Prison Mental Health Clinical Lead / PractitionerNHS

Job summary

Are you a mental health nurse, LD nurse, social worker or occupational therapist with experience in mental health? Have you considered working in prison mental health services?

We have an exciting opportunity to join the new mental health team at HMP Millsike, a brand-new all-electric Category C men's prison in Full Sutton near York. Prison settings are challenging but highly rewarding, offering the chance to develop strong clinical skills in a fast-moving environment.

This role is ideal for registered professionals with mental health experience who want to broaden their psychiatric skills while delivering urgent and planned community-based care to the prison population. HMP Millsike will house up to 1,500 people, supporting them to gain skills for employment on release as part of the government's strategy to reduce reoffending. TEWV has been awarded the contract to deliver mental health services from April 2025.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

You will be a Registered Mental Health Nurse, LD Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist working within a multidisciplinary team. You will work closely with senior clinical staff to deliver a comprehensive mental health service and manage the challenges of a prison environment.

You will provide clinical assessment and intervention for people with complex needs, supporting a whole-prison approach. This includes completing comprehensive assessments, communicating treatment options, initiating care plans and delivering evidence-based interventions alongside the wider team.

A person-centred approach, strong prioritisation skills and flexibility are essential. We are seeking skilled professionals who can thrive in a busy setting, working within a well-resourced multidisciplinary team and in partnership with internal and external providers.

Alongside the competency framework, we offer a full induction and workforce development plan, with extensive personal, professional and academic training opportunities to support your growth and evidence-based practice.

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate must pass Police Vetting before employment. This includes checks on criminal history (spent and unspent), financial standing and social media. Vetting may also extend to family members and associates. Applicants must have lived in the UK for at least three years at the time of application.

Job description

Nursing candidates must have 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework at the time of applying.

We require the post holders to be committed to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices and reflect the trust values.

We would welcome candidates to contact us to arrange a visit to the prison or an informal discussion.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

About us

Our Journey to Change sets out why we do what we do, the kind of organisation we want to be and the three big goals we're committing to.

Our values

We are committed to three big goals:

To co-create a great experience for our patients, carers and families.

To co-create a great experience for our colleagues

To be a great partner

Interested in clinical development?

We offer opportunities to develop into a specialist role of your interest which in turn benefits the service. Examples include psychological therapies such as EMDR and DBT, non medical prescribing, leadership opportunities and Professional Nursing Advocacy.

How will we support you?

o Bespoke induction

o Competency framework

o Regional career development opportunities

o Support from the wider team