Release Engagement Practitioner | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Whittingham; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in the United Kingdom is seeking a Release Engagement Practitioner to support individuals transitioning from prison to community-based services. The role requires engagement with vulnerable populations and ensuring access to health care support. Ideal candidates should have a diploma in health or social care, with opportunities for flexible working arrangements. The post offers a competitive salary and full-time hours.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Positive work/life balance

Qualifications

• Essential: Diploma in Health and/or Social Care or equivalent experience.
• Desirable: Foundation degree in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

• Work within the Reconnect Care after Custody service for six prisons and the wider community.
• Engage with vulnerable individuals facing complex needs.
• Ensure a safe transition from prison to community-based healthcare.

Skills

Diploma in Health and/or Social Care or equivalent experience

Level 3 NVQ in health-related subject

Foundation degree in a relevant field (e.g. health, psychology, criminology)

Job description

Release Engagement Practitioner | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

CAPTION: Job details

• Posting date: 04 November 2025
• Salary: Not specified
• Additional salary information: £27,485 - £30,162 per annum
• Hours: Full time
• Closing date: 04 December 2025
• Location: East Lancashire, PR3 2JH
• Company: Lancashire Care Foundation Trust
• Job type: Permanent
• Job reference: 7595502/351-SPS1515-MF

Summary

Release Engagement Practitioner:

• Essential: Diploma in Health and/or Social Care or equivalent experience
• Level 3 NVQ in health related subject
• Desirable: Foundation degree within a relevant field e.g. health, psychology, criminology etc (or equivalent qualification/ reflected experience).

The post holder will work within the Reconnect Care after Custody service for Lancashire and Cumbria, covering 6 prisons and 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 a Reconnect practitioners and support practitioners, helping them to make the transition to community-based services that will provide the health and care support that they need. It is offered to people in prison up to 3 months prior to release, and up to 6 months support post release.

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 post holder will actively engage and work with a number of individuals who are likely to have a wide range of vulnerabilities and complex needs, including homelessness, substance misuse problems, mental health, significant risk histories and social exclusion, and who at times may present with extremely challenging behaviours. They will support people to access services for the full scope of vulnerabilities as identified.

Please note that hybrid working is necessary due to the area of coverage - involving some working from home and utilising other trust sites as a bases as required.

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.

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 be have Enhanced DBS status.

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

This advert closes on Tuesday 18 Nov 2025.