Reconnect Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 01 May 2025

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 and starts working with people before they leave prison, where they will have access to 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.

Main duties of the job

The Reconnect Practitioner role will identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people with vulnerabilities for persons who are approaching release from Her Majesty's Prisons and subsequently provide support within the community upon their release from prison.

Referrals will be identified and received where there have been concerns that an individual has mental health issues, learning disability, substance misuse, social care, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities.

Assessment will consider the emotional wellbeing, cultural and gender needs, age and development related needs, including transition to adulthood and older person needs, social circumstances (including, relationships, leisure requirements, daily living, educational and occupational needs, employment/vocational needs, housing, finance) of those referred to ReConnect.

Vetting and Clearances:

LSCFT staff entering the prison estate will be subject to HMP security vetting carried out by National Offender Management Service and will be required to undergo Enhanced Level 1 vetting.
The post holder is also expected to be have Enhanced DBS status.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Alison Foreman (Clinical Lead) on 07507846008

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 care.

The 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.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Date posted

17 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

351-SPS1391-MF

Job locations

ReConnect - to be confirmed

Preston

PR2 9HT

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it
Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools
Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
Knowledge of relevant law, as a minimum; Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Social Care Act and PACE code C.

Experience

Essential

Working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years either whilst studying or post qualification
Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others
Timely and accurate documentation on electronic records

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it
Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools
Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
Knowledge of relevant law, as a minimum; Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Social Care Act and PACE code C.

Experience

Essential

Working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years either whilst studying or post qualification
Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others
Timely and accurate documentation on electronic records

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.