Hertfordshire RECONNECT Worker (Maternity Cover) - Hertfordshire Permanent£24,000Are you passionate about supporting people as they transition from custody back into the community? Join Forward Trust as a RECONNECT Worker (12-month maternity cover), delivering an inclusive, person-centred service that helps individuals access the health, wellbeing and support networks they need to thrive after release. You will provide tailored advice, guidance and care planning for people 12 weeks pre-release and up to 6 months post-release, ensuring they connect with the right services, from substance use support to mental and physical healthcare. What You’ll Do Process referrals, complete detailed needs assessments and update referrers on outcomes. Create bespoke care plans and offer continued support to service users after release. Manage a diverse caseload, supporting reintegration and engagement with local healthcare and wellbeing services. Assist the Team Leader with recruitment and training of prison peer supporters. Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare teams, prison staff, Offender Management and other key partners. Keep accurate and concise case notes, assessments, care plans and risk assessments. Support the development of clear referral pathways across internal and external agencies. Contribute to safe, holistic service delivery and share best practice with colleagues. Refer service users to the Forward Meet & Greet service and support Meet at the Gate releases. Ensure individuals are fully connected with community services in preparation for release. What You Bring A full UK driving licence (essential). Strong organisational skills and confidence managing a busy caseload. Excellent communication and partnership-working abilities. A compassionate, inclusive and proactive approach to supporting people with complex needs. Make a real impact at a pivotal moment in someone’s life. Apply now and help build safer, healthier futures. Please note: Prison Vetting is required for this role which is managed by HMPPS & can take between 8-12 weeks to process.  Please see attached Job Description for full details 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 Training and development opportunities Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional) Season Ticket Loan Scheme  Cycle to work scheme Crisis Loan Scheme Electric Car Scheme 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees) Access to Blue Light Card 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays  Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter  Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)  Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria) Diversity at Forward Trust The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles. To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .   Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work We recognise the importance of safeguarding, dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.