Prison Mental Health / Learning Disability Nurse

NHS; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking registered mental health professionals for a new prison team in York. The role requires significant experience, offering opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and clinical development. Ideal candidates will have qualifications in nursing or social work and will be committed to a person-centered approach. This position promises a dynamic work environment with a comprehensive induction and training program.

Benefits

Comprehensive induction

Personal and professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• 18 months post qualifying experience including sign-off of appropriate preceptorship.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Experience working collaboratively with service users.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical assessment and intervention for complex patients.
• Communicate treatment options and initiate supportive care plans.
• Provide effective clinical supervision and teaching.

Skills

Communication

Clinical supervision

Leadership

Mentoring students

Education

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

RNMH/RNLD or registered practitioner with NMC

Tools

ITQ level 2

Competency in venepuncture

Job description

Overview

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 03 October 2025

Are you a mental health nurse, LD nurse, social worker or occupational therapist with experience working in mental health? Have you thought about working within prison mental health services?

We have an exciting opportunity for registered professionals to be among the first to join our mental health team at HMP Millsike, a brand new all-electric Category C men's prison located in the village of Full Sutton near York.

Prison environments are challenging, yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If you are 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 professionals with experience in mental health services to join a team where you will develop a full range of psychiatric skills and interventions while delivering community-based urgent and planned care to the prison population.

HMP Millsike will have an operational capacity of 1,500 people who will spend their sentences learning the skills they need to find work on release as part of the government’s drive to cut reoffending. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust were recently awarded the Mental Health Service contract to begin delivering services in April 2025.

Main duties of the job

You will be a Registered Mental Health / LD Nurse / Social worker / Occupational Therapist. The team will be multi-disciplinary and the successful candidate 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 dedicated provision for complex patients whilst supporting a whole-prison approach. You will carry out comprehensive assessments, confidently communicating treatment options and initiating supportive care plans, and providing evidence-based interventions alongside the wider multi-disciplinary team.

You will be committed to a person-centred approach to your work and will have an ability 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.

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.

Our values

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, none-medical prescribing, leadership opportunities and Professional Nursing Advocacy.

How will we support you?

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

Job responsibilities

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

We require the post holders to be committed to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices and reflect the trust values.

We would welcome candidates to contact us to arrange a visit to the prison or an informal discussion.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that 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 e.g. 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.)
• 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework.
• 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, co-ordinate and prioritise the activities of a team.
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordinator 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