At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide specialist healthcare in police custody, supporting detainees' physical and mental health needs.
- Company: Mountain Healthcare, a leading provider of forensic custody healthcare in the UK.
- Benefits: Joining bonus, overtime pay, pension scheme, and accredited training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a unique role with autonomy and diverse challenges every shift.
- Qualifications: Must be an RGN or Paramedic with three years' acute experience and strong assessment skills.
- Other info: Flexible full-time and part-time roles available in a supportive, values-driven team.
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 £1500 (£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.
Forensic Custody Nurse/Paramedic — Autonomy & Impact employer: Mountain Healthcare Limited
Contact Detail:
Mountain Healthcare Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Forensic Custody Nurse/Paramedic — Autonomy & Impact
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the healthcare and forensic fields. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your experience aligns with the role of a Forensic Custody Nurse/Paramedic. Practice articulating your clinical decision-making skills and how you handle fast-paced environments. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for the role! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, express why you’re excited about working in forensic healthcare. Highlight your commitment to making a difference in vulnerable communities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you into that specialist role!
We think you need these skills to ace Forensic Custody Nurse/Paramedic — Autonomy & Impact
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that are relevant to the Forensic Custody Nurse/Paramedic role. Highlight your clinical experience, especially in acute settings, and any specific training or qualifications that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about forensic healthcare and how your background makes you a great fit for this role. Don’t forget to mention your commitment to the core values of kindness and doing the right thing.
Showcase Your Decision-Making Skills: Since this role involves a lot of independent decision-making, be sure to provide examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to assess situations quickly and make sound clinical decisions under pressure.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
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 Nurse/Paramedic. Familiarise yourself with the specific skills required, such as conducting clinical assessments and managing medical emergencies. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Clinical Experience
Highlight your three years of experience in an acute setting during the interview. Be ready to discuss specific situations where you've had to make quick decisions or manage complex cases. This will illustrate your ability to work autonomously and handle the fast-paced environment of police custody.
✨Emphasise Your Communication Skills
As a Forensic Custody Healthcare Professional, you'll need to liaise with various stakeholders, including police officers and custody staff. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated in challenging situations, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals. This will showcase your professionalism and compassion.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your decision-making and assessment skills. Think about potential situations you might face in custody, such as managing a detainee with mental health issues or responding to a medical emergency. Practising your responses will help you feel more confident during the interview.