Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare are looking for a Mental Health Practitioner to join The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service Team!

As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will provide mental health assessments and advice to Dorset Police custody and VA suites, Magistrates' Courts, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. You will work with people of all ages within the health and justice system where potential mental health and/or learning disability need is suspected and further assessment is indicated to inform disposal of the case and to identify robust care pathways.

The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service operates 7 days a week. The Mental Health Practitioner role is full time and operates on shifts of 11.25 and 7.5 hours over 7 days a week. However, part time hours and office hours of Monday to Friday would also be considered. You will work in the police custody suits in Bournemouth and Weymouth, voluntary attendance centres across the county, HMPs Portland and Guys Marsh and Probation. We will try to match your base with your home location, but you will be required at time to work across the county.

There is the opportunity within the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service Team to offer this post as a development opportunity from a Band 5 to Band 6 and as a secondment, to discuss this, contact the team on 01202 705526.

Employment with the Service is dependent upon the applicant passing the prison and police advanced vetting processes.

Main duties of the job

Your work will involve close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs and vulnerabilities. You will work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.

You will refer to the prison in reach teams where custody is indicated ensuring appropriate information is received along the care pathway, liaise with treating teams and provide specialist advice and service to probation and the custody suites where indicated.

The police custody and prison environments are unique and new to most people. To gain a better understanding of the role before applying for this post, please contact the team on 01202 705526.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.