Forensic Healthcare Practitioner (North Kent/Countywide) in England

Location of Role: North Kent

Advert Closing Date: 20/11/2026

Starting Salary: £43,320.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: 24/7 shift

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an individual to undertake the role of Forensic Healthcare Practitioner based at North Kent Police Station and County cover. The successful applicant will be a registered General Nurse or Paramedic, holding a current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or equivalent with a minimum of three years post-registration experience and a competency level equivalent to 'pay band 6’ in the Health Service.

The post holder must be competent to issue medication in line with the Patient Group Directive and have a sound working knowledge of drugs and their applications as well as the relevant legislation. You will need to have good information gathering skills, problem solving and a high level of clinical decision-making skills to determine whether a person with medical, mental, drug or alcohol issues is fit to be detained or interviewed.

The role requires the collection of Forensic Samples which include Venous blood; therefore, a certificate in Phlebotomy and cannulation is essential. You must have excellent communication skills, combined with the ability to quickly build a rapport with individuals under sometimes difficult or confrontational circumstances, showing discretion, tact and diplomacy at all times.

Good organising and time management skills, an eye for detail and the ability to effectively share knowledge and promote understanding of health issues are also vital to the role. You will also need to be competent in the use of IT, particularly Microsoft Office products and email.

You must be able to maintain professional detachment and be comfortable working in a role where you are required to be supportive to the individual whilst working in an enforcement environment. This may mean you will be required to share information, within the appropriate bounds of confidentiality that may lead to action being taken against the individual in line with the force’s core business.

You will be required to attend the custody suites in a number of policing areas as well as other external sites such as hospitals and therefore be required to drive an unmarked/marked police vehicle; hence a full manual driving licence is essential. This role operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week shift pattern that covers days and night working.

You will be provided with a two-week induction training course prior to commencement, equipping you with the specialised skills needed to perform the role within a law enforcement environment.

Kent Police offers incremental increases within this salary band, therefore the salary for this position will rise to a maximum of £49,167.00. All of our posts require a level of vetting and security clearance. During the recruitment process, you will be sent vetting information forms to complete.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcome applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status. If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK, you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.