At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide specialist healthcare in police custody, supporting detainees with diverse health needs.
- Company: Mountain Healthcare, a leading provider of forensic custody healthcare in the UK.
- Benefits: Joining bonus, flexible hours, overtime pay, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Full training provided; no prior forensic experience needed.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a unique role that combines clinical skills with forensic practice.
- Qualifications: Must be a Registered Nurse or Paramedic with three years' acute experience.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 € per year.
About the Role
Are you looking for a career move that offers real variety, autonomy and professional challenge beyond traditional clinical settings? Mountain Healthcare is one of the UK's leading providers of forensic custody healthcare. Working in partnership with the police and wider criminal justice agencies, we deliver high quality care to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We are proud to be guided by our core values of Being Kind and Doing the Right Thing.
We are now recruiting Forensic Custody Healthcare Professionals (RGNs and Paramedics) to deliver specialist healthcare within police custody. This is a rare opportunity to step into a respected forensic role where no two shifts are the same, no custody experience is required as full accredited training is provided. Your clinical decisions will directly support detainee welfare, safeguarding, and the wider criminal justice process.
If you're an experienced clinician with at least three years' experience in an acute setting who enjoys independent decision making, fast paced assessments, and meaningful work that genuinely makes a difference, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
Job Opportunity
As a Forensic Custody Healthcare Professional, you will provide autonomous clinical care within police custody suites, supporting detainees with a wide range of physical and mental health needs. You will assess fitness for detention and interview, respond to acute medical episodes, manage drug and alcohol related presentations, and support safeguarding decisions in a complex and highly rewarding environment.
This is not ward based nursing or ambulance work. It is a specialist role where you will apply your clinical expertise in a completely different setting, working closely with custody staff, police officers and partner agencies to ensure detainees are safely managed and receive appropriate care throughout the criminal justice process.
You will also be trained to undertake forensic and evidential duties, including the collection and preservation of forensic samples, injury documentation, and maintaining robust clinical records that support legal and professional standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conducting comprehensive clinical assessments to determine fitness for detention, interview, charge, and release, including capacity assessments.
- Managing medical emergencies, treating injuries, and providing healthcare advice in a fast-paced environment.
- Supporting detainees with mental health needs, substance misuse, alcohol dependency, and complex vulnerabilities.
- Collecting and documenting forensic samples in line with evidential and legal standards.
- Producing accurate clinical and evidential records, including injury documentation.
- Liaising with police, custody teams, NHS and other healthcare services to ensure appropriate onward care.
- Attending hospital blood procedures under the Road Traffic Act.
- Preparing professional statements and attending court as an impartial healthcare witness.
No prior forensic experience is required, full training and an externally accredited Introduction are provided. Flexible full-time and part-time opportunities are available within a supportive, values-driven clinical team.
Full time employees are contracted to 42hrs a week and usually work a fixed shift working pattern of two days, two nights, four rest days. Shifts are 12-hours. 06:45-19:00 and 18:45-07:00. Annualised hours contracts and part-time opportunities are also available, comprising a mix of day and night shifts. Weekend working is included within all contractual arrangements.
Why Join Mountain Healthcare
This is a rare opportunity to move into a specialist forensic healthcare career while continuing to use your clinical skills every day. You will be trusted to work autonomously, make high quality clinical decisions, and develop into a confident forensic practitioner.
What we offer:
- A joining bonus of up to £1500 FTE pro Rata (for example - £750 paid after probation period and £750 paid after a year in the role)
- Recommend a friend £500
- NMC HCPC registration paid
- Access to company pension scheme
- Overtime at enhanced rates
- A supportive, values driven culture where professionalism and compassion are genuinely recognised
- A unique clinical environment where no two shifts are the same
- Exposure to specialist forensic skills including evidential documentation and forensic sampling
- Opportunities to progress within one of the UK's most respected forensic healthcare providers
- Accredited forensic training and structured development.
Essential Skills
To be successful in this role, you will need:
- To be a Registered General Nurse (RGN) or Paramedic with current NMC or HCPC registration
- A minimum of three years post qualification experience in an acute setting (e.g. frontline paramedic, A&E, Prison, Custody, Urgent Care)
- A full UK driving licence with less than 6 penalty points
- The ability to successfully complete enhanced DBS clearance and police vetting
- Full Right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for a minimum of three years prior to application
- Strong assessment, communication and decision making skills, with confidence working autonomously
- A calm, professional and compassionate approach when working with vulnerable individuals, including those who may be distressed, intoxicated or experiencing acute mental health symptoms
- Willingness to complete accredited forensic training within the first year of employment
About Company
Founded by passionate clinicians on a mission to provide expert patient-centred services, Mountain Healthcare leads the clinical forensic healthcare provisions sector in the UK. A premier partner of NHS England and the police, our unique provisions include Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), Police Custodial Healthcare, Secure Estate Healthcare and clinical telephone advice.
Registered Nurse/Paramedic-Police Custody - Oxfordshire -FT/PT in Abingdon employer: Mountain Healthcare Limited
Mountain Healthcare is an exceptional employer that offers a unique opportunity for Registered Nurses and Paramedics to work in a dynamic forensic healthcare environment within police custody. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees benefit from accredited training, flexible working arrangements, and a supportive culture that values compassion and professionalism. This role not only allows for independent clinical decision-making but also provides the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals in the community.
Contact Detail:
Mountain Healthcare Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Registered Nurse/Paramedic-Police Custody - Oxfordshire -FT/PT in Abingdon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the healthcare and criminal justice sectors. Attend local events or online webinars to meet people who can give you insights or even refer you to opportunities at Mountain Healthcare.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your clinical skills and understanding the unique challenges of working in police custody. Think about scenarios where you've made quick decisions under pressure, as these will be key talking points.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for forensic healthcare! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share why you want to work in this field and how you align with their values of kindness and doing the right thing.
✨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 Mountain Healthcare and ready to take on this exciting role.
We think you need these skills to ace Registered Nurse/Paramedic-Police Custody - Oxfordshire -FT/PT in Abingdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in acute settings, and show how your skills align with our values of Being Kind and Doing the Right Thing.
Showcase Your Clinical Skills:In your application, emphasise your clinical decision-making abilities and any experience you have with vulnerable individuals. We want to see how you can bring your expertise into a forensic setting.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experiences and qualifications, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and can get back to you quickly about the next steps.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mountain Healthcare Limited
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Forensic Custody Healthcare Professional. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks like conducting clinical assessments and managing medical emergencies. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.
✨Showcase Your Clinical Experience
Highlight your experience in acute settings and how it has prepared you for this unique role. Be ready to discuss specific situations where you've made independent decisions or handled challenging cases. This will show that you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Emphasise Your Soft Skills
In this role, you'll be working with vulnerable individuals, so it's crucial to convey your compassionate approach. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with patients or colleagues in high-pressure situations. This will illustrate your ability to remain calm and professional.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Think of insightful questions to ask about the team culture, training opportunities, and what a typical shift looks like. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
