The Wise Group
The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise dedicated to transforming lives and lifting people out of poverty. Everything we do is driven by our passion for social justice and a fairer society for all.
At the heart of our work is Relational Mentoring—building strong, meaningful connections with our customers, stakeholders, and each other – helping people seize opportunities and overcome barriers.
Every day, we support individuals into meaningful jobs, help lift families out of fuel poverty, and assist those leaving prison in building brighter futures. We’re committed to creating lasting change by reinvesting in our colleagues and communities, ensuring a positive impact where it’s needed most.
The Wise Group builds better lives, thriving communities, and stronger businesses—and we don’t do it alone. Partnering with like-minded organisations, we make a real, lasting difference to thousands of people and families every year.
The Opportunity
You will be working on the MOJ Criminal Rehabilitation service contracts (Personal Wellbeing, Women's Services and Finance, Benefit and Debt) either in the NE/NW, where you will be supporting individuals that have been referred in by the Probation service around specific outcomes.
The Peer Mentor role will play a key part in the enterprise collaborating alongside colleagues with customers to ensure they receive the right advice, guidance, support, and advocacy necessary throughout their journey with us.
You will inspire positive change across the enterprise by adding to resources and assisting colleagues to empower individuals to reveal the right pathways whilst creating and maintaining professional relationships with stakeholders to create positive change.
You’ll take ownership for
• Providing support to colleagues with front line case work and administration tasks
• Delivering practical and emotional support alongside colleagues by acting as confidants.
• Liaising with key support agencies to ensure appointments are organised on behalf of colleagues and customers.
• Contributing towards increased aspirations and motivation of customers by setting a positive example and utilising your experiences.
• Working collaboratively with other peers and colleagues to continually support the contracts and resources.
• Playing a significant role in the continual improvement of the peer mentor model.
• Problem solving, both identifying and taking on end-to-end resolution of problems.
• Acting as a role model for our values, building effective relationships and using each opportunity to positively influence and inspire others
• Building excellent relationships across all functions and with all colleagues, both internal & external, to support in identifying opportunities to grow the enterprise and embed the peer mentor programme
ABOUT YOU
• You will be able to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake this role.
• You possess experience and skills that go towards supporting both our colleagues and customers.
• You will have insight into the importance of providing equitable, diverse, and inclusive support
• You can understand information and communicate clearly verbally and written.
• You can develop positive relationships with an inclusive and collaborative style.
• You are driven to inspire, motivate and develop yourself and others.
Across Durham and Darlington
Every colleague who joins the programme takes part in a structured 12-week training and onboarding process, during which they complete an accredited Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification (or equivalent). Alongside this, they also undertake contract-specific training in areas such as:
• ICT systems
• Health and Safety
• Lone Working
• Safeguarding
• Reporting and Recording
• Domestic Abuse
• Challenging Behaviour
…and much more.
All expenses will be reimbursed whilst on project.
Benefits
• Building confidence and resilience
• Paid healthcare plans with UK Health
• Gaining up-to-date work experience in service design, implementation, and frontline support
• Potential to Achieve Level 2 qualifications from our partner Learning Curve in:
o Health and Social Care
o Trauma-Informed Practices
o Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
o Mental Health
o And many more….
Towards the end of the programme, participants create a move-on plan and receive tailored support with updating CVs, writing cover letters, and applying for future roles.
You need to be able to either drive or navigate around areas via public transport
Please follow the link below to apply via the website.
