Job: Lived Experience Consultant

Based in HMP Forest Bank and HMP Altcourse. Full Time and part time available. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an innovative and going charity. We are looking for a dynamic, authentic and inspiring individual to join our team.

At the national level there is a crucial need for insights from people with lived experience of the crime, addiction and homelessness to inform system reform as this voice is often absent. At the same time, User Voice has an unrivalled and significant footprint across the country engaging with the hardest to reach people, through elected and trained service users who can provide the information to fill this void. 

User Voice peer research projects, delivered by Lived Experience Consultants, will use this insight to both influence fundamental changes to the policy and public debate, to innovate new services, and to reform systems. 

User Voice peer research and consultations projects have a positive impact on individual participants as a result of the peer-led approach, change institutions along the way by providing them with real time insight and give policy makers a massive reality check.

The successful candidate will be results and outcome-orientated with knowledge of the criminal justice sector and a have their own lived experience. We are looking for passionate and motivated staff willing to go above and beyond! 

Key responsibilities

The Lived Experience Consultant will be responsible for:

• Leading the delivery of User Voice youth and adult projects and consultations
• Engaging with children and adults in both secure and community settings
• Liaising with research partners, prisons, probation and other stakeholders to gain access to children and adults, to support the delivery of User Voice projects
• Playing and active role in project planning and management
• Recruiting, training, and supporting children and adults to be involved throughout research, consultation, and other engagement projects
• Actively recruiting, training, coordinating and supervising groups of volunteers across our youth and adult projects.
• Conducting interviews, surveys and focus groups and other engagement activities with children and adults.
• Supporting the analysis, reporting and dissemination of project information/data.
• Supporting the delivery of other User Voice Councils & projects as needed

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

1. Personal lived experience of the criminal justice system
2. Ability to communicate with a wide range of people at all levels
3. Experience of engaging in a range of ways, e.g. interviews, surveys, focus groups
4. Experience of recruiting, training, and supporting individuals and groups of people
5. Interest in research and a desire to help others.
6. Computer literate to a good standard, including collecting and entering data
7. Experience of contributing to project planning and project management
8. Well organised with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively and meet deadlines amida range of competing demands
9. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to project needs
10. Ability to accept and maintain confidentiality
11. Commitment to Equity, Diversity and inclusion for all.
12. A ‘can do’ attitude and the motivation to succeed.

Desirable:

1. Existing prison and or probation clearance
2. Experience of social research techniques in any environment
3. Experience of working with prisoners and service users
4. Good knowledge of the charity sector and/or criminal justice
5. Data analysis and reporting
6. Experience of using spreadsheets, databases, and mobile technology

Equality and diversity 

User Voice actively encourages applications from people with convictions and particularly welcomes applications from underrepresented groups within the criminal justice system. We are committed to creating a diverse and representative workforce, reflective of those that the organisation represents. We actively encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability. 

Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) checks 

This post is subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) processes, as the post holder will have regular unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, young people and/or children. The purpose of the check is to ensure that the nature of the applicant’s criminal record, considered alongside evidence of the applicant’s rehabilitation, does not indicate that his or her employment in this role would put current service users at risk. You must be off-license to apply, as this role is subject to prison clearance.