Registered Nursing Associate | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Liverpool is seeking Registered Nurse Associates. The role involves mental health promotion, conducting health screenings, and providing individual and group interventions. Candidates will work under the supervision of Registered Mental Health Nurses within a supportive clinical team. The position offers flexible working arrangements and aims to enhance the quality of mental health care provided in an institutional setting.

Benefits

Flexible working requests considered

Commitment to professional development

Opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team

Qualifications

• Maintain knowledge of the Nursing Associate role within different care settings.
• Contribute towards the culture of learning and innovation.
• Assist in ongoing assessment and care management.

Responsibilities

• Complete Primary Mental Health Screens for new receptions.
• Engage in mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
• Support group activity and conduct physical health checks.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Mental health promotion

Effective communication

Understanding of mental illness

Team collaboration

Education

Nursing Associate Training Programme

Job description

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is the health provider for the delivery of the Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) at HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse. The service is designed to support the holistic mental health and learning disability needs of our client group, in partnership with physical healthcare providers and HMPPS colleagues.

HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse are both Category B, male‑only, local prisons located in the Liverpool area.

The service provides individual and group‑based interventions based on the clinical needs of the population. Interventions are individualised, trauma‑informed, and include comprehensive risk assessment and management.

Core aims of the service are to improve mental and psychological wellbeing, build the development of independent core skills, reduce risk, and advocate for mental health and learning disabilities within the wider prison.

The post holder will join a dedicated team of clinical staff from a range of backgrounds. Team members have high levels of skill, passion and enthusiasm (and humour!) and are committed to ensuring the on‑going successful development of the service and the opportunities it provides for our population.

Positions available

We are now recruiting four Registered Nurse Associates: two permanent posts and two 12‑month fixed‑term contracts / secondments. Successful candidates will work under the supervision of a Registered Mental Health Nurse and alongside the wider IMHT.

Key responsibilities

• Complete Primary Mental Health Screens for all new receptions to identify mental health needs in a timely manner.
• Engage in mental‑health promotion, suicide prevention work, and provide psycho‑education and information on coping strategies.
• Support group activity and conduct physical health checks for the mental‑health population.
• Provide suicide prevention promotion and awareness on the induction wing.
• Support the completion of physical health checks and group work and activity.

Additional responsibilities

• Work with individuals with complex clinical and risk presentations within institutional settings.
• Collaborate as part of a multi‑disciplinary team with clients who may find it difficult to engage with services.

General duties, knowledge, training and experience

• Maintain knowledge of the scope of practice of the Nursing Associate role within different care settings.
• Maintain continuing professional development in accordance with NMC CPD requirements and revalidation.
• Maintain practical and theoretical knowledge, competence and skills gained during the Nursing Associate Training Programme.
• Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, and high‑quality learning environments.

Clinical responsibilities – individual care

The following list is indicative as tasks and responsibilities will vary depending on the care setting the qualified Nursing Associate is working in.

• Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and assist the registered nurse in ongoing assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.
• Support individuals with all aspects of care including daily living, providing person‑centred care and promoting health and independence.
• Demonstrate the principles of safe administration of medicines in line with the trust.
• Perform and record clinical observations including pressure, temperature, respirations, pulse.
• Undertake clinical tasks including venepuncture, ECGs and cannulation following appropriate training and sign‑off of competency.
• Accurately record nutritional and fluid intake and output as clinically indicated.
• Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.
• Recognise changing priorities and seek advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate.
• Report back and share information with the registered nurses on the condition, behaviour, activity and responses of individuals.
• Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate registered care professionals.
• Assist in the assessment of and contribute to the management of risk across several areas within the environment where care is being administered.
• Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers.
• Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse.
• Maintain an understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions such as dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities.
• Develop skills in relation to coaching/teaching individuals, carers and other staff.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of clinical standards and outcomes.
• Develop a working knowledge of other providers’ resources and referral systems to ensure individuals’ needs are met within parameters of practice.
• Engage in reflective practice including management of self and reflection on own reactions.
• Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures.
• Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and apply principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the Registered Nurse or registered care professional as required.

Benefits and flexible working

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Is appointed: start date flexible.

Application deadline: Sunday 28 Dec 2025