Prison Mental Health / Learning Disability Nurse

NHS; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is looking for a Prison Mental Health / Learning Disability Nurse in York. Successful candidates will work in a challenging yet rewarding environment, delivering mental health services to a prison population. Applicants must have 18 months of post-qualifying experience and be committed to developing their clinical skills. The role offers opportunities for training and professional development.

Benefits

Bespoke induction

Career development opportunities

Training in various clinical practices

Qualifications

• RNMH / RNLD or equivalent professional registration.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development required.
• Experience in a secure environment is essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical assessment and intervention for complex patients.
• Provide leadership and effective clinical supervision.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Clinical supervision

Teaching

Education

Registered Nurse (Mental Health or Learning Disability)

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

Job description

Prison Mental Health / Learning Disability Nurse

The closing date is 07 December 2025

Are you a registered mental health or learning disability nurse? Have you thought about working within prison mental health services?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Mental Health / Learning Disability Nurse to join our mental health team at HMP Full Sutton Category A (high security) men's prison, located in the village of Full Sutton near York, on a 12‑month secondment.

Prison environments are one of the most challenging, yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If you're looking for a role where you can develop your existing clinical skills and learn something new every day in an environment that never stands still, then this could be the opportunity for you.

This is an excellent opportunity for registered mental health / LD nurses with experience working within mental health services to join a team where you will develop a full range of psychiatric skills and interventions whilst delivering community‑based urgent and planned care/intervention to the prison population.

HM Prison Full Sutton is a Category A and B (high secure estate) men's prison in the village of Full Sutton, East Riding of Yorkshire. The prison has an operational capacity of 572 residents. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust was awarded the mental health provision contract from June 2024.

Candidates must have 18 months post‑qualifying experience, including sign‑off of an appropriate preceptorship or competency framework.

Main duties of the job

You will be a Registered Mental Health / LD Nurse. The team is multidisciplinary, and you will work collectively with senior clinical staff to provide a comprehensive mental health service, navigating the challenges of a prison environment.

To deliver clinical assessment and intervention as a dedicated provision for complex patients whilst supporting a whole‑prison approach. You will carry out comprehensive assessments, confidently communicate treatment options, and initiate supportive care plans, providing evidence‑based interventions alongside the wider multidisciplinary team.

You will be committed to a person‑centred approach and must be able to prioritise and work flexibly. We are looking for skilled professionals who will thrive working in a busy environment in a well‑resourced team of multidisciplinary professionals, as well as alongside partner providers from a variety of internal and external services.

This includes opportunities to deliver training in conjunction with a nurse consultant.

Additionally, to the competency framework, we offer a comprehensive induction and workforce development plan with a vast array of personal, professional and academic training opportunities enabling you to expand your skill set and evidence‑based practice.

About us

Our Journey to Change sets out why we do what we do, the kind of organisation we want to be and the three big goals we’re committing to.

We are committed to three big goals:

• To co‑create a great experience for our patients, carers and families.
• To co‑create a great experience for our colleagues.
• To be a great partner.

Interested in clinical development? We offer opportunities to develop into a specialist role of your interest, which in turn benefits the service. Examples include psychological therapies such as EMDR and DBT, non‑medical prescribing, leadership opportunities and Professional Nursing Advocacy.

How we support you

• Bespoke induction
• Competency framework
• Regional career development opportunities
• Support from the wider team

Job responsibilities

In addition to the duties above, you will be required to demonstrate:

• Commitment to equal opportunities and non‑discriminatory practices, reflecting the Trust values.
• Welcoming candidates to arrange a visit to the prison or an informal discussion.
• Referral to the attached job description and person specification for detailed information to ensure you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person Specification

Qualification

• RNMH / RNLD or registered practitioner, current professional registration with NMC or relevant professional body.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Clinical Supervisor (within agreed timescales).
• Recognised sign‑off mentor or must be achieved within agreed timescale.
• Qualified practitioner in CBT, DBT, PSI, dual diagnosis, etc. (within agreed timescale).
• Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).
• MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education (within agreed timescales).
• Non‑medical Prescriber (within agreed timescale).
• Post‑graduate qualification in a relevant area.

Experience

• Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
• A good understanding of the Offender Health pathway.
• Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
• Working in a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Quality improvement activities.
• Leadership or management experience.
• Experience in a secure environment.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.
• Experience of mentoring students on practice placement.

Skills

• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Provide leadership and monitor, coordinate and prioritise the activities of a team.
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care coordination responsibilities.
• Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
• Write reports.
• Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings.
• Use approved breakaway techniques.
• Competency in venepuncture and ECGs.

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust