Health & Justice Outreach/Reconnect Practitioner

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Bilston; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking experienced Practitioners to support individuals with complex mental health needs within the criminal justice system. This role involves conducting assessments, managing care plans, and working with community services. Successful candidates will have a relevant nursing or social work qualification and experience in mental health care. This is a fixed-term position located in Bilston, UK, aimed at making a difference in people's lives during vulnerable moments.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Ongoing training and support

Qualifications

• Experience with clients having complex mental health needs.
• Experience in community settings for mental health support.

Responsibilities

• Lead on specialist assessments within the service specification.
• Provide written reports for courts and attend as required.
• Assess patients' care needs and refer as necessary.

Skills

Risk assessment

Clinical assessment

Mental health planning

Communication

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse / General Nurse on NMC Register

Registered Social Worker / Allied Health Professional

Job description

Job Overview

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

An exciting opportunity has arisen for experienced Practitioners (RMN, RNLD, RGN or Social Workers/ Allied Health Professionals) with a criminal justice interest, to work in the Black Country Health & Justice Outreach/Reconnect Service. The post holder would be expected to work in the community within Black Country in the Outreach element of the team but may also incorporate other areas of Health & Justice, such as the Reconnect Service, Police custody or court. This will include providing high quality assessments of people attending and being released from Police Custody/Prison and supporting people under the care of the Outreach/Reconnect Team. The service will be delivered to people of all ages including those under the age of 18yrs who present with any vulnerability including but not limited to; mental health, physical health, learning disability, head injury, unemployment, housing, educational needs etc.

H&J is not itself a treatment service, but it is an identification, assessment and referral service. The role will involve assessing; accessing; and implementing a wide and, at times, complex range of care services for people over the age of 18 with increasingly complex needs.

Fixed term or secondment opportunity.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicants must be experienced in risk assessment, highly motivated and someone who is looking for a new challenge and have the skills to make a difference.

• Working in a Health and Justice (H&J) Outreach/Reconnect service within the Black Country, dependent on skills and service need.
• Delivering a high quality clinical service to patients and their families.
• Managing complex assessment in Custody, Court and the Outreach/Reconnect service. Responsible for clinical and caseload supervision of other team members where identified.
• Diverting and Liaising with multiple criminal justice, police and other partners.
• Identify, assess and refer people of all ages with a wide range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and/or social vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the youth and adult criminal justice systems on suspicion of having committed a crime.
• When a person is assessed as having single or multiple vulnerabilities, they will be referred to the appropriate treatment or support service and an appropriate package of care and/or support will be instigated.
• Accurate, timely information on the person will be shared with police and the courts (with an individual’s consent where necessary) to ensure that any charging, sentencing or disposal decisions are based upon an authoritative assessment of their mental health, any learning disability and whether they have a substance misuse issue.

Working for our organisation

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.

Key Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Lead on specialist assessments (within service specification) in conjunction with service user and carer, helping to promote self-determination, choice and autonomy.
• Provide written reports for Crown or Magistrates Courts or to attend and give verbal evidence as required. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.
• Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards, including auditing, monitoring and reviewing of practice in line with current clinical guidance practice/policy.
• Assess patient's individual care needs, agree and refer on to appropriate agency.
• Complete and contribute to robust risk assessments and risk management plans. Promote positive risk taking, where appropriate, to improve quality of life and maximise occupational performance/independence.
• Maintain effective reporting systems by observing and reporting verbally and in writing on patient conditions.
• Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of H&J processes.
• Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level.
• Assist in ensuring that the aims and objectives of the service (as set by the Team Leader) are fulfilled and to identify factors which may inhibit these from being achieved.
• The post holder will be required to work within the NMC Code of Practice/registered professional guidelines.
• Assist in the implementation of evidence-based practice and participate in research and other projects as required.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse/General Nurse on NMC Register or Registered Social Worker/Allied Health Professional.

Experience

• Experience of working with Clients who have difficulty in engaging with services and have complex mental health needs.
• Experience of assessing, planning, co-ordinating and managing people with mental health problems in a community setting.

Skills

• 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.