Reconnect Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Reconnect Practitioner to join their innovative team. This role focuses on supporting individuals transitioning from prison back into the community, ensuring they receive the necessary healthcare and social support. The ideal candidate will engage with vulnerable individuals, conduct thorough assessments, and help bridge the gap between prison and community services. If you are passionate about making a difference and have a background in mental health or social care, this opportunity offers a chance to contribute to a vital service that addresses health inequalities and promotes well-being for those in need.

Benefits

Flexible Working Options

Career Breaks

Positive Work/Life Balance

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health care and vulnerability assessment is essential.
• Ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals transitioning from prison to community-based services.
• Conduct assessments to identify health and social needs of clients.

Skills

Mental Health Assessment

Vulnerability Screening

Social Care Support

Cultural Sensitivity

Communication Skills

Education

Relevant Degree in Healthcare or Social Work

Tools

DBS Check

HMP Security Vetting

Job description

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.

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
• 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.

Vetting And Clearances

• LSCFT staff entering the prison estate will be subject to HMP 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.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Alison Foreman (Clinical Lead) on 07507846008.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages 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, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Alison Foreman Job title: Clinical Lead Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 07507846008.