Suffolk RECONNECT Trainee

Want to start a meaningful career where every day helps change lives?, We're looking for a Reconnect Trainee to join our RECONNECT Team, working across HMP Highpoint, HMP Hollesley Bay and HMP Warren Hill on a full-time basis (35 hours per week). This is a 12 month Level 2 apprenticeship, giving you hands-on experience, structured learning, and the chance to build a career in health, justice, and community support. You'll support people as they prepare for release and transition back into the community, helping them access vital services and stay connected to support that improves health, wellbeing, and stability. What you'll be doing

• You'll play a key role in delivering tailored, person-centred support:
• Processing referrals and sharing assessment outcomes
• Supporting in-depth needs assessments and care planning
• Maintaining contact with service users for up to 6 months post-release
• Linking individuals into health, substance use, and wellbeing services
• Coordinating referrals to community support prior to release
• Keeping accurate case notes, assessments, and risk documentation
• Supporting peer mentor recruitment and training where required
About RECONNECT RECONNECT supports people leaving prison to build and sustain positive change. Through personalised care planning and ongoing support, we help ensure continuity of care into the community, whether that's physical health, mental health, substance use support, or wider wellbeing. You'll work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure individuals receive safe, consistent, and joined-up support.

No prior experience is required, this is a trainee role designed for development. We're looking for someone who is:
• Passionate about supporting people with complex needs
• Strong in communication and organisation
• Comfortable working in a sensitive environment
• Willing to learn admin systems and accurate record keeping
You'll gain experience in assessments, case management, safeguarding, and multi-agency working, alongside your apprenticeship qualification.

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)