Job overview

An excellent opportunity to understand prison mental health care and the wider CJS, and to develop your skills in areas beyond the usual psychosis dominated population in secure settings: update your clinical practice in neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and ASD, substance misuse disorders, PTSD and other general psychiatric conditions. Court and parole board reports are prepared on a regular basis under supervision.

The Addison Unit is a 12 bedded mental health unit set within HMP Wandsworth. The unit consists of a Multi-Professional Team comprised of medical, nursing, OT and psychology staff. Care provision is delivered jointly with prison officers who manage the operational environment. The ward consists of a cohesive and multi-disciplinary team that utilizes a person-centred and recovery-focused model. The team demonstrates a wealth of experience and learning and development is viewed as paramount in supporting clinicians to become more informed and competent practitioners.

The Mental Health Team ethos includes supporting recovery in a safe and therapeutic environment, with a view to supporting transition back into the mainstream prison environment or, alternatively, transfer to a hospital inpatient facility. 

Main duties of the job

·       Assessing and reviewing prisoners; and working in collaboration with MDT and prisoners to formulate management plans that is then incorporated into individualised care plans. 

·       Liaising with services outside the prison to arrange CPAs, aftercare plans or transfers to hospital.

·    Providing expert advice and guidance for individuals with complex mental state and risk presentation

· Involved in quality improvement initiatives, to be agreed with multidisciplinary colleagues and the supervising Consultant

·  Participation in the weekly multi-disciplinary management rounds, CPA meetings and clinical review meetings

·       Maintaining high-quality records for patients within the service

·   Co-facilitating therapeutic groups with members of the multi-disciplinary team

·   Under supervision, occasional preparation of reports for the Ministry of Justice and the Mental Health Review Tribunal

Working for our organisation

At Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, we offer a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people living in South-East London and to people in prison across England.  Our wide array of services includes community health care, such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies.

Oxleas is a great place to work.  It has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work 2023 by the Sunday Times amongst very big employers. Our staff survey results show that we are in the Top 5 in England and the highest in London for staff experience amongst similar trusts. 

“We are always delighted to welcome new colleagues to the Oxleas family.  We care about making Oxleas a great place to work - it’s a big priority in our strategy.  Come and join us - it’s a place where our values, teamwork, equity, and wellbeing matter and where you can really help to improve people’s lives.”