Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Mental Health Practitioner/Care Co-Ordinator - HMP Coldingley
Closing date: 28 June 2026
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.
In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Mental Health Practitioner/Care Co‑ordinator to join our forward‑thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP Coldingley. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team you will look after the healthcare needs of patients residing in secure environments, while having the opportunity to promote health and well‑being. Our services run on a 7 day week working model to ensure patient care is maintained to the highest standard at all times.
Our motto is "Caring NOT Judging". Working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable and high‑quality primary care and mental health services to those who may have offended and to those at risk of offending, improving their health status and encouraging social inclusion.
Main duties of the job
- Function fully within the Mental Health In‑reach Team, assessing and treating patients through their journey in prison.
- Accept referrals and triage patients with the team.
- Undertake Early Days In Custody (EDIC) assessments. Ensure all new arrivals receive a brief assessment of their presentation and need, refer patients to other services (GP, SMS, chaplaincy, psychology, etc.) and book further assessment if indicated.
- Participate in Care and Separation (Segregation) Unit (CSU) rounds with a GP and primary care nurse.
- Undertake comprehensive assessments alone or with colleagues and feed findings to the Multi‑disciplinary Team, ensuring that planned care is individual and appropriate to the patient’s needs.
- 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.
- Ensure effective pre‑release care planning.
Job responsibilities
- Promote the health and well‑being of patients and maintain a safe, caring and therapeutic environment based on an individualised approach.
- Work with the Team Leader to provide an environment that promotes training and development among the workforce.
- Work under the direction of the team manager and staff in the service to ensure that clinical priorities are clearly understood and met to an agreed standard.
- Assess health and social care needs and negotiate care plans with patients and staff teams.
- Undertake risk assessments, including the formulation of comprehensive plans developed jointly with patients and staff teams.
- Work within the Prison service safer custody framework for managing suicide and self‑harm (ACCT procedures) to support patients requiring this.
- Provide a service sensitive to age, culture, ethnicity and gender, sexuality and disability.
- Contribute to effective multi‑disciplinary team working within the team and the rest of the Prison.
- Carry out duties in accordance with Prison / NOMS policies.
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals, gathering information from all relevant Prison departments and external agencies.
- Case‑manage an identified caseload of clients in conjunction with the multi‑disciplinary team and relevant agencies, including planning and implementing effective care plans, regular review meetings, timely referral to external agencies, within the framework of the CPA, to ensure effective pre‑release and discharge planning.
- Communicate effectively with all relevant internal departments and external agencies regarding clients, within the restrictions of a prison environment.
- Work closely with the MDT and facilitate an effective range of therapeutic interventions for this client group.
- Respond to urgent referrals and assess whether team input is indicated or appropriate.
- Offer a range of evidence‑based interventions and proactive risk‑management approaches to help service users and their families reduce and manage symptoms, high‑risk behaviour and other disabling effects of their conditions, enabling, as far as possible, full and sustained recovery.
- Ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed.
- Monitor treatment, support concordance and ensure prompt action is taken to alleviate unwanted effects.
- Provide advice and information to patients about their care.
- Provide access to and ongoing psycho‑education regarding various mental health conditions to patients.
- Provide interventions and work with other disciplines, agencies, and teams in the care of service users experiencing co‑morbid problems with substance use/misuse.
- Provide written reports and discharge summaries as required.
- Coordinate CPA review meetings, produce written care plans, and circulate care plans to relevant people and agencies in accordance with Trust policies and guidelines.
- Have working knowledge of the MHA 1983 (Amendment 2007) as used within criminal justice settings.
- Safely plan patient care back out into the community from Prison, or transfer to alternative prison establishments, ensuring continuity of care is provided.
- Where possible, under the direction of the team manager and the MDT, ensure that service delivery is inclusive and effective.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
- Registered Practitioner (Mental Health Nurse NMC, OT, Social Worker)
- Evidence of professional development since registration
- Post‑registration qualification that enhances clinical work (e.g., CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis)
Previous Experience (Paid or Unpaid Relevant to Job)
- Experience working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
- Experience of care co‑ordinating within CPA framework
- Experience of working in a community setting
- Experience of mentoring or supervising students
- Experience working in a Prison or forensic environment
Attitudes, Aptitudes, Personal Characteristics
- Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service
- Able to accept constructive feedback
- Able to ask for support where required
- Compassionate and non‑judgmental approach
- Flexible
Other
- Must be able to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at a level appropriate to the job
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
- Expertise in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing needs, designing and delivering interventions, and evaluating effectiveness
- Risk assessment and management skills
- Proven ability to work with patients to increase self‑determination and resilience
- Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
- Problem‑solving, stress management, and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to engage in evidence‑based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance)
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate
- Use supervision positively and effectively
- Effective time management
- Knowledge of the needs and rights of patients
- Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure and Barring Service check to screen for any previous criminal convictions.
£41,957 to £50,387 a year (pro rata if part‑time) including HCAS
