Job Description

Health and Wellbeing Practitioner
Location: HMP The Mount, Hertfordshire
Salary: 24,000 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
Closing Date: 15th September 2025
Join Forward Trust as a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner at HMP The Mount and play a vital role in supporting men in custody with substance misuse, low-level mental health needs, and overall wellbeing. You'll be part of a multidisciplinary team, helping individuals on their journey from prison to the community.
This is a hands-on, client-centred role within an integrated healthcare framework, supporting adult prisoners through both harm reduction and abstinence-based treatment approaches tailored to individual needs.
Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Managing a caseload and developing SMART care plans following comprehensive assessments.
• Delivering structured 1:1 and group sessions focused on substance misuse and low-level mental health topics.
• Providing harm reduction advice and guidance to support safer behaviours and long-term recovery.
• Offering transitional support, helping clients prepare for release and reintegration into the community.
• Maintaining accurate records through case notes and data entry, and writing clear, audience-specific reports when required.
• Working collaboratively with internal and external agencies including Probation, Housing, Healthcare, Employment services, Gym staff, and Drugs Intervention Teams.

What We're Looking For
We're seeking an empathetic, proactive, and skilled practitioner with experience in substance misuse and/or mental health services, especially within the criminal justice sector.
Essential Skills & Experience:

• Strong knowledge of the issues facing people with substance misuse and low-level mental health needs.
• Direct experience of working in substance misuse and/or mental health services.
• Proficient in conducting risk and comprehensive assessments, and creating effective, tailored care plans.
• Skilled in delivering psychosocial interventions, including motivational interviewing in 1:1 and group settings.
• Solid understanding of the criminal justice system and the Recovery Agenda.
• Strong written communication skills - able to create accurate records and reports.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of or commitment to the 12-step recovery model.

About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often-interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Diversity at Forward Trust
The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with 'Lived Experience' of addiction, offending, or homelessness.
When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.
Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
We recognise the importance of safeguarding, dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.
If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the 'Eligibility to Work in the UK' requirements.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to their website to complete your application.