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Mental Health Practitioner - Reconnect Service
The closing date is 03 August 2025
Are you seeking an exciting new community role supporting people leaving prison with their health care needs?
The Dorset Integrated Non-Custodial Service has a vacancy for a Mental Health Practitioner in it's Reconnect Service. Reconnect is a care after custody service which aims to increase the access and uptake of community healthcare or relevant support services for individuals who have significant health needs upon release from HMP Guys Marsh, Portland and The Verne and ensure safe transition to community-based healthcare.
We are looking for practitioners who have real passion for developing their clinical skills in an environment that is ever changing, with a good working knowledge of assessment and care planning including comprehensive risk assessment. We highly encourage new ideas and opinions on how to improve the service, seeking someone who is creative, forward thinking and able to meet unexpected challenges in an exciting new role.
If you are self-motivated, able to work autonomously and show plenty of initiative when it comes to handling a wide range of situations, then this could be the right role for you in a service that you can help shape. As this is a new role in an ever-developing environment we highly suggest you contact the service before applying.
Main duties of the job
The Reconnect service supports individuals with a varied range of health vulnerabilities and risk, including mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, and those that are end of licence or may require continued supervision in the community under MAPPA.
Working closely with prison colleagues from Custody Health Care, the Offender Management Unit and the Resettlement Team, you will attend prison discharge meetings, carry out comprehensive assessments within the prison and community to identify the needs of the individual and plan the care of those being released. You will also be working with a range of health, social and forensic services in the community to identify and assess individuals post release, or those that may be returning to Dorset but released from a prison in another county.
Support Workers work with clients for up to 6 months, building a trusting therapeutic relationship to support their transition from prison to community health care and encourage engagement with services. You will work closely with the Support Workers to plan continuity of care and carry out caseload supervision.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Employment with the team is dependent upon passing the Prison vetting process.
This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
* A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work
* Ability to manage multiple referrals, screen, triage and assess according to need
JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
* 2 years post registration experience
* Experience of working with adults
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
* Leadership training
JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
* Experience of working in a criminal justice setting
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.
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
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