This is an opportunity for experienced first level registered adult/mental health nurses, children's nurses and paramedics.

As a Healthcare Practitioner (HCP) you'll work independently in one of our 23 police station detention suites across the capital. You'll provide care to detainees with acute, long term, clinical and mental health conditions.

In addition to our healthcare function we provide assistance to the police in obtaining forensic samples from alleged perpetrators of rape, murder, and driving offences. These often include getting blood sampling for testing, body mapping of injuries and assessments of those acutely mentally unwell and needing hospitalisation.

We'll introduce you to new areas of practice through a custody focused induction and you'll be able to develop skills through supported shifts.

Key responsibilities

• ensuring the continuing health, safety and welfare of detainees within police custody
• assessing and formulating tailored care plans for vulnerable people with multiple medical conditions, some of which may limit their ability to be detained and interviewed
• providing clinical guidance for custody staff responsible for the observation of detainees
• ensuring accurate clinical and police records
• responding to clinical emergencies
• collecting forensic samples to assist police in their investigations
• commitment to improving clinical practice through education, research and innovation

We actively support professional development with an in-house programme and access to external courses using the annual continuing professional development (CPD) funding of £1,000.

The working pattern is two days, two nights, four days off duty continuous rota. This provides you with assurance of your working pattern for the foreseeable future.

Essential criteria

• A first level registered adult nurse, mental health nurse, children's nurse or paramedic holding current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council/Health and Care Professions Council
• Registered for a minimum of three years
• Competency level equivalent to NHS Band 6 within the health service
• Competent in venepuncture on your first day of appointment
• A leader – as the only clinician in the suite it's vital for the healthcare practitioner (HCP) to be leading on clinical emergencies and ensuring that our non-clinical colleagues are supported throughout and after
• A good communicator – the HCP holds the most weight in decision-making throughout the detainee journey. Clear, concise and professional communication to all colleagues with confidence in own decision-making is vital as a confident practitioner breeds confidence amongst their multidisciplinary colleagues
• Professionally curious – situations arising within custody are not always as they seem and require you to read situations and people. Often your detective skills will uncover unknown health needs or vulnerabilities

A children’s nurse should have experience in secure settings, such as Young Offender Institutes, secure training centres or similar. Dual trained as an adult or mental health nurse is ideal but not essential. Children’s nurses will be expected to work with adult detainees in custody.

Pay and Leave

Total salary will be £51,230 to £56,695. We may be able to match your current basic salary if within pay scale. This includes 20% shift allowance (15% during induction), location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

We also offer a generous bonus scheme including a £2,500 joining bonus and a £2,500 bonus after one year's service.

Overtime is available to those who wish to increase their monthly pay and is paid at a generous rate.

The paid annual leave entitlement for full time staff is 28 days, rising to 33 days after five years’ service

Working pattern

Two days, two nights, four days off duty continuous rota.

Benefits

You will have access to a range of other benefits, including:

• civil staff pension scheme
• sports and social club and facilities
• cycle to work scheme
• retail discounts
• financial services