Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Mental Health) – Health & Justice in Manchester

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) is seeking an exceptional, autonomous Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) to join our Health & Justice Directorate. This is more than a nursing role; it is an opportunity to act as a senior autonomous clinical decision-maker, shaping the future of mental health delivery within the secure estate.

The Mission: Care Without Compromise

Working within the Health & Justice system offers a clinical challenge like no other. You will be the champion of "Equivalence of Care" ensuring that some of society’s most vulnerable, marginalised, and complex individuals receive the same high standard of mental health treatment they would expect in the community. In a sector often defined by health inequalities, you will be the bridge to recovery. You will work with a population where the prevalence of trauma, neurodivergence, and dual diagnosis is high, but where the opportunity for transformative intervention is even higher. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to provide specialist mental health assessment, treatment and clinical leadership within a diverse and dynamic population, supporting stepped care mental health delivery from assessment to specialist secondary care.

Main duties of the job

Four Pillars of Practice

• Clinical Expertise & Autonomy: You will undertake independent, high-level biopsychosocial assessments for patients with undifferentiated diagnoses. Utilising your Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) qualification, you will initiate and review complex treatment plans for patients with dual diagnoses, psychosis, and severe mental illness. You will be the expert clinician, managing risk and deterioration with autonomy.
• Strategic Leadership: This is a senior leadership position. You will be part of a wider multi-disciplinary team, providing trusted clinical oversight. You will be a visible role model, leading the interface between the healthcare team and our criminal justice partners. You will advocate for clinical priorities within the security regime, ensuring health remains central to the prisoner’s journey. You will drive a culture of continuous improvement, acting as a mentor to AHP colleagues and junior members of the clinical team. You will chair peer review groups, lead reflective practice, and deliver training to MDT staff.
• Research & Service Development: You will shape care through audit, benchmarking, and policy development, contributing to the national evidence base for prison health, and lead local quality improvement initiatives.

Benefits & Compensation

• Pay enhancements: 30% additional for evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays, 60% additional for Sundays and bank holidays.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 after 10 years.
• Excellent pension.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme.
• Wellbeing programme.
• Blue Light Card discounts.

Person specification

• Registered Mental‑Health Nurse.
• Master’s degree in health‑related subject relevant to area of clinical expertise.
• Independent non‑medical prescribing.
• Demonstrable post‑registration experience at a senior clinician level.
• Experience of assessment, diagnosis, planning and treatment of patients with varying complex biopsychosocial needs.
• MSc Advanced Practice.
• Experience of working in Health & Justice and/or forensic mental health setting.
• Experience of independent prescribing for complex presentations.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of relevant legal frameworks such as the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
• Knowledge of the role of partner organisations.
• Knowledge of legislation affecting the client group.
• Thorough understanding of the policy/standards agenda in relation to area of Health & Justice, and an understanding of the broader policy drivers pertinent to healthcare delivery.

Additional competencies

• Understanding of safeguarding procedures.
• Leadership and change management skills.

Equal opportunity statement

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under‑represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. All positions within the Trust are subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. Applicants are encouraged to apply if they have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services. We value a diverse workforce and provide support where needed in the recruitment process.

Contact

For enquiries, please contact Paul Andreu, Specialist Lead Advanced Clinical Practitioner, via email at paul.andreu@gmmh.nhs.uk.