints are dealt with according to the current Cruse complaints procedure.
· Work to ensure that service users are included in the planning, review and delivery of services.
The post-holder must carry out his or her duties with full regard to the organisation’s Equal Opportunities policy.
CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE
NORTHERN IRELAND REGION
PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION FOR THE POST OF:
Prison Support Coordinator, Maghaberry Prison & Hydebank Wood College
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS / Assessment Method1. Skills/Knowledge
1.1
· Excellent communication (verbal and written) and presentation skills
· Preparation and production of reports and plans
· Accurate record keeping
· Monitoring, evaluation and quality management, in particular with regard to project management / Application/Interview
1.2 Ability to manage, develop and motivate teams of volunteers to deliver a service / Application/Interview
1.3 Ability to develop and maintain good professional relationships within the organisation and with a wide range of partners and service users. / Application/Interview
1.4 Knowledge and understanding of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity and how to respond when the needs of groups or individuals are not being met. / Application
1.5 Knowledge and understanding of the ethos and values of the voluntary sector and of current issues facing the voluntary/charity sector. / Application
1.6 Ability to prioritize, work under pressure and meet deadlines. / Application/Interview
1.7 Ability to work with minimum supervision and to achieve significant outcomes in this context. / Application/Interview
2. Experience, Qualifications and Training
2.1 Experience of planning and developing a project in a community based service, public sector or voluntary/charitable organisation, preferably within the field of bereavement and / or the justice system. / Application
2.2 IT Skills - Ability to use applications including Microsoft Word, Excel and Access. Competence in producing computerised reports and spreadsheets. Ability to use email and the Internet. / Application/Test
2.3 Experience of working or coping with potentially stressful and distressing situations and the ability to deal sensitively with clients and volunteers. / Application/Interview
3. Work Related Circumstances.
3.1 Willingness to participate in line management and supervision sessions, and to undertake additional training and personal development according to the needs of the post. / Application/Interview
3.2 Must carry out all duties with full regard to the organisation’s equal opportunities policy and positively promote values of customer care and the aims and objectives of Cruse Bereavement Care specifically. / Application/Interview
3.3 Ability to work contracted hours flexibly according to the needs of the organisation, including some work during the evening and at weekends. / Application
3.4 Full clean driving license and car owner. Willing to travel both regionally and nationally. / Application
DESIRABLE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
· Knowledge and understanding of bereavement and loss issues. / Application
· Knowledge and experience of the prison culture and offending behaviour / Application
· Experience of supporting clients and volunteers / Application