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- Tasks: Provide specialist mental healthcare to offenders and work within a dedicated Mental Health Team.
- Company: Join a supportive organisation focused on mental health in the prison system.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on lives while working in a dynamic and challenging environment.
- Qualifications: Must have a relevant diploma/degree and two years of post-registration experience.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with guaranteed interviews for applicants with disabilities.
The predicted salary is between 39338 - 46962 £ per year.
Main area: Prisons
Grade Band: 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday 8am - 4pm)
Job ref: 277-6632268-SWALE-C
Site: HMP Swaleside, Town: Kent
Salary: £39,338 - £46,962 pa inc
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 06/01/2025 23:59
As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will be providing specialist mental healthcare to offenders and working as part of the Mental Health In-Reach Team, plus wider mental health services. You will be required to work in a psychologically minded way with offenders in achieving their agreed goals and quality health outcomes.
Our Mental Health Team provides specialist interventions at primary and secondary care levels including referral management, screening assessment, triage, evidence-based interventions, care planning and risk assessing, plus one-to-one and group-work facilitation.
Our Mental Health Practitioners manage a mixed and challenging caseload and are required to perform robust assessment, screening, and interventions to offenders with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. You will contribute to alternatives to inpatient admission and assist with early discharge through the implementation of high-intensity interventions and complex case management arrangements.
One of our key aims is to ensure continuity of care for an offender on ordinary location and reduce the length of stay, both in relation to prison inpatient services and external NHS/independent inpatient services. You will work closely with community mental health teams to ensure appropriate sharing of information, continuity of care, and the Care Programme Approach for all offenders as necessary.
Main duties of the job
- To provide specialist mental healthcare to service users and to work as part of the Mental Health In-Reach Team and wider MDT.
- To deliver a range of specialist interventions at primary and secondary care level; to include:
- Referral management, screening assessment, triage, and evidence-based interventions
- Care Planning and risk assessing
- One-to-one and group-work facilitation
- Managing a mixed and challenging caseload
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
- Diploma level/Degree in relevant health/social care profession, e.g., RMN, RLDN, OT, Social Worker.
- Current relevant registration with the NMC or HCPC
- Desirable relevant, post-registration training in one of the following areas: Learning disability, Personality disorder, Substance misuse/dual diagnosis, Psychological therapies.
Experience
- Two years substantive post-registration experience gained working in a range of frontline adult mental health services, undertaking assessment and delivering interventions.
- Experience gained in a wide variety of settings.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
- Commitment to CPD, able to deliver from a range of possible key therapeutic interventions: CBT, Psychosocial interventions, Family Interventions, DBT approaches.
- Demonstrates a developed understanding of the recovery principles and the role of secondary mental health services in the delivery of care.
- Experience of undertaking carers’ assessments.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please ensure you select this on your application form.
If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.
We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.
You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020, and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Mental Health Practitioner employer: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health Practitioner
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific mental health challenges faced by offenders. Understanding the unique context of working in prisons will help you demonstrate your knowledge and commitment during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals already working in prison mental health services. This can provide you with insights into the role and may even lead to valuable connections that could support your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with various therapeutic interventions, especially those mentioned in the job description like CBT and DBT. Be ready to give examples of how you've applied these in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Reach out to Clare Denny, the Recruitment & Retention Resourcing Officer, before your interview. Asking questions about the role or the team can show your enthusiasm and help you prepare more effectively.
We think you need these skills to ace Mental Health Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in mental health services, particularly any work with offenders or in challenging environments. Emphasise your qualifications and any specific training related to learning disabilities, personality disorders, or psychological therapies.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for mental health care and your commitment to supporting offenders. Mention specific skills that align with the job description, such as your ability to manage a mixed caseload and deliver evidence-based interventions.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Detail your two years of post-registration experience in frontline adult mental health services. Include examples of assessments you've conducted and interventions you've delivered, showcasing your ability to work in various settings.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to recovery principles and your approach to care planning and risk assessment. Be ready to discuss your understanding of the role of secondary mental health services and how you would contribute to continuity of care for offenders.
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Mental Health Practitioner, especially in a prison setting. Familiarise yourself with the specific interventions and assessments mentioned in the job description, as this will help you demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in mental health services, particularly any work with offenders or challenging caseloads. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully implemented therapeutic interventions or managed complex cases.
✨Demonstrate Your Skills
Be ready to talk about your skills in delivering evidence-based interventions like CBT or DBT. You might be asked to provide examples of how you've applied these techniques in your practice, so think of relevant scenarios beforehand.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the hiring manager about the team dynamics, support for professional development, and the challenges faced by the Mental Health In-Reach Team. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
