Early Days in Custody Lead Nurse

Job summary

TheEarly Days in Custody Nursewill play a pivotal role in safeguarding and supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals as they enter custody a critical period recognised as carrying heightened risk.

You will lead askilled, multi-disciplinary approachto identifying, stabilising and supporting people with complex needs, includingphysical health conditions, mental illness, neurodiversity, and trauma-related difficulties.Your clinical expertise will ensure that every individual receives a timely and thorough assessment, compassionate care, and appropriate escalation where needed.

As the clinical lead for early reception and induction, you will:

• Provideexpert triage and assessmentfor individuals entering custody, ensuring swift identification of risk and need.

• Lead theclinical responseto those in crisis or distress, drawing on trauma-informed and psychologically safe practices.

• Support the creation of acalm, stabilising reception environment, helping individuals manage distress and engage meaningfully with care.

• Collaborate closely with colleagues in healthcare, mental health, and custodial teams to ensure joined-up, person-centred care.

• Model compassionate leadership, supporting your team to deliver safe, high-quality, and recovery-focused interventions.

This is a role for an experienced and confident practitioner someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, demonstrates clinical excellence under pressure, and is motivated by the opportunity to improve outcomes

Main duties of the job

• Lead and coordinate reception screening and first-night health checks
• Deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed and stabilisation-focused assessments
• Oversee and quality assure implementation of the EDiC pathway
• Liaise with GP, Mental Health, Primary Care, Substance misuse and custodial teams to ensure continuity of care
• Provide specialist input into complex or high-risk cases, including those with a history of suicide attempts
• Lead and model stabilisation-focused care, using brief interventions and trauma-informed de-escalation to support emotion regulation and prevent escalation
• Coach staff in recognising dysregulation and responding in ways that promote calm, connection and safety
• Ensure dynamic risk assessment and clinical contribution to ACCTs and care plans
• Contribute to staff training on early warning signs, trauma-informed and stabilisation approaches
• The role will model trauma-informed and stabilisation-focused practice, cascading skills through Band 56 nurses and healthcare assistants.
• Development of a prison-wide Early Days in Custody training package, co-produced with colleagues and people with lived experience

Please see job description attached for full list.

About us

About the Company

We change lives by transforming health and care.

Established in 2006, we are one of the UKs leading independent providers of community health and care services, working with health and care commissioners and communities to transform services with a focus on experience, efficiency and improved outcomes. We deliver and transform adult and children community health services, primary care services including urgent care, sexual health, dermatology and MSK services as well as adult social care and wellbeing services.Across England, we support communities of many millions and directly help more than half a million people each year - guided by our simple values: we care, we think, we do.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from a broad, diverse range of people who want to join our team. Were a Disability Confident Committed company, so we work to provide facilities, work environment adjustments and technical solutions to be as inclusive of everyone.

While it doesnt happen often, sometimes a role is very popular, and well need to close it earlier than the date weve shown here. If youre keen to join our team, wed love to hear from you so please apply as soon as you can.

To find out more about HCRG Care Group, please visit https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/about-us-2

Employer details

Employer name

HCRG Care Group

Address

HCRG Care Group

Chelmsford

Essex

CM2 6JT

Employer's website

https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

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Employer details

Employer name

HCRG Care Group

Address

HCRG Care Group

Chelmsford

Essex

CM2 6JT

Employer's website

https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

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