Current Vacancies

Chair of Trustees closing 01/08/2024

Men's Project Facilitator closing 09/08/2024 X 2 positions

Restorative Justice Facilitators closing 09/08/2024 X 2 positions

CHAIR OF TRUSTEE

Are you an experienced leader or charity Trustee?

Are you knowledgeable about the voluntary sector or criminal justice?

Do you want to make a difference?

This is an exciting time for Sussex Pathways and now time to update our current Board of Trustees with a new Chair. We have a dynamic and motivated Board, a great leadership team and enthusiastic and committed staff and volunteers. Our current Chair is due to stand down in August 2024 after many years on the Board and as Chair, so we now need a new Chair who can lead us and act as line manager to the CEO.

If you are interested in wanting to make a real difference to people’s lives and to the community, and in helping us as we develop and expand, we would like to hear from you!

The Organisation:

Sussex Pathways is a criminal justice charity based in Lewes, East Sussex. It works within prisons and the local community with the aim of reducing offending behaviours and empowering ex-offenders to make positive life choices.

The charity was founded in November 2008 in HMP Lewes in response to recognition that offenders were being released from prison back into the community with little support, and were often therefore reoffending and returning to custody within a short space of time.

From 2009, Sussex Pathways began taking on Postgraduate Social Work students each year as part of their final course placement, something which is now an integral part of the charity and its work. The charity has grown considerably since its establishment, adding full and part-time staff and a wide range of volunteers as it has taken on new projects.

In 2010 the charity was awarded a three-year grant from the National Lottery, which coincided with the setting up of its dedicated office space within HMP Lewes. Further grant funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation and a range of other funders has helped the charity to continue to grow.

In 2014 we became part of the Sussex Restorative Justice Partnership (SRJP), a hugely beneficial scheme bringing offenders and their victims together to achieve closure after crime. We continue to be funded by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to deliver Restorative Justice within the bounds of the SRJP in HMP Lewes and across Sussex.

In addition to its initial work supporting those due to be released from HMP Lewes, Sussex Pathways also now delivers interventions and support work to female offenders and supports men leaving HMP Ford in West Sussex and HMP Rochester in Kent.

The Role

We are now looking for a new Chair of Trustees to lead our Board in making strategic decisions to support and develop the work of the charity.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced leader to bring their charity or commercial experience and leadership skills to support the Board and the leadership team to ensure our organisation can continue meeting the increasing demand for our services.

Working with our diverse and experienced team of existing Trustees, this is an opportunity to shape our culture, strengthen our capacity and increase our impact. With growth in mind, we are particularly interested in applicants with demonstrated experienced of supporting a charity or organisation through a process of change, or with the ability and skills to support this.

The next phase of Sussex Pathways’ development will seek to focus on areas including:

Developing the Board’s capability as we enhance our existing governance framework, with a focus on financial control and risk reporting.
Supporting the Board in reviewing and building its collective capability through a baseline review, capability gap analysis and subsequent work.
Ensuring a focus on all planned or future activity is linked to the charity’s governing document and main aims.

Knowledge of UK charity governance is desirable, as is awareness of criminal justice or social development issues, but more essential is previous experience as a senior leader in any field. We are keen to hear from those with a record of developing organisations and who can demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers and service users.

What Will You be Doing?

Provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees in order that the the Board can fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of Sussex Pathways.

Ensure that Sussex Pathways pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document, charity law, and other relevant legislation/applicable regulations.

Work with the Board of Trustees to support the staff and volunteers, ensuring that the organisation adheres to its core values.

Lead by example to enable the Board of Trustees to practice collaborative, informed, carefully considered, strategic decision making in order to deliver outcomes and continually develop the charity.

We welcome all applications, and we understand the importance of having a diverse board, representative of the communities impacted by criminal justice.

For more information about the role, person specification and how to apply please read our applicant pack. Recruitment Pack.docx

Men's Project Facilitator

About us

Sussex Pathways is a criminal justice charity, which works within prisons and communities with the aim of reducing offending behaviours and empowering ex-offenders to make positive life choices. Through our Group work and 1-2-1 support, we work with residents and ex-residents of HMPPS to help ensure that every person is supported to achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit our website WWW.SussexPathways.org.uk

About the job

Salary: £25,000 per annum FTE
Working Pattern: Part time 18 hours a week. These hours will be flexible over 4 days.

Working pattern: Part time 30 hours a week. These hours will be flexible over 4 days.
Contract: Rolling
Location: HMPPS Lewes

Closing Date: 09/08/2024
Interview Date: 12/08/2024

Start Date: ASAP

Would you like to make a difference to the lives of Prisoners being released back into Sussex .

If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Project facilitator to join our team, working with Prisoners leaving HMPPS Lewes and returning to Sussex.

The Project Facilitator will offer intensive support to the prison population to improve outcomes for individuals and reduce re-offending. You would support this via taking referrals for new clients within the Prison, supporting Volunteer Key workers to access their clients, supporting the group work within the prison and working with clients in the community.

As a Project facilitator, you’ll have an important role engaging with harder to reach individuals, working flexibly and in partnership with multi-agency stakeholders to support the Needs of the most complex and hard to reach prisoners.

For this role we would love you to have a good working knowledge of legislation and practice of the CJS, and an understanding of current issues experienced by Prisoners. You should also have experience of supporting individuals on a 1-2-1 basis, and in a group environment, along with experience of supporting those with complex needs. Experience of effective partnership working is desirable, although full training will be provided in this role.

Because of the nature of this role, you’ll need to undergo a Vetting check and be able to work within a Prison environment.

Key Skills:

Listens to Individuals who have experienced trauma and have complex needs. Able to use excellent interpersonal skills in order to build rapport and an effective trusted relationship.
Uses your analytical and judgmental skills to interpret complex situations and information from Individuals to make assessments.
Excellent crisis management skills with the ability to recognize the individual needs of Cultural, Youths, and Complex issues..
Ability to create an environment where Individuals are empowered to make positive change.
The ability to build rapport quickly with people participating in services a
Appetite to remain up to date with changes in best practice and available support mechanisms.
Ability to use a variety of screening tools, and to accurately record information in excel spreadsheets and web databases.

Qualifications and/or experience:

Relevant qualification or experience of the CJS, or demonstrable experience in a paid or unpaid capacity of providing support to people in stressful and difficult situations.
Demonstrable experience of working with Ethic Communities and Youths (18 – 24yrs) in crisis in order to provide support, especially those with complex and culture needs.
Experience of interpreting needs and assisting Individuals to access appropriate support services.
Experience of working in a team environment and multi-agency working.
Experience of working within a frame of confidentiality.
Experience of applying relevant legislation, policies and procedures to individual pieces of work.
Valid and full driving licence.

Reward and benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary we offer:

16.5 days annual leave + bank holidays 18hrs position
22.5 days annual leave + bank holidays 30hrs position
Access to a pension scheme
A range of flexible working options
Expenses

Further information

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Shirl Tanner through Sussex Pathways Website

How to Apply

To apply, email Admin through the Sussex Pathways website or this advert and request and Application form explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, young people and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 3 years referencing and Training

Sussex Pathways is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.

Restorative Justice Practitioner

Sussex

Salary: £25,000 per year pro-rata

2 x 30hrs posts are available

Location: HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, Sussex

Sussex Pathways is part of the Sussex Restorative Justice partnership committed to giving victims a voice, repairing the harm caused, preventing, and reducing reoffending behaviours. We are looking for two committed, innovative, and enthusiastic Restorative Justice Delivery Officers (RJDOs) who will play a critical role in delivering the service by facilitating Restorative Justice and victim work. The post holders will be able to work creatively with Harmed and Harmers to design and facilitate bespoke reparation projects that benefit the local community as well as being key to the delivery of Restorative Justice interventions. This will include working within a multi-agency service with Mediation, Police and Probation and those harmed by criminal activity to explore restorative outcomes in accordance with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. Working collaboratively with colleagues within the Partnership, you will have a thorough understanding of risk, needs, public protection and safety and wellbeing.

The nature of the role means that flexible hours are needed including evening and weekend work to meet the needs of the victims of crime we work with, focusing on building positive professional working relationships to help facilitate and maintain change. The role will require you to work to Best Practice as stated by the RJC, understand restorative practice and contextual safeguarding.

We support our workers in their progression offering an organisational culture that encourages us all to seek opportunities for development and personal growth. Staff have regular supervision with their line manager and frequent professional development sessions.

Application process details:

If you are interested in being part of a team delivering excellent services to the harmed and harmers, please apply by emailing your completed application form along with your CV, of no more than 2 sides detailing your work history, to admin via the Sussex Pathways website www.sussexpathways.org.uk

Closing date for applicants is the 9th August 2024, any applications received after the date will not be considered.

Interviews will be held Thursday 12th August 2024.

Start date will be from the 19th August 2024 following the successful completion of security vetting or ASAP.

Person Specification – the person specification is detailed in the role description - Please email for this

Selection process: We will select for this role based on the information you provide in your application, CV and interview (where short listed) assessing your skills and experience against the essential criteria. Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie situation, in order to make an appointment the strongest candidate based on merit.

Sussex Pathways is committed to safeguarding to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups. All posts will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service, and enhanced security vetting. References may also be taken up prior to interview.

At Sussex Pathways, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and promoting equality of opportunity for all. We are continuing to build a diverse workforce and offer an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.

All short-listed applicants will need to demonstrate proof of right to work in the UK. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and Sussex Pathways would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

If we receive a high volume of great-quality applicants, we may close a vacancy earlier than advertised. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment and welcome applications from qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, colour, race, religion, or belief.

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact admin through the Sussex Pathways Website as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Benefits:

In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary we offer:

28 days paid annual leave (including 8 bank holidays) pro-rated for part-time employees
Access to a pension scheme
Excellent professional development opportunities