GDAS Criminal Justice Practitioner

Newport, Gwent, NP20 1EL

Salary: £27,026.69 - £29,232.95 per annum pro rata

Permanent, Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

G4S in Wales are a key provider of criminal justice services- operating in both the custodial and community sectors. We pride ourselves on the quality of our provision and we consistently seek to work alongside and in partnership with a range of other providers in the voluntary (third), public and private sectors.

We have developed services which are focused on identifying ways to maximise positive impact and make the most effective use of available resource by working with other agencies on common objectives. In this way we are increasingly able to meet wide ranging and complex needs in the most appropriate way.

We have a commitment to research, evaluation and review of evidence based initiatives.

We value and, where possible, contribute to research into reducing re-offending and therefore we recognise the importance of understanding the wider environment in which individuals operate and this informs us about how best to engage, support and help people with change.

We seek to employ people with drive and energy and a real interest in innovation and teamwork – working beyond traditional organisational boundaries.

We now have the opportunity for a GDAS Criminal Justice Practitioner to join our team within our Gwent contract.

As a member of our GDAS CJ team, you will play a critical role in enabling people with complex and problematic substance misuse histories to build positive futures and healthy lifestyles, and focus on moving into active recovery. Your main focus will be holding a caseload of people with high intensity substance misuse needs. You will work collaboratively to enable them to achieve objectives set for their time in our service as well as capturing and communicating information relating to their safety and risk.

You will also play a key role in delivering our programme of holistic support for people with significant substance misuse and wellbeing needs. We provide a range of interventions and activities which are collectively designed to ensure that each individual can engage in a treatment plan that meets their needs, with options including CBT based group work, physical exercise programmes, mindfulness based activities, mutual aid support groups, and diversionary activities.

We are looking for candidates who believe in a positive psychology approach and firmly believe that people can change. The environment and the role can be challenging but we strive to support people accessing GDAS CJ support to focus on improving their wellbeing, and building good lives and positive futures.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse caseload of people, taking responsibility for all substance misuse care planning processes such as assessing treatment need and readiness, treatment sequencing, goal planning, clinical treatment and ‘Through the gate’ provisions.
• Contribute to the delivery of substance misuse and wellbeing support activities, including facilitation of groups and organising/running activities, awareness events, and approved programmes.
• Ensure that risk information is communicated widely with GDAS (both CJ and non-CJ) and other key stakeholders such as probation, the police, courts and prison based substance misuse services.
• Engage with people in a variety of settings, including Police Custody, Courts, Prisons and Community bases, with a view to encouraging consistent attendance with support interventions and activities to increase likelihood of long term positive lifestyle changes.
• Ensure all case information is accurately recorded and communicated via appropriate case management systems such as CSP and Palbase.
• To provide reports to assist the Courts in their duty to provide appropriate sanctions, and to attend Court as required.
• Carry out appropriate assessments of the client to: determine nature and extent of substance use; explore how this impacts upon all aspects of their life identifying problematic areas; prioritise need, using information gathered to inform Wellbeing plans.
• Provide relevant information, advice and individual support to clients with the aim of reducing risk of harm to themselves, family, friends and the wider community; reducing the risk of overdose, spread of communicable diseases and lapse or relapse.
• Contribute to assessing the risks, and minimising the effects of immediate danger, harm and abuse to substance users, and support individuals to review situations and actions after the immediate risk has passed.
• Provide structured key work sessions to support and assist clients to build a positive future.
• Promote effective communication and integration, and work collaboratively with key stakeholders to increase opportunities for the people you care for.
• Work collaboratively with the prescribing team in the provision of clinical treatment.
• Work collaboratively with the GDAS non-CJ team to effectively encourage progression through the stages of recovery and out of the CJ system.
• Contribute to the delivery of key commissioned objectives and performance indicators, ensuring work is completed in time and to a high standard in line with contractual