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Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 02 April 2026

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Job summary

To play a key role in the important 'Early Days in Custody' of prisoners, working closely with other departments to ensure that all risks are assessed and managed.

To function fully within the Integrated Mental Health Team, assessing and treating patients through their journey in prison.

To accept referrals and triage patients with the team.

To undertake comprehensive assessments alone or with colleagues and feedback to the Multi-disciplinary Team, ensuring that planned care is individual and appropriate to the needs of the patient.

To provide effective case management to a defined caseload in accordance with the Care Programme Approach, in conjunction with the team, appropriate prison departments and external health, social care and probation services.

To ensure effective pre-release care planning.

Main duties of the job

To work under the direction of the Deputy Head of Healthcare (Mental Health Lead) and Mental Health Clinical Lead Nurse to ensure that clinical priorities are clearly understood and met to an agreed standard.

To assess health and social care needs and negotiate care plans with Patients and staff teams.

To undertake risk assessments including the formulation of a comprehensive plans developed jointly with the Patients and staff teams.

To work within the Prison Service safer custody framework for managing Suicide and self-harm (SASH procedures) to support Patients requiring this.

To provide a service sensitive to age, culture, ethnicity and gender, sexuality and disability.

To contribute to the effective multi-disciplinary team working within the team and the rest of the Prison.

To participate in the reception/induction process, and any other model that the local team adopts, in order to identify individuals with mental health problems at the earliest opportunity.

To have an active presence and act as a resource for all staff and prisoners, in addition to those patients under your care, in the Segregation unit and Clinical Assessment Unit.

To work with the agreed Core Assessment Tool within all relevant Prison Departments.

About us

We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient's own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.Providingtop quality caredepends on our ability to employ the best people.We're always looking torecruit outstanding peoplewho will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.With adiverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities, Health and Justice and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Date posted

19 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-D-HJ-1990

Job locations

HMP Aylesbury

Aylesbury

HP20 1EH

Job description

Job responsibilities

To case manage an identified caseload of clients, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team and relevant agencies and carers. To include the planning and implementation of effective care plans, regular review meetings, timely referral to external agencies, within the framework of the CPA, to ensure effective pre-release planning.

To communicate effectively with all relevant internal departments and external agencies regarding clients, within the restrictions of a prison environment.

To work closely with the MDT and identify and facilitate an effective range of therapeutic interventions for this particular client group.

To respond to urgent referrals and to assess whether input from the team is indicated/appropriate.

To offer a range of evidence-based interventions and proactive risk management approaches to help the patient reduce and manage symptoms, high risk behaviour and other disabling effects of their conditions and enable, as far as possible, full and sustained recovery.

To ensure that both CNWL Safeguarding Adults and Children Guidelines and procedures are fully understood and to ensure the safety needs of adults and children involved are met at all times and take appropriate action when either the adult or/and child is felt to be at risk or in need.

To monitor treatment, support concordance and ensure prompt action is taken to alleviate unwanted effects.

To provide advice and information to Patients about their care.

To provide access to and ongoing psycho-education regarding various mental health conditions to Patients and different health and prison staff.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To case manage an identified caseload of clients, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team and relevant agencies and carers. To include the planning and implementation of effective care plans, regular review meetings, timely referral to external agencies, within the framework of the CPA, to ensure effective pre-release planning.

To communicate effectively with all relevant internal departments and external agencies regarding clients, within the restrictions of a prison environment.

To work closely with the MDT and identify and facilitate an effective range of therapeutic interventions for this particular client group.

To respond to urgent referrals and to assess whether input from the team is indicated/appropriate.

To offer a range of evidence-based interventions and proactive risk management approaches to help the patient reduce and manage symptoms, high risk behaviour and other disabling effects of their conditions and enable, as far as possible, full and sustained recovery.

To ensure that both CNWL Safeguarding Adults and Children Guidelines and procedures are fully understood and to ensure the safety needs of adults and children involved are met at all times and take appropriate action when either the adult or/and child is felt to be at risk or in need.

To monitor treatment, support concordance and ensure prompt action is taken to alleviate unwanted effects.

To provide advice and information to Patients about their care.

To provide access to and ongoing psycho-education regarding various mental health conditions to Patients and different health and prison staff.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

oRegistered Nurse (RMN)
oMentorship or supervisor qualification
oEvidence of professional development since registration

Desirable

oPost registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.
oNMP Qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

oPost registration experience
oExperience of mentoring or supervising students
oExperience of working in community setting
oExperience of mentoring or supervising students
oExperience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

oExperience of working in a Prison or forensic environment

Skills and knowledge

Essential

oRisk assessment and management skills
oAbility to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
oProven ability to work patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience.
oKnowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
oExpert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs, designing and delivering appropriate interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
oExcellent communication skills both verbal and written
oExcellent IT skills
oAbility to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
oTo use supervision positively and effectively.
oProblem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
oEffective time management.
oKnowledge of safeguarding frameworks
oAbility to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
o Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

oMotivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service
oAble to accept constructive feedback.
oAble to ask for support where required.
oCompassionate & non-judgmental approach
oFlexible

Other

Essential

oTo conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

oRegistered Nurse (RMN)
oMentorship or supervisor qualification
oEvidence of professional development since registration

Desirable

oPost registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.
oNMP Qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

oPost registration experience
oExperience of mentoring or supervising students
oExperience of working in community setting
oExperience of mentoring or supervising students
oExperience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

oExperience of working in a Prison or forensic environment

Skills and knowledge

Essential

oRisk assessment and management skills
oAbility to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
oProven ability to work patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience.
oKnowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
oExpert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs, designing and delivering appropriate interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
oExcellent communication skills both verbal and written
oExcellent IT skills
oAbility to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
oTo use supervision positively and effectively.
oProblem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
oEffective time management.
oKnowledge of safeguarding frameworks
oAbility to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
o Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

oMotivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service
oAble to accept constructive feedback.
oAble to ask for support where required.
oCompassionate & non-judgmental approach
oFlexible

Other

Essential

oTo conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Aylesbury

Aylesbury

HP20 1EH

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Aylesbury

Aylesbury

HP20 1EH

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)