Reconnect Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria Nhs Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The ReConnect Practitioner role within Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports people in North Cumbria and across Cumbria/North Lancashire, helping them transition from prison to community-based healthcare and services. It starts up to 12 weeks before release and continues up to 6 months post-release.

The post requires a degree in a relevant subject or demonstrable experience, with enhanced DBS status and vetting.

Qualifications

• Essential: Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice.
• Desirable: Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist.

Responsibilities

• Increase access and uptake of healthcare or relevant support services for vulnerable individuals who would otherwise struggle to engage.
• Reduce health inequalities for prison leavers.
• Ensure the health needs of individuals who are leaving prison are met.
• Ensure a safe transition from prison to community-based healthcare and support services and to provide follow-up to ensure engagement is maintained.

Skills

Complex needs support

Lone working

Risk assessment

Education

Degree in relevant subject

Job description

Job summary

This role requires supporting people primarily in the area of North Cumbria, though will require cover across other areas of Cumbria/North Lancashire as required by service need.

Essential: Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

Desirable: Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist.

• Psychology Degree
• CBT Diploma
• Substance Misuse Diploma

Role overview

The post holder will work within the ReConnect Care after Custody for Lancashire and Cumbria, covering 6 prisons and also the wider community of Lancashire and Cumbria. Reconnect is a triage, assessment, referral and support service and starts working with people before they leave prison, where they will have access to Reconnect practitioners, engagement practitioners and Peer Support Workers, helping them to make the transition to community-based services. It is offered to people in prison up to 12 weeks prior to release, and up to 6 months support post release. Reconnect will create an effective link between prison and community in order to:

Vetting and Clearances

LSCFT staff entering the prison or probation estate require vetting and will be subject to HMPPS security vetting carried out by National Offender Management Service and will be required to undergo Enhanced Level 1 vetting.

The post holder is also expected to have Enhanced DBS status.

Main duties of the job

• Increase access and uptake of healthcare or relevant support services for vulnerable individuals who would otherwise struggle to engage
• Reduce health inequalities for prison leavers
• Ensure the health needs of individuals who are leaving prison are met
• Ensure a safe transition from prison to community-based healthcare and support services and to provide follow-up to ensure engagement is maintained.

The Reconnect Practitioner role will identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people with vulnerabilities for persons who are approaching release from Her Majesty's Prisons and subsequently provide support within the community upon their release from prison. Referrals will be identified and received where there have been concerns that an individual has mental health issues, learning disability, substance misuse, social care, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities.

Assessment will consider the emotional wellbeing, cultural and gender needs, age and development related needs, including transition to adulthood and older person needs, social circumstances (including relationships, leisure requirements, daily living, educational and occupational needs, employment/vocational needs, housing, finance) of those referred to ReConnect.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact us using the details provided.

Person specification

Experience (Essential)

• Working with people with complex needs for a substantial period either whilst studying or post qualification
• Lone working
• Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others

Knowledge (Essential)

• Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
• Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it
• Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools

Details

Band: Band 5

Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 351-BAY1125-EB

Closing date: 09 November 2026

For questions about the job, contact: Alison Foreman, Clinical Lead, [e-mail], 07507846008

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

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.