Lived Experience Consultants x2 (Northumberland/Cambridgeshire)

User Voice are looking for passionate, committed individuals with personal lived experience of the criminal justice system to join our team as Lived Experience Consultants.

Part-Time (Northumberland)

This role is central to ensuring that the voices of people in the justice system shape the services that affect them. 

You’ll work in HMP Northumberland as well as a range of community‑based projects regionally, and occasionally nationally. Some projects will require significant travel, so flexibility is essential.

This role involves independent travel to multiple sites each week – therefore a valid UK driving licence and access to a reliable vehicle would be significantly beneficial for this role. 

You must be off prison licence or community sentence to apply, as this role is subject to HMPPS clearance, and you will be required to draw keys.

Full Time (Cambridgeshire)

User Voice is looking for a passionate, committed individual with personal lived experience of the criminal justice system to join our team as a Lived Experience Consultant.

This role is central to ensuring that the voices of people in the justice system shape the services that affect them. 

You’ll work across both the male and female estate in HMP Peterborough, as well as a range of community‑based projects regionally, and occasionally nationally. Some projects will require significant travel, so flexibility is essential. 

This role involves independent travel to multiple sites each week – therefore a valid UK driving licence and access to a reliable vehicle would be significantly beneficial for this role. 

You must be off-license to apply, as this role is subject to HMPPS clearance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based at HMP Northumberland, this role offers the opportunity to lead one of User Voice’s longest-established and most successful Prison Councils. You will work closely with people in custody, prison staff and senior leaders to ensure residents' voices are heard, represented and acted upon. Through facilitating council meetings, supporting elected representatives and driving meaningful engagement, you will help shape positive change across the prison while ensuring lived experience remains at the heart of service improvement.

You will also lead consultations as requested by the prison, covering a range of issues they want to hear lived experience insights and perspectives on to improve safety and effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and development of the User Voice Prison Council at HMP Northumberland.
• Facilitate regular Prison Council meetings and support elected representatives to effectively gather and present the views of their peers.
• Build positive relationships with people in custody, prison staff and senior leaders to ensure meaningful engagement and constructive dialogue.
• Recruit, train, support and supervise Council representatives and other peer volunteers involved in User Voice activities.
• Gather feedback, concerns, ideas and lived experience insight from people in custody through a range of engagement activities.
• Ensure the voices of people in custody are accurately represented and communicated to prison management and other stakeholders.
• Work with prison staff and Council representatives to monitor progress against agreed actions and outcomes arising from the Council.
• Support individuals with lived experience to develop their confidence, skills and leadership capabilities through participation in User Voice activities.
• Maintain accurate records, reports and project information in line with organisational and contractual requirements.
• Promote the User Voice ethos and ensure lived experience remains at the heart of service improvement and system change.
• Support the delivery of other User Voice Councils, engagement activities and projects as required.

Essential Criteria

• Lived experience of the criminal justice system and a commitment to using that experience to support positive change.
• Not currently on prison licence or a community order (as you will be drawing prison keys)
• Experience of engaging, motivating and building rapport with people from diverse backgrounds.
• A track record of work/volunteering experience
• Experience of facilitating groups, meetings, workshops or peer-led activities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Ability to work confidently with both people using services and senior stakeholders.
• Experience of supporting, mentoring or supervising volunteers, peer supporters or service users.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
• Good organisational and administrative skills, including report writing and record keeping.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• An understanding of the challenges faced by people in custody and the importance of lived experience in improving services.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within a prison, probation or wider criminal justice setting.
• Experience of delivering service user involvement, co-production or lived experience programmes.
• Experience of training or developing peer representatives, volunteers or service users.
• Knowledge of issues affecting people with experience of crime, addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges, or social exclusion.
• Experience of contributing to consultation, research or service improvement activities.