Custody Healthcare Practitioner (Registered Nurse ) in London

The Met Police are seeking confident, experienced clinicians who wish to work as an integral part of the custody suite team throughout London. You will be skilled in the provision of care for acutely unwell patients and have an aptitude for managing mental health conditions. We will introduce you to new areas of practice through a custody-focused induction and you will be able to develop skills through supported shifts.

The development programme will prepare you to take responsibility for:

• Ensuring the continuing health, safety and welfare of detainees within police custody
• Assessing and formulating tailored care plans for vulnerable people with multiple medical conditions – some of which may limit their ability to be detained and interviewed
• Providing clinical guidance for custody staff responsible for the observation of detainees
• Ensuring accurate clinical and police records
• Responding to clinical emergencies
• Collecting forensic samples to assist police in their investigations
• Commitment to improving clinical practice through education, research and innovation.

We actively support professional development with an in-house programme and access to external courses using the annual CPD funding of £1000. Total salary will be between £55,780 to £61,876. We may be able to salary match current basic salary if within pay scale. This includes 20% shift allowance (15% during induction), location allowance of £2009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1000. We also offer a generous bonus scheme including £2,500 joining bonus after a successful 4 months induction and £2,500 bonus after one year's service. Working pattern is 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off duty continuous rota.

Essential Criteria

• You MUST be a first level registered adult nurse, mental health, children’s nurse or paramedic holding current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council / Health and Care Professions Council.
• You MUST have been registered for a minimum of three years.
• You WILL have a competency level equivalent to NHS Band 6 within the Health Service.
• You MUST be competent in venepuncture on your first day of appointment.
• Children’s nurse should have experience in secure settings, such as Young Offender Institutes, Secure training centres or similar. Dual trained as an adult or mental health nurse is ideal but not essential. Children’s nurses will be expected to work with adult detainees in custody.

Desirable Criteria

• A & E
• Substance Misuse
• Mental Health
• Community Nursing
• Prison or other relevant discipline, to enable you to work autonomously in this role.
• The following would also be beneficial: Immediate Life Support
• Experience of autonomous practice

Energy and focus will be required to deliver the high standard of healthcare expected across the custody Suites.

Further Reading

In support of your application and future interview, we recommend background reading on Police Custody as you will need to have some awareness of this during your interview. Therefore, we have suggested the following source: will not expect you to have an in-depth knowledge of any area of Police Custody or PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984) as you will receive full training if you are successful after interview, however, as you may be asked to apply clinical knowledge to an unfamiliar location or situation, it would be beneficial for you to gain a basic overview.

Interview Process

• Stage 1 – 30 minute MS Teams interview discussing your experience and clinical skills. Successful candidates will then progress to the next stage.
• Stage 2 – one hour face to face assessment looking more in-depth at your transferable skills and competencies to work as an independent practitioner in custody. This assessment will be a combination of interview questions and an element of scenario-based assessments looking at practical clinical skills.

The MPS’s recruitment practices reflect our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. The MPS is an equal opportunities employer.