Mental Health Practitioner

CNWL; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Flexible working

Job summary

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust in Milton Keynes is seeking an RMN for a prison mental health role within HMP Woodhill. You will assess needs, manage CPA caseloads, and work in a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, person-centred care.

The post involves comprehensive assessments, risk management, and contributing to pre-release planning, with a strong focus on safeguarding and clinical governance.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (RMN) with current registration.
• Post-registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of care co-ordinating within CPA framework.
• Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment.

Responsibilities

• Assess health and social care needs and negotiate care plans with Patients and staff teams.
• Undertake risk assessments including the formulation of comprehensive plans.
• Provide evidence-based interventions and proactive risk management to help patients recover.
• Ensure effective pre-release care planning with relevant departments.
• Support safeguarding and deliver compassionate, person-centred care in a prison setting.

Skills

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Registered Nurse (RMN)

Job description

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity
to up skill or to simply change your career direction.
Become part of our team.
We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL.
We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.
Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.
With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Warning alert

Fraud alert: Please be cautious if you are asked for a fee at any stage in the recruitment process. CNWL does not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers. Always check with the recruitment contact or team if you are asked.

Site HMP Woodhill Town Milton Keynes Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum (pro rata if P/T) Salary period Yearly Closing 16/09/2026 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

To play a key role in the important ‘Early Days in Custody’ of prisoners, working closely with other departments to ensure that all risks are assessed and managed, providing a presence, with other team members.

• To function fully within the Integrated Mental Health Team, assessing and treating patients through their journey in prison.
• To accept referrals and triage patients with the team.
• To undertake comprehensive assessments alone or with colleagues and feedback to the Multi-disciplinary Team, ensuring that planned care is individual and appropriate to the needs of the patient.
• To provide effective case management to a defined caseload in accordance with the Care Programme Approach, in conjunction with the team, appropriate prison departments and external health, social care and probation services.
• To ensure effective pre-release care planning

Main duties of the job

Promote the health and well-being of patients and maintain a safe, caring and therapeutic environment based on an individualised approach. Working with the Mental Health Nurse Lead to provide an environment that promotes training and development among the workforce.

To work under the direction of the Deputy Head of Healthcare (Mental Health Lead) and Mental Health Nurse Lead to ensure that clinical priorities are clearly understood and met to an agreed standard.

• To assess health and social care needs and negotiate care plans with Patients and staff teams.
• To undertake risk assessments including the formulation of a comprehensive plans developed jointly with the Patients and staff teams.
• To work within the Prison Service safer custody framework for managing Suicide and self-harm (SASH procedures) to support Patients requiring this.
• To provide a service sensitive to age, culture, ethnicity and gender, sexuality and disability.
• To contribute to the effective multi-disciplinary team working within the team and the rest of the Prison.
• To participate in the reception/induction process, and any other model that the local team adopts, in order to identify individuals with mental health problems at the earliest opportunity.

Working for our organisation

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic, in the patient’s own home or in a Prison. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.
Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding peoplewho will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.
With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To have an active presence and act as a resource for all staff and prisoners, in addition to those patients under your care, in the Segregation unit and Clinical Assessment Unit.

• To work with the agreed Core Assessment Tool within all relevant Prison Departments
• To carry out duties in accordance with Prison / NOMS policies.
• To undertake comprehensive assessment of individuals: to include all areas of need and information gathering from all relevant Prison Departments and external agencies.
• To case manage an identified caseload of clients, in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team and relevant agencies and carers. To include the planning and implementation of effective care plans, regular review meetings, timely referral to external agencies, within the framework of the CPA, to ensure effective pre-release planning.
• To communicate effectively with all relevant internal departments and external agencies regarding clients, within the restrictions of a prison environment.
• To work closely with the MDT and identify and facilitate an effective range of therapeutic interventions for this particular client group.
• To respond to urgent referrals and to assess whether input from the team is indicated/appropriate.
• To offer a range of evidence based interventions and proactive risk management approaches to help the patient reduce and manage symptoms, high risk behaviour and other disabling effects of their conditions and enable, as far as possible, full and sustained recovery.
• To ensure that both CNWL Safeguarding Adults and Children Guidelines and procedures are fully understood and to ensure the safety needs of adults and children involved are met at all times and take appropriate action when either the adult or/and child is felt to be at risk or in need.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (RMN)
• Evidence of professional development since registration
• Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.

Previous Experience

• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of care co‑ordinating within CPA framework
• Experience of working in community setting
• Experience of mentoring or supervising students
• Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment

Skills and knowledge

• Risk assessment and management skills
• Ability to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate
• Expert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs, designing and delivering appropriate interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Proven ability to work patients to increase their level of self‑determination and resilience.
• Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
• Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
• Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service
• Able to ask for support where required.
• Compassionate & non‑judgmental approach.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Shalom Mutizwa Job title Deputy Head of Healthcare & Mental HealthLead Email address [e-mail]