Effective Practice Lead

Main Responsibilities

Are you a practitioner looking for the next challenge?

OR

Are you looking to move into a criminal justice related field?

The role of Effective Practice Lead with the South Wales Dyfodol consortium may be for you!

Working to reduce re-offending and substance misuse, we are looking for a creative thinker – someone with a passion for helping people to change and for supporting others to innovate and drive practice forward.

In light of emerging evidence about positive psychology approaches and other developments we are looking for a ‘team player’ to join us to create positive and optimistic approaches to reducing substance misuse related offending and to support practitioners to provide high quality provision to service users.

We are looking for a senior practitioner-level self-starter to support, enable and develop interventions within a substance misuse and criminal justice context.  We are focussing on developing approaches to enabling change, triggering recovery from substance misuse and enhancing opportunities for rehabilitation. The service remit is to work with people in the criminal justice system with substance misuse related offending and to provide structured opportunity for lifestyle change.  Based in Cardiff, you will support the quality assurance and performance aspects of the service and work with a range of others to develop interventions. Your work will contribute to enabling staff to develop and deliver good quality, evidence based support which promotes health, well-being and sustained change. You will work with colleagues to understand and communicate emerging evidence about effective practice, drive innovation and support managers in enabling staff to undertake their casework and other interventions to a high standard. Importantly, this work will help to minimise the impact on communities of drug related crime.

We are looking for a senior practitioner level self-starter to support, enable and develop interventions within a substance misuse and criminal justice context.  We are focussing on developing approaches to enabling change, triggering recovery from substance misuse and enhancing opportunities for rehabilitation. The service remit is to work with people in the criminal justice system with substance misuse related offending and to provide structured opportunity for lifestyle change.  Based in Cardiff, you will support the quality assurance and performance aspects of the service and work with a range of others to develop interventions. Your work will contribute to enabling staff to develop and deliver good quality, evidence based support which promotes health, well-being and sustained change. You will work with colleagues to understand and communicate emerging evidence about effective practice, drive innovation and support managers in enabling staff to undertake their casework and other interventions to a high standard. Importantly, this work will help to minimise the impact on communities of drug related crime.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive innovation and work on the delivery and improvement of the recovery programme and associated interventions, contributing to developing effective practice, treatment pathways and the identification of gaps in the treatment system.
• Provide support and guidance to caseworkers involved in the assessment of immediate risks and dangers to service users and provide an appropriate response regarding relevant information and services.
• Provide practice focused support to staff and model high quality practice in your own work
• Work with caseworkers to drive practice which can influence behaviour change, providing information on differing treatment models and services available for individuals with substance misuse problems.
• Support caseworkers to utilise evidence based methods in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services, encourage improved self-esteem, well-being and self-efficacy.
• Participate in work aimed at bringing relevant research and academic findings to the service in order to inform practice development.
• Attend the G4S Development & Innovation Group (DIG) and work with academics to coordinate relevant research projects.
• Develop and facilitate service user and family/significant other involvement.
• Promote collaborative working with staff and Offender Managers in the Probation Service (NPS and CRC) and South Wales Police and provide input into Pre-Sentence Reports and/or prepare court reports in consultation with Offender Managers and court staff.
• Encourage collaborative safety planning and recovery values to be embedded within service practice.
• Occasional weekend or evening working may be required to enable weekend centre opening, custody suites and courts.
• Assist the Service Manager in the overall running of the project including staff and volunteers, periodically monitoring staff casework to promote accurate and appropriate record keeping and ensure data reporting is maintained
• Represent the service at local and regional events, meetings and other relevant settings.

In carrying out the above duties, the post holder will:

• Work flexibly across the area as required.
• Work flexibly to agreed hours to ensure the most appropriate level of service provision.  This may include weekend or evening working.
• Take part in in appraisal, training and supervision processes.
• Keep up to date with developments in services, legislation and effective practice relevant to the client groups.
• Ensure the implementation of all G4S and consortium policies.
• Contribute to ensuring safe systems of work and a safe environment.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Skills

• Demonstrable experience of working within a context of behaviour change with an understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services and manage cases, including the most complex.
• Leadership skills. 
• NVQ or higher in relevant health, criminal justice or social care field.​
• Experience of working within the public health, criminal justice, health, wellbeing or social care sectors with an understanding of the need for and ability to engage effectively and deliver quality services.
• A high level of adaptability and passion for delivering excellence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, staff, service users, families and professionals.
• Knowledge and/or experience of the Criminal Justice System.
• Access to own transport and ability to drive.
• The ability to respond flexibly to the demands of the post.

Desirable Skills

• A relevant professional qualification e.g. Social Work, Health, Probation, Management, Community Work.
• Understand the principles of Health Behaviour Change and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Knowledge of local services and geography.
• Educated to degree level or can demonstrate sound and relevant academic/research based knowledge.
• Welsh Speaker

The Effective Practice Lead will be based in Cardiff & the Vale, working 40 hours per week full time and in return will receive a salary circa £28,000 - £29,000 per annum.

Please note that applicants must complete a 500 word statement outlining their suitability for the role ensuring that you clearly outline how your skills, experience and knowledge would apply specifically to this post.