Crawley - Custody Practitioner

NHS; Brighton, Crawley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A health service provider is seeking a Custody Practitioner in Crawley to support vulnerable individuals in the criminal justice system. This role involves conducting assessments, liaising with various agencies, and providing compassionate support. Candidates should be a registered nurse or social worker with experience in mental health or related fields. The position offers ongoing training and development opportunities.

Benefits

Great career development

Ongoing training and support

Community impact

Qualifications

• Must have knowledge of working with individuals with vulnerabilities.
• Experience in assessing and managing mental health problems.
• Evidence of formal courses and training at diploma/degree level.

Responsibilities

• Conduct screenings and assessments of vulnerable individuals.
• Work collaboratively with health and social care teams.
• Provide support and referrals to other agencies as necessary.
• Maintain excellent communication with stakeholders.

Skills

Compassion

Risk management

Holistic assessment

Communication

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse / General Nurse

Registered Social Worker

Job description

Go back Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Crawley - Custody Practitioner

The closing date is 14 October 2025

The Custody Practitioner role will be part of a team of practitioners and support workers who work across the police custody suites in Sussex. As a Custody Practitioner you will be based in Crawley but may also work from other police custody locations. In this role you will assess and support vulnerable people who enter the criminal justice system through the police custody route. You will offer an holistic assessment of need and support, and liaise with the appropriate services when necessary. The role is an integral part of the support within the police custody, working alongside partners in supporting people. We are looking for someone who is flexible, adaptable and able to provide compassionate approaches in challenging environments. A good understanding of risk management and assessing a range of vulnerabilities and offering support will be essential; we can provide the necessary support and development for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

SCREENING & ASSESSMENT

• Provide compassion to vulnerable individuals at points of acute vulnerability in the criminal justice process.
• To support criminal justice agencies to better identify vulnerabilities in their respective environments.
• Provide criminal justice agencies with advice and information regarding pathways to access further support.
• To secure referrals into mainstream health and social care services and other relevant interventions and support services from a range of statutory and voluntary providers.
• Complete the screening and management of service user need through initial information gathering, independent face to face screening demonstrating safe clinical decision making, seeking support from the H&J practitioner, identifying further assessment as indicated.
• Screening of the individual through the relevant health databases in consultation with other service providers.
• Identify the need for involvement of the HCP.
• Identify the need for involvement of the H&J Practitioner.
• Identify levels of risk.
• Identify levels of urgency.
• Identify needs based on a review of any documentation and database checks. Identify the need for any further screening or assessments.
• Identify the need for and initiate referrals/signposting to external agencies, ensuring that individuals are referred to the relevant professionals for specific treatments/advice/support.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities within this role:

1. Work within limitations and escalate to H&J practitioner as appropriate.
2. To seek support and guidance from H&J practitioner where necessary.
3. Work as part of a team with the freedom to work independently, particularly in relation to providing advice to service users, carers, and professionals who contact the service.
4. Liaise with other agencies as required depending on the individual’s presentation, work closely with other agencies, such as Custody Health Care Professionals, and community agencies.
5. Be accountable for aspects of own clinical practice.
6. Ensure that those aspects of service, delivered as part of remit, meet local quality standards.
7. Ensure that the dignity and respect of individuals is maintained.
8. Maintain effective communication between health, social care and criminal justice agencies, individuals, relatives, carers and the multi-disciplinary team, enabling better identification and responses to provide effective outcomes.
9. Communicate and record information accurately, sensitively and appropriately for use by criminal justice agencies (i.e. police systems) to inform the decision making process.
10. Promote effective communication with people who are troubled or distressed.
11. Work collaboratively across teams, agencies and organisational boundaries to ensure the delivery of an integrated service through effective communication.
12. Maintain excellent communication with individuals regarding their health and social care needs, liaising with carers and professionals as required.
13. Actively seek support and supervision to maintain safe practice and facilitate robust decision making.

This exciting service is currently funded by NHS England and is delivered by Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The successful applicants must have knowledge of working with individuals who present with a range of vulnerabilities and identification of risks with the ability to follow direction and seek support where required. We are looking for a highly motivated individual and someone who is looking for a new challenge and have the skills to make a difference.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse / General Nurse on NMC Register.
• Registered Social Worker.
• Post-registration experience, evidence of formal courses and training at diploma/degree level.
• Conforms to NMC requirements.

Experience

• Evidence of extensive post-registration experience with working with clients experiencing mental health related difficulties.
• Experience of working with clients who have difficulty engaging with services and have complex mental health needs.
• Experience of working in community settings and making decisions autonomously.
• Experience of assessing, planning, coordinating and managing people with mental health problems in a community setting.
• Experience of integrating care delivery across multi-disciplinary / multi-agency teams.
• Experience of leading/contributing to CPA/SAP processes.
• Experience and ability to carry out clinical audit.
• Lived experience of the criminal justice system, care system or vulnerabilities.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of the Mental Health NICE Guidelines.
• Knowledge of NMC Code of Conduct.
• Understanding of the principles of the Care Programme Approach and Community Care Act.
• Demonstrate understanding of Equality and Anti-discriminatory practice.
• Knowledge of the wide range of statutory independent and third sector service provision for adults with mental ill health.
• Skills of assessing, planning and evaluating care, for people with mental health related difficulties, utilising the principles of Recovery; skilled in the assessment of clinical risk and developing and communicating appropriate risk management plans.
• Knowledge and experience of holistic assessment of someone’s mental ill health and other vulnerabilities, strengths and needs and appropriate nursing and multi-disciplinary and agency interventions.
• A range of skills and knowledge to deliver evidence-based interventions.
• Knowledge of the physical health needs and monitoring requirements for people receiving adult community mental health services.
• Skilled in undertaking and interpreting physical health investigations and providing physical health promotion advice including: weight, BMI, blood pressure, smoking, alcohol, drugs (prescribed and non-prescribed).
• Knowledge of Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act and DOLS.
• Range of interpersonal skills (communication, listening, working collaboratively) maintaining good working relationships with service users/carers, other service providers and agencies.

Personal Attributes

• Leadership skills, ability to motivate and influence others.
• Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour.
• Be able to meet the travel requirements of the community role with suitable vehicle insurance where applicable.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust