Job summary
We're looking for an experienced mental health nurse/mental health practitioner to join our team working in HMP Frankland, which is a high-security men's prison in County Durham.

This is a rewarding post, where you will have the opportunity to practice a full range of psychiatric skills and interventions.

The role of the clinical lead will be varied which will include assessments and intervention.

You will make on going assessment of needs reflecting individual circumstances, including risk assessment, providing relevant interventions and coordinating discharge planning.

You will be committed to a person-centered approach and will have an ability to prioritise and work flexibly. We offer a comprehensive induction and a vast array of personal, professional and academic training opportunities enabling you to expand your skill set and evidence-based practice.

We are looking for a skilled nurse/mental health practitioner who will thrive working in a high secure environment and enjoy working in a multi-disciplinary team, alongside partner providers from a variety of internal and external services.

Nursing candidates must have 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework at the time of applying

Main duties of the job
You will have experience providing compassionate mental health care and have an understanding of the criminal justice system. You will make on going assessment of need reflecting individual circumstances and provide relevant interventions and input to discharge planning. You will be required to have strong coordination and planning skills, with the ability to make decisions based on comprehensive health and risk assessments.

You should be innovative, flexible and able to engage with patients with complex needs. You will be committed to a person-centred approach and have the ability to prioritise.

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate must pass Police Vetting before commencing employment. This includes a thorough review of personal information, including a criminal record check (both spent and unspent), a review of financial standing, and social media checks. Please note that vetting checks may also extend to family members and associates. You must also have resided in the UK for 3 years at the point of application.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

About us
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Details
Date posted: 11 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Compressed hours
Reference number: 346-FMH-083-26-A
Job locations: HMP Frankland, Brasside, DH1 5YD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

Person Specification
Qualification
Essential

• RNMH,/RNLD or registered practitioner, current professional registration with NMC or relevant professional body.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education (within agreed timescales)
• Clinical Supervisor (within agreed timescales).
• Recognised sign-off mentor or must be achieved within agreed timescale.
• Qualified practitioner in e.g. CBT, DBT, PSI, dual diagnosis etc. (within agreed timescale).
• 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework.(at the point of application)
• Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
• Non-medical Prescriber (within agreed timescale.)

Desirable

• Leadership or management qualification
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting.
• A good understanding of the Offender Health pathway
• Working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Quality improvement activities

Desirable

• Leadership or management experience
• Experience in a secure environment
• Experience of providing clinical supervision
• Experience of mentoring students on practice placement.

Skills
Essential

• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team
• Provide leadership and monitor, co-ordinate and prioritise the activities of a team.
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordinator responsibilities
• Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice
• Write reports
• Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings
• Use approved breakaway techniques

Desirable

• Competency in venepuncture and ECGs

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Employer details
Employer name: Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Address: HMP Frankland, Brasside, DH1 5YD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager Robyn Atkinson, robyn.atkinson2@nhs.net, 01913765221

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).