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- Tasks: Support detainees with health and wellbeing, focusing on substance misuse and mental health.
- Company: Join Forward Trust, a leader in drug and alcohol services within the prison system.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, training opportunities, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in mental health or substance misuse services and strong IT skills required.
- Other info: Comprehensive training provided, with excellent career progression opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 22000 - 30000 £ per year.
Location: London
Salary: £25,207
Vacancy Type: Permanent
Advertising End Date: 20th February 2026
We are recruiting for a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner at Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre. Here at Forward Trust, we deliver a complex range of drug and alcohol services in the unique prison environment. Our support includes providing advice, health and wellbeing, motivational work, clinical services, and a wider range of group work and treatment programmes.
The Forward Trust services which are delivered within prison settings are commissioned by NHS England and are delivered in partnership with primary healthcare providers and HMPPS. Integration and partnership are integral to the work we do. We believe that everyone can live a fulfilling life, whatever their past. Our work in prisons aims to support those affected by drug or alcohol issues to create lasting change and reduce dependency, homelessness, unemployment and re-offending.
Role Responsibilities
Working within an integrated healthcare framework the Forward Trust provide the Substance Misuse Recovery Services at Heathrow IRC. The role is based on site at Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre. As Health and Wellbeing Practitioner you will work as part of a team in supporting detainees holistically in relation to substance misuse, low-level mental health and overall health and wellbeing issues. Day to day you will be responsible for:
- Attending daily referral meetings & team huddles as required
- Attendance and contribution to multi-disciplinary reviews
- Complete assessments of need, risk management and recovery planning
- Caseload management and delivery of both group and 1:1 interventions
- Promotion and signposting of services
- Discharge and release planning to provide effective continuity of care
- Record keeping and case note entry in line with data protection and GDPR requirements
- Contribution to overall service improvement and organisational objectives
- Undertake relevant training and development
- Provide transitional support from the detention centre to the community to prepare service users for release or deportation
Report writing and engagement summaries for official purposes. Partnership and multi-disciplinary working is vital to this role and you will be required to work collaboratively with other services such as Housing, Employment, Gym, Healthcare, Probation, specialist agencies and organisations both inside the detention centre and in the community.
You will be offered a thorough induction at an organisational and service level. Training provided includes eLearning, live workshops, coaching and mentoring from experienced staff. You will be provided with training from the IRC to support you feeling safe and confident in the expectations of you being a key holder.
All IRC-based roles will require enhanced DBS and Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC) security vetting. Please note this process can take up to 8-12 weeks. All offers are subject to receiving both CTC vetting and DBS clearances. Checks will require you to provide information on the below:
- Yourself (personal information, financial information, police information, criminal history)
- Your family (parents, parents’ partners, siblings, partner(s), children)
- Co-residents
- Associations that may cause a conflict of interest with your role or the prison service
- Background checks across police information systems on you, your family and other associates
- Credit reference checks
- Social media and Open-Source checks (these are checks on content about you that’s publicly available on the internet to ensure there’s nothing linked to you that could undermine public trust and confidence in the prison service)
- Other government and overseas agency or police checks
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about supporting people that aligns with our organisational values. Please also see skills and experience needed below for this role:
- Experience of working within mental health or substance misuse service
- Strong IT skills
Benefits
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
- Access to Blue Light Card
- 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
- Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
- Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Health and Wellbeing Practitioner - Heathrow IRC employer: Forward Trust
Contact Detail:
Forward Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Health and Wellbeing Practitioner - Heathrow IRC
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the health and wellbeing sector, especially those connected to Forward Trust. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching common questions for Health and Wellbeing Practitioners. Think about your experiences with substance misuse and mental health, and how they relate to the role. We want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak, let your enthusiasm for helping others come through. Share stories that highlight your commitment to making a difference in people's lives.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Forward Trust team.
We think you need these skills to ace Health and Wellbeing Practitioner - Heathrow IRC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Health and Wellbeing Practitioner. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Your Passion: We want to see your enthusiasm for supporting individuals in challenging situations. Share personal experiences or motivations that drive you to work in health and wellbeing, especially in a prison environment.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences without getting lost in lengthy paragraphs.
Proofread Before Submitting: Typos and grammatical errors can distract from your message. Take a moment to proofread your application or ask a friend to review it before you hit that submit button on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, especially in a prison environment. Familiarise yourself with the services provided by Forward Trust, such as substance misuse recovery and mental health support. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in mental health or substance misuse services. Think of specific examples where you've made a positive impact, whether through group work or one-on-one interventions. This will demonstrate your capability and passion for the role.
✨Team Player Mindset
Since this role involves multi-disciplinary working, be ready to talk about your teamwork skills. Share examples of how you've collaborated with other professionals in the past, and highlight your ability to contribute to team huddles and reviews effectively.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the role and the organisation. Inquire about the training opportunities available or how success is measured in the position. This shows that you're not only interested in the job but also in growing within the company.
