Reconnect Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Preston; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a Reconnect Practitioner to work across six prisons and the wider community in Lancashire & Cumbria. The role focuses on triage, assessment, referral, and support to help individuals transition from prison to community‑based healthcare and services.

The post involves DBS checks and Enhanced DBS status, with duties to identify mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, or safeguarding needs, and to coordinate follow‑up

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Reconnect will create an effective link between prison & community in order to increase access & uptake of healthcare or relevant support services for vulnerable individuals who would otherwise struggle to engage
• Reconnect will reduce health inequalities for prison leavers and ensure the health needs of individuals who are leaving prison are met
• The post holder will identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people with vulnerabilities for persons approaching release and provide support within the community upon their release

Education

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

Job description

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
• Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Extensive community physical health and well‑being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long‑term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

Please note - this role does not offer sponsorship.

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

The post holder will work within the ReConnect Care after Custody for Lancashire & Cumbria, covering 6 prisons & also the wider community of Lancashire & Cumbria. Reconnect is a triage, assessment, referral & support service and starts working with people before they leave prison, where they will have access to Reconnect practitioners, engagement practitioners & 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, & up to 6 months support post release.

Vetting and Clearances:

• LSCFT staff entering the prison or probation estate 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.
• The post holder should have lived in the UK for at least 3 years.

Main duties of the job

Reconnect will create an effective link between prison & community in order to:

• increase access & uptake up 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 & support services & 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.

Working for our organisation

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‑representated 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

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

Knowledge

• 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

Experience

• Working with people with complex needs either whilst studying or post qualification
• Lone working
• Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
• Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers