Health and Wellbeing Practitioner

The Forward Trust; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A social enterprise with charitable status is seeking a motivated Health & Wellbeing Practitioner to join their team at HMP Millsike. The role involves mentoring prisoners, delivering health interventions, and promoting wellbeing activities to foster a rehabilitative culture. Candidates must have experience in substance misuse or mental health, along with strong communication and organisational skills. Flexible working and various benefits are available.

Benefits

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Simply Health Cashback Scheme

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Crisis Loan Scheme

Electric Car Scheme

25 days Annual Leave

Contributory Pension Scheme

Death in Service Payment

Qualifications

• Experience in substance misuse, mental health or related fields.
• Ability to create individual wellbeing plans.
• Flexibility to meet evolving service needs.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and coach prisoners on wellbeing plans.
• Deliver mental and physical health interventions.
• Coordinate health promotion activities.

Skills

Experience in substance misuse

Skilled in risk assessment

Motivational interviewing

Delivery of health interventions

Strong organisational skills

Excellent communication

Job description

Please note: We have two positions available, one at 30 hours per week and one at 15 hours per week. Due to the rural location of HMP Millsike, a valid driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this role. Successful applicants will also be required to undergo prison security vetting as part of the recruitment process. As a Health & Wellbeing Practitioner, you will play a key role in building a culture of recovery and wellbeing across HMP Millsike. Reporting to the Connections Health & Wellbeing Manager.

Strategy

• Partner with healthcare providers to raise awareness of health and wellbeing.
• Co‑produce and deliver a calendar of prison‑wide health promotion activities.
• Organise pop‑up health events (e.g., diabetes awareness, healthy eating).

Service Delivery

• Mentor and coach prisoners, creating individual wellbeing plans.
• Deliver interventions (1:1 and group) that support mental and physical health.
• Provide wellbeing activities across residential units, including evenings and weekends.
• Oversee and promote Forward Trust's wellbeing suite (digital and in‑person).
• Support family‑focused wellbeing initiatives and prison‑wide wellbeing days.

Performance & Quality

• Facilitate interventions to Forward Trust standards.
• Manage your caseload effectively and meet KPIs.
• Contribute to multi‑disciplinary reviews and safeguarding processes.
• Maintain accurate, professional client records.

We are looking for motivated, compassionate, and professional individuals with a genuine passion for rehabilitation and wellbeing.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience in substance misuse, mental health, or related fields.
• Skilled in risk assessment, care planning and motivational interviewing.
• Proven delivery of health & wellbeing interventions in 1:1 and group settings.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Excellent communication skills with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Commitment to equality, confidentiality and GDPR compliance.
• Flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the service.

HMP Millsike is a pioneering establishment built on a contemporary, evidence‑based approach to prison delivery. Our mission is to protect the public while transforming lives by fostering a rehabilitative environment and culture. At our core is the belief that empowering individuals to make self‑determined choices, and equipping them with skills and emotional resilience, creates long‑lasting change.

Rehabilitation is the helix of HMP Millsike's DNA. In partnership with the University of Hull School for Criminology, Sociology and Policing, we continuously evaluate and improve our approach to resettlement and reducing reoffending. We are proud of our ambition to become the prison with the highest number of work opportunities on release, aiming for at least 26% of prisoners moving directly into employment.

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often inter‑linked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

Benefits

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata for part‑time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2× annual salary)Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)