Early Days in Custody Mental Health Practitioner

Overview

In this role you will support new prisoners with their mental health needs during the first 14 days and identify wider health and social care requirements. You will conduct initial assessments, co‑produce written care plans, and collaborate with prison services to address risks and vulnerabilities. You will develop crisis plans for at‑risk individuals and use the nursing process to plan, implement, and evaluate care. This role offers a chance to impact patient outcomes in a complex, secure environment within a leading NHS prison health service.

Responsibilities

• Screen new prisoners on entry day to identify health, risk, and safety needs
• Develop initial mental health crisis plans for high-risk individuals
• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments within 14 days and gather collateral
• Engage in assertive outreach for those declining assessments to establish a care plan
• Create and review care plans and ensure coordination with wider prison teams
• Provide support for individuals at risk of self-harm and maintain contemporaneous community team communication
• Ensure concordance of the prescribed regimen and identify barriers
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care in line with mental state examinations and nursing process
• Communicate effectively with community teams and support the wider team as needed
• Undergo National Security Vetting as part of pre-employment checks

Key requirements

• Registered Mental Health Nurse with minimum two years’ experience
• NMC registration in date
• Current UK professional registration
• Willingness to undertake National Security Vetting

• attention to detail
• clear communication
• team-based collaboration
• mental health assessment
• care planning
• crisis intervention

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