Job summary
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is the health provider for the delivery of the Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) at HMP Altcourse. The service is designed to support the holistic mental health and learning disability needs of our client group, in partnership with physical healthcare providers and HMPPS colleagues.

HMP Altcourse are both Category B, male only, local prisons, in the Liverpool area.

The service provides individual and group-based interventions based on the clinical needs of the population. Interventions are individualised, and trauma informed, alongside comprehensive risk assessment and management.

Core aims of the service are to improve mental and psychological wellbeing via a range of interventions, build the development of independent core skills, reduce risk, and advocate for mental health and learning disabilities within the wider prison.

The post holder will be joining a dedicated team of clinical staff from a range of backgrounds and experience. Team members have high levels of skill, passion and enthusiasm (and humour!) and are committed to ensuring the on-going successful development of the service and the opportunities it provides for our population.

Main duties of the job
We are now recruiting x1 Registered Nursing Associates. The successful candidates will work under the supervision of a Registered Mental Health Nurse and will work alongside and be supported by the wider IMHT.

The post holder will have a key role in completing Primary Mental Health Screens for all new receptions in to the prison in order to identify mental health needs in a timely way. Other key roles and responsibilities will include mental health promotion, suicide prevention work, providing psychoeducation and information on coping strategies, supporting group activity and conducting some physical health checks.

and suicide prevention promotion and awareness on the induction wing, supporting the completion of physical health checks for our mental health population and supporting group work and activity.

The post holder should have some experience of working with individuals with complex clinical and risk presentations including within institutional settings and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This should include work with clients whose needs may mean that they find it difficult to engage with services.

We are committed to creating an empowered staff team. We strive to be reflective and support of each other which is vital given the challenges this work can entail.

About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 350-SC8256253-A
Closing date: 05 November 2026

Job responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of the scope of practice of the Nursing Associate role within different care settings
• Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with NMC CPD requirements and revalidation, contributing to the formulation of own objectives and personal development plan.
• Maintain practical and theoretical knowledge, competence and skills gained during the Nursing Associate Training Programme and maintain all evidence required
• Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments
• Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in the on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care
• Support individuals with all aspects of care including daily living, providing person-centred care and promoting health and independence through awareness raising and care navigation to other professionals as appropriate.
• Demonstrate the principles of safe administration of medicines in line with the trust Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Nurse Associate Administration of Medicines and in line with trust policies.
• Perform and record clinical observations including pressure, temperature, respirations, pulse
• Undertake clinical tasks including venepuncture, ECGs, cannulation (following appropriate training and sign off of competency)
• Accurately record nutritional and fluid intake and output as clinically indicated
• Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times
• Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate
• Report back and share information with the registered nurses on the condition, behaviour, activity and responses of individuals.
• Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate registered care professionals
• Assist in the assessment of and contribute to the management of risk across several areas within the environment where care is being administered
• Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers
• Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse
• Maintain an understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions for example dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities
• Develop skills in relation to coaching/teaching individuals/carers/other staff.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of clinical standards and outcomes
• Develop a working knowledge of other providers resources and referral systems to ensure individuals needs are met, within parameters of practice
• Engage in reflective practice including management of self and reflection on own reactions, asking questions and reflecting on answers given
• Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures
• Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the Registered Nurse or registered care professional as required

Person Specification
Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively with members of the public and health and care providers
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well being
• Evidence of improvement in support / development of less experienced staff
• Evidence of recent work based learning or self directed learning (Making Every Contact Count)
• Ability to work effectively as a team member under appropriate supervision
• Ability to work independently and to use own initiative as appropriate and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to deal with nonroutine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
• Understanding of evidence-based practice
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice as outlined in the Code
• Nursing Associate Foundation Degree from an approved programme
• Registered Nursing Associate and on the NMC register

Desirable

• Evidence of improvement in support / development of less experienced staff
• Evidence of recent work based learning or self directed learning
• Skills in audit and improvement methodology or willing to undertake
• Additional post registration qualification relevant to field of practice

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Modern Matron, Luke Owens, luke.owens@merseycare.nhs.uk, 01515304431

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