User Voice - Only Offenders Can Stop Re-Offending

NEW Vacancy: Communications Intern (London)

Job title:         Intern
Location:        London
Salary:            Voluntary, although reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed

User Voice exists to reduce offending by presenting the voice of the most marginalised people in and around the criminal justice system to decision makers. It is an organisation led and delivered by ex-offenders, founded by Mark Johnson, award-winning social entrepreneur and author of his best selling memoir, Wasted.

User Voice delivers a service user-led rehabilitation experience to assist people caught up in the criminal justice system find a path to successful living; better criminal justice services and institutions; and policy change that will mainstream the inclusion of the user voice.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to gain experience, skills and knowledge across an innovative charity.

Person Specification
We require a forward-thinking intern who is motivated and enthusiastic to help with the growth of both of these exciting and innovative organisations:

  • Highly organised with the ability to multi-task
  • Excellent IT skills;
  • Ability to be proactive and work largely unsupervised;
  • Strong research skills;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and
  • A genuine interest in criminal justice and social policy

Hours
2 - 4 days a week for 8 - 12 weeks (flexible)

Key Responsibilities
  • Communications, including PR, promotion, website maintenance and social media;
  • Assist in creating, updating and maintaining systems for monitoring and evaluation;
·         Collate and analyse data with some report writing;
·         Research background material for projects and business development;
·         Administrative duties, including some diary management and travel booking;
·         Assist with recruitment through liaising with agencies and potential employees;  
·         Identify methods and avenues for publicising and marketing;
·         Assist staff and CEO with tasks as and when they arise.

What this role can offer
·         Invaluable experience working within a criminal justice system based charity as well as the opportunity to be involved with a start up at an exciting stage in its development;
·         The space to develop existing skills and gain new ones in a practical working environment;
·         Work experience to add to your CV;
·         Support from a motivated and enthusiastic team;
·         A valuable experience contributing to real social change; and
·         Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.

Closing date: 19th September 2014, Friday, but we may appoint before the closing date. Start date will be ASAP (flexible)

DBS Check
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks are done at the earliest possible stage. However, your DBS is not a barrier to this work and each case will be reviewed on its merits.



To apply: please send a CV and covering letter to Kim Angrik at kangrik@uservoice.org.   

NEW VACANCY: Development Intern (London)

Job title:         Development Intern
Location:        London
Salary:            Voluntary, although reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed

Context
Our Mission: User Voice exists to reduce offending by presenting the voice of the most marginalised people in and around the criminal justice system to decision makers.

Why we’re effective: User Voice is an organisation led and delivered by ex-offenders, founded by Mark Johnson, award-winning social entrepreneur and author of his best selling memoir, Wasted. This gives us the unique ability to gain the trust of, access to, and insight from offenders within the criminal justice system.

Our impact: User Voice delivers a powerful rehabilitation experience for offenders, better criminal justice services and institutions, and policy change that will mainstream the inclusion of the user voice.

Person Specification
We require a forward thinking intern with strong research skills, a flair for writing and the ability to be proactive and work largely unsupervised. We are looking for a high caliber graduate, ideally in Politics or Criminology, with excellent IT skills and a genuine interest in criminal justice and social policy to help with the growth of this exciting and innovative organisation.

Hours
2 - 4 days a week for 8-12 weeks (flexible)

Key Responsibilities
·         Research background material for project and business development
·         Identify new funding opportunities
·         Assist with drafting funding applications
·         Collate and analyse data with some report writing
·         Some administrative duties

What this role can offer
·         Invaluable experience working within a criminal justice system based charity
·         A chance to develop existing skills and gain new ones
·         Work experience to add to your CV
·         Support from a motivated and enthusiastic team

Closing date: 19th September 2014, but note that we may appoint before the closing date.

Start date will be ASAP (flexible).

To apply: Please send a CV and a covering letter to Daniel Hutt at recruitment@uservoice.org, putting Development Intern in the subject line. 

Validation at Level 1 on Nesta's Standards of Evidence!

User Voice is proud to announce that we have officially been validated at Level 1 on Nesta’s Standards of Evidence!




What are Standards of Evidence?
The purpose of the Standards is to identify a programme’s level of evidence according to a rigorous process and a clear, structured framework.

What is Level 1?
Reaching Level 1 on these Standards requires being able to provide a clear, coherent and convincing explanation of what our programme does, why it matters and how it will have an impact on our beneficiaries. Providing this convincing theoretical explanation of impact is vital in developing User Voice’s evidence base, as well as a prerequisite for effective evaluation going forward.

What comes next?
We now look forward to progressing beyond Level 1 on the Standards, through the evaluation currently being undertaken by leadingdesistance theorists that will show evidence of our programme’s impact.

NEW VACANCY: Programme Manager - Full-Time (London)

Programme Manager – Full-Time (London)
1 Year Fixed Term Post (Continuation subject to funding)
Up to £25K depending on experience

User Voice exists to reduce reoffending by presenting the voice of offenders and ex-offenders to decision makers in the criminal justice system. They establish and support Prison, Probation, Youth and Community Councils; undertake projects which enable agencies to access and act upon the insights of offenders; and present the case for service user engagement to a wide range of key audiences. 

User Voice seek to appoint a Full-Time Programme Manager based London. The Programme Manager will be responsible for delivering a range of User Voice programmes across youth and adult projects and continuing to develop the User Voice presence in London. Experience of the criminal justice system and/or other associated agencies as a service user is desirable with the ability and motivation to harness this experience positively, and a strong commitment to the values of User Voice. A detailed working knowledge of safeguarding is also required.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an innovative and growing charity. User Voice are looking for a dynamic, authentic and inspiring individual to join the delivery team, ideally (but not essential) a background in working with excluded young people and vulnerable adults is advantageous as is an ability to demonstrate how the post holders’ own life experience can support engagement work.  The post will require some desk based administrative work supporting the co-ordination, pre-planning and evaluation of programmes and leading the facilitation and support work with young people and adult service users directly.

User Voice welcome applications from ex-offenders and from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.  User Voice are committed to Safe Working Practices across the organisation that promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Applicants for either post should send a CV and a statement of their suitability for the role to Recruitment, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJ or recruitment@uservoice.org.  The statement should set out the applicant’s experience and suitability in relation to each point of the Person Specification. Click here to see the Person Specification. 


Deadline for applications: Monday 31st August 2014

NEW VACANCY: Assistant Programme Manager (Manchester) - Full-Time

Assistant Programme Manager – Full time (Manchester)
1 Year Fixed Term Post (Continuation subject to funding)
Up to £18K depending on experience

User Voice exists to reduce reoffending by presenting the voice of offenders and ex-offenders to decision makers in the criminal justice system. We establish and support Prison, Probation, Youth and Community Councils; undertake projects which enable agencies to access and act upon the insights of offenders; and present the case for service user engagement to a wide range of key audiences. 

User Voice seeks to appoint a Full-Time Assistant Programme Manager based in Manchester. The Assistant Programme Manager will be responsible for delivering a range of User Voice programmes across youth and adult projects and developing the User Voice presence in Manchester and the North West. Experience of the criminal justice system and/or other associated agencies as a service user is desirable with the ability and motivation to harness this experience positively, and a strong commitment to the values of User Voice.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an innovative and growing charity. User Voice are looking for a dynamic, authentic and inspiring individual to join the delivery team, ideally (but not essential) a background in working with excluded young people and those involved in the criminal justice system is advantageous as is an ability to demonstrate how the post holders’ own life experience can support engagement work.  The post will require some desk based administrative work supporting the co-ordination, pre-planning and evaluation of programmes and leading the facilitation and support work with mostly young people but also with adult service users directly.

User Voice welcome applications from ex-offenders and from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.  User Voice is committed to Safe Working Practices across the organisation that promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Applicants for the above post should send a CV and a statement of their suitability for the role to: recruitment@uservoice.org or by post to User Voice, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJThe statement should set out the applicant’s experience and suitability in relation to each point of the Person Specification. Download the job description here.

Deadline for applications: 5pm, Friday 31st August 2014

NEW VACANCY: Community Peer Navigators HMP Haverigg (3 posts)

Community Peer Navigator HMP Haverigg 
£17,000 per annum, depending on experience

User Voice exists to reduce reoffending by presenting the voice of offenders and ex-offenders to decision makers in the criminal justice system. We establish and support Prison, Probation, Youth and Community Councils; undertake projects which enable agencies to access and act upon the insights of offenders; and present the case for service user engagement to a wide range of key audiences. 


User Voice seeks to appoint a three full-time Peer Navigators to work across Cumbria. The Peer Navigators will be responsible for supporting  service users on release into the communities in Cumbria to remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol. A knowledge of abstinence-based recovery approaches to drug and alcohol addiction as a service-user is desirable, preferably with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The ability and motivation to harness this experience positively, and a strong commitment to the values of User Voice is essential. A detailed working knowledge of safeguarding is also required. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an innovative and growing charity. User Voice is looking for dynamic, authentic and inspiring individuals to join the delivery team, ideally (but not essential) a background in working with excluded and vulnerable adults is advantageous as is an ability to demonstrate how the post holders’ own life experience can support engagement work.  The post will require some office based administrative work and extensive liaison with other agencies and the  User Voice Peer Navigator in HMP Haverigg.

User Voice welcomes applications from ex-offenders and from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.  User Voice is committed to Safe Working Practices across the organisation that promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Applicants for the abovementioned post should send a CV and covering letter, stating the applicant’s experience and suitability in relation to each point of the Person Specification here to Recruitment, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJ or send an email to recruitment@uservoice.org.  

Deadline for applications: Friday 20th August 2014

NEW VACANCY: Prison Peer Navigator HMP Haverigg (Full-Time)

Prison Peer Navigator HMP Haverigg
£24,000 per annum, depending on experience

User Voice exists to reduce reoffending by presenting the voice of offenders and ex-offenders to decision makers in the criminal justice system. They establish and support Prison, Probation, Youth and Community Councils; undertake projects which enable agencies to access and act upon the insights of offenders; and present the case for service user engagement to a wide range of key audiences. 

User Voice seeks to appoint a full-time Peer Navigator based in HMP Haverigg. The Peer Navigator will be responsible for delivering a peer led abstinence based recovery programme in the prison and creating links with the User Voice community peer navigators to support resettlement activities. A knowledge of abstinence-based recovery approaches to drug and alcohol addiction as a service-user is desirable ,preferably with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The ability and motivation to harness this experience positively, and a strong commitment to the values of User Voice are essential. A detailed working knowledge of safeguarding is also required.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an innovative and growing charity. User Voice is looking for a dynamic, authentic and inspiring individual to join the delivery team, ideally (but not essential) a background in working with excluded and vulnerable adults is advantageous as is an ability to demonstrate how the post holders’ own life experience can support engagement work.  The post will require some office based administrative work supporting the co-ordination, pre-planning and evaluation of programmes and leading the facilitation and support work with service users directly and linking them to the community based User Voice peer navigators.

User Voice welcomes applications from ex-offenders and individuals from all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.  User Voice is committed to Safe Working Practices across the organisation that promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Applicants for the abovementioned post should send a CV and a covering letter stating the applicant’s experience and suitability in relation to each point of the Person Specification here to Recruitment, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJ or send an email to recruitment@uservoice.org. 

Deadline for applications: 20th August 2014, Friday

User Voice Through the Gate Evaluation to be conducted by leading Desistance Theory Academics

With the support of the Cabinet Office’s Centre for Social Action and Nesta, a new evaluation aimed at assessing the impact of our Through the Gate Council model has recently started.

User Voice is really excited to announce that the evaluation will be led by leading academics in Desistance Theory – which looks into why people decide to stop offending. The project will be led by Dr Monica Barry and Dr Beth Weaver, along with Bethany Schmidt, Dr Mark Liddle, Dr Judy Renshaw and Professor Rosie Meek.

The project will additionally receive consultancy support from Professor Shadd Maruna, who is likewise a prominent figure in Desistance Theory.

The evaluation is being carried out in three pilot areas – The North East, West Midlands and London over the next year and a half, finishing October 2015.


Through this evaluation, we aim to demonstrate the impact of our Through the Gate model both on individual participants’ rehabilitation journey towards becoming active citizens and also on prison and probation services, including how they can become more cost effective.