Job summary
The post holder will work within the ReConnect Care after Custody for Lancashire & Cumbria, covering 6 prisons & also the wider community of Lancashire & Cumbria. Reconnect is a triage, assessment, referral & support service, encompassing the principles of trauma informed working. Reconnect starts working with people before they leave prison, where they will have access to Specialist Practitioners, Reconnect practitioners, engagement practitioners & Peer Support Workers, helping them to make the transition to community-based services. It is offered to people in prison up to 12 weeks prior to release, & up to 6 months support post release. Reconnect will create an effective link between prison & community in order to:
increase access & uptake up of healthcare or relevant support services for vulnerable individuals who would otherwise struggle to engage
reduce health inequalities for prison leavers
ensure the health needs of individuals who are leaving prison are met
ensure a safe transition from prison to community-based healthcare & support services & to provide follow-up to ensure engagement is maintained.
The Specialist Practitioner (SP) is someone with a clinical qualification and experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or with specialist knowledge and experience of working with groups likely to be disadvantaged by their involvement in the justice system.
Main duties of the job
The Specialist Practitioner (SP) is someone with a clinical qualification and experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or with specialist knowledge and experience of working with groups likely to be disadvantaged by their involvement in the justice system.
The SP will assess those individuals identified via a referral process who require further input in respect of different populations, for example, people with a learning disability, complex mental health and social care presentations, ABI, neurodiversity, co morbidity.
The SP will gather pertinent information from a variety of sources including service users, carers, their families and other service providers and partner agencies.
The post holder will promote the independent self-management of service users' healthcare needs.
They will have an awareness of validated and evidence based assessment tools, an ability to apply these in justice settings, and an ability to utilise information gained from these tools accordingly
Following assessment, the SP will make and facilitate referrals into relevant services, delegating work as necessary to other team members.
The SP will manage their own caseload in addition to providing clinical oversight to the caseloads of other staff within the team.
About us
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
1. Knowledge of the Trusts information sharing protocols Be compliant and competent with regards to Information governance including Data Protection Act Knowledge and understanding of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), MHA (including part 3), safeguarding, equality and diversity Able to demonstrate a history of participating in clinical care improvement initiatives. Able to manage change Good interpersonal skills Knowledge of factors affecting the contemporary offender health agenda knowledge of inclusion health barriers and be cognisant of how to address these challenges An awareness of validated assessment tools, an ability to apply these in justice settings, and an ability to utilise information gained from these tools accordingly A critical understanding of detailed theoretical and practical knowledge and actively integrates theory and practice
Desirable
2. Knowledge of Trauma Informed care
Education/Qualifications
Essential
3. Registered Healthcare Practitioner; Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) or Registered Nurse, Learning Disability or Social Worker or Registered Nurse (RGN) Or Occupational Therapist or Speech Language and Communication Therapist Evidence of continuing professional development Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice.
Desirable
4. Experience and knowledge of working within the CJ systems and/or with specialist knowledge and experience of working with groups likely to be disadvantaged by their involvement in the justice system
Experience
Essential
5. Post qualifying experience within their field of specialism or 12 months relevant experience of providing care in a community, criminal justice or secure setting. Able to take responsibility for decision making in unpredictable work contexts Demonstrate leadership skills within mental health, learning disability or liaison and diversion services Competent in Management or direction of others Experience in promoting the development of others Demonstrates innovation in terms and methods used