Job Description

Please be advised Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has made the difficult decision to serve notice on its offender health contracts. Over the coming months, we will be working with NHS England on the transition of the services to a new provider. We still need to recruit to these valued positions and welcome your application. But, in line with our values, honesty is important, so please note that if you are successful that in time your employment would move from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to another provider who would then be your new employer



Are you looking for a new and exciting challenge within the NHS? Have you ever considered a career in prison healthcare?



An opportunity has arisen for a healthcare assistant to join our Offender Health Care Group, working at HMP Lowdham Grange, a Category B men's private prison. As part of a small and dedicated team, you will play an important role in delivering holistic, high-quality care to a vulnerable group of men, many of whom have complex health needs.



As a Healthcare Assistant, you will work closely with the nursing team to support patients who are accessing Healthcare whilst at HMP Lowdham.



As a key member of the Healthcare Team, you will contribute to a wide variety of care being delivered from initial assessment / screening for all new patients, clinical triage, emergency response, and the care of minor illness and injuries.



You will play an active role in providing a positive healthcare experience to a group of patients who are usually identified as experiencing poor health outcomes.



Whilst in our care you will support patients to become more aware of their own health needs and offer advice and guidance around health promotion.



#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.



We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.



We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.



The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.



The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment



This role involves supporting individuals during a challenging time in their lives. You will help ensure that any immediate healthcare concerns are addressed, prescribed medications are continued, and patients are safely and effectively supported through admission, care, and discharge. Emotional support is also a key part of the role, and your ability to build trust and provide reassurance will make a real difference.



The Offender Health Care Group is one of the largest and most successful providers of prison healthcare in the UK. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides physical health, mental health and substance misuse services across a number of prisons in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.



The Care Group provides healthcare services to seven prisons and a short-term holding facility. As part of this team, you'll join a network of over 400 healthcare professionals, with access to peer support, supervision, and excellent learning and development opportunities. We also deliver services as part of the personality disorder pathway, including therapeutic communities within prisons, community and prison personality disorder services, and specialist veteran services.



We are committed to working in partnership with prison services, the National Probation Service, other healthcare providers, and criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice, and reduce reoffending. The offender health team is passionate about making a difference by delivering consistent, high-quality care in primary care, mental health, and substance misuse services--equivalent to care provided in the community. The healthcare service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In this role you will:

Support GP and nurse led clinics including assisting with minor surgery.



Support registered nurses in maintaining general and specific patient observations and record all relevant information.



Undertake technical and clinical procedures following appropriate training and assessment, for example, venipuncture, wound assessment and care, urinalysis, ECG recording, physical observations, peak flow measurements and obtaining specimens.



Follow protocols and patient pathways in response to patient need.



Report health abnormalities identified during general health checks to the Senior Nurse on duty.



To work within the offender healthcare team to undertake a range of health promotion activities, for example sexual health screening and advice, smoking cessation clinics.



Support the registered nurse in responding to health emergencies.



Provide health escort duty to hospital if the senior nurse has assessed it as appropriate.



Ensure that the clinical environment is prepared and maintained according to health and safety, infection control policy and report any incidents to senior staff.



Facilitate the monitoring and maintenance of supplies of materials and equipment within the care environment.



Please include the following in your supporting statement on your application:



Your understanding of Offender Health services and why you want to work in the Offender Health



Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is 26.40 (standard) or 54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.



You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of 16 per year applies.



Please note that this post does not meet the skill level required for a Skilled Worker visa. Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa