Mental Health Practitioner - Reconnect Service

NHS; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider seeks a Mental Health Practitioner for its Reconnect Service in Bournemouth. This role involves attending prison discharge meetings, conducting assessments, and supporting individuals transitioning from prison to community healthcare. Candidates must have a relevant degree and at least 2 years post-registration experience, preferably in criminal justice settings. The position offers a salary between £38,682 and £46,580 per annum, with fixed-term contract lasting 9 months.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work.
• Ability to manage multiple referrals, screen, triage, and assess according to need.
• 2 years post-registration experience.
• Experience working with adults.

Responsibilities

• Attend prison discharge meetings and carry out comprehensive assessments.
• Identify needs of individuals and plan the care of those being released.
• Work with health and forensic services to assess individuals post release.
• Support clients for up to 6 months by building a therapeutic relationship.
• Plan continuity of care and supervise Support Workers.

Skills

Mental Health Nursing

Occupational Therapy

Social Work

Leadership training

Education

Degree level qualification in a relevant field

Job description

Job Summary

The Dorset Integrated Non-Custodial Service has a vacancy for a Mental Health Practitioner in its Reconnect Service. Reconnect is a care after custody service which aims to increase the access and uptake of community healthcare or relevant support services for individuals who have significant health needs upon release from HMP Guys Marsh, Portland and The Verne and ensure safe transition to community-based healthcare.

We are looking for practitioners who have real passion for developing their clinical skills in an environment that is ever changing, with a good working knowledge of assessment and care planning including comprehensive risk assessment. We highly encourage new ideas and opinions on how to improve the service, seeking someone who is creative, forward thinking and able to meet unexpected challenges in an exciting new role.

If you are self-motivated, able to work autonomously and show plenty of initiative when it comes to handling a wide range of situations, then this could be the right role for you in a service that you can help shape. As this is a new role in an ever-developing environment we highly suggest you contact the service before applying.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Employment with the team is dependent upon passing the Prison vetting process.

Main Duties

The Reconnect service supports individuals with a varied range of health vulnerabilities and risk, including mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, and those that are end of licence or may require continued supervision in the community under MAPPA.

Working closely with prison colleagues from Custody Health Care, the Offender Management Unit and the Resettlement Team, you will attend prison discharge meetings, carry out comprehensive assessments within the prison and community to identify the needs of the individual and plan the care of those being released. You will also be working with a range of health, social and forensic services in the community to identify and assess individuals post release, or those that may be returning to Dorset but released from a prison in another county.

Support Workers work with clients for up to 6 months, building a trusting therapeutic relationship to support their transition from prison to community health care and encourage engagement with services. You will work closely with the Support Workers to plan continuity of care and carry out caseload supervision.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

About Dorset HealthCare

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined‑up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward‑looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference.

Our 7,000‑strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We’re all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Key Information

Date posted: 24 December 2025

Band: 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year p.a.

Contract: Fixed term, 9 months

Working pattern: Full‑time

Location: Kings Park Hospital, Gloucester Road, Boscombe, BH7 6JF

Job Responsibilities

• Attend prison discharge meetings and carry out comprehensive assessments within the prison and community.
• Identify the needs of the individual and plan the care of those being released.
• Work with a range of health, social and forensic services in the community to assess individuals post release.
• Support clients for up to 6 months, building a trusting therapeutic relationship to support transition from prison to community health care.
• Plan continuity of care and carry out caseload supervision with Support Workers.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Training – Essential

• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work.
• Ability to manage multiple referrals, screen, triage and assess according to need.

Job Specific Experience – Essential

• 2 years post‑registration experience.
• Experience working with adults.

Knowledge, Skills and Training – Desirable

• Leadership training.

Job Specific Experience – Desirable

• Experience working in a criminal justice setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.