Reconnect Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Burnley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Reconnect Practitioner to support vulnerable individuals approaching release from six prisons and into the community for up to six months. The role focuses on screening, risk assessment, and coordinated support drawing on mental health and social care expertise.

You will work primarily across East Lancashire with potential broader Lancashire coverage, coordinating care and ensuring safe transitions to community services.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in the field.
• 2+ years working with people with complex needs.
• Experience assessing risk to self and others.
• Accurate documentation on electronic records; lone working.

Responsibilities

• Screen and assess people with vulnerabilities approaching release from prison.
• Respond to referrals where concerns about mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities exist.
• Provide community support after release for up to six months.
• Assess emotional wellbeing, cultural and gender needs, and age and development needs.
• Assess social circumstances including relationships, leisure, daily living, education, employment, housing and finance.
• Work across six prisons and the wider community of Lancashire and Cumbria.
• Cover other areas of Lancashire as service needs require, mainly East Lancashire.
• Link prison and community services to increase uptake of healthcare and support for those who would otherwise struggle to engage.
• Ensure health needs of prison leavers are met and the move to community services is safe.
• Provide follow-up to keep people engaged with services.

Skills

Mental health knowledge

Criminal justice knowledge

Risk assessment

Documentation

Lone working

Communication skills

Health screening tools

Motivating others

Education

Degree in a relevant subject

Job description

The Reconnect Practitioner post sits within the ReConnect Care after Custody service of Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, covering six prisons and the wider community. The role screens and assesses vulnerable people approaching release, then supports them in the community for up to six months after leaving prison. Working mainly across East Lancashire with cover elsewhere in Lancashire, contact begins up to 12 weeks before release. Enhanced DBS and HMPPS Enhanced Level 1 vetting are required.

What the job involves

• Screen and assess people with vulnerabilities approaching release from prison
• Respond to referrals where there are concerns about mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, social care, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities
• Provide community support after release from prison, for up to six months
• Assess emotional wellbeing, cultural and gender needs, and age and development needs
• Assess social circumstances including relationships, leisure, daily living, education, employment, housing and finance
• Work across six prisons and the wider community of Lancashire and Cumbria
• Cover other areas of Lancashire as service need requires, mainly East Lancashire
• Link prison and community services to increase uptake of healthcare and support among people who would otherwise struggle to engage
• Ensure the health needs of prison leavers are met and that the move to community services is safe
• Provide follow-up to keep people engaged with services

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject, or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to the field of practice

Experience

• At least 2 years working with people with complex needs, whilst studying or after qualifying
• Assessing risk to self and others
• Accurate and timely documentation on electronic records
• Lone working

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, including the roles of staff working in it
• Use and interpretation of health screening tools
• Assessing and mitigating risk, including risk of harm to self and others
• Recognising system barriers and using communication to overcome them and build relationships
• Motivating self and others

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS
• HMPPS security vetting at Enhanced Level 1

Nice to have

• Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, learning disability nurse, social worker or occupational therapist
• Psychology degree

What’s offered

• Flexible working, including term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time
• Wellbeing resources and support