Job overview

Have you thought about working within prison mental health services?

We have an exciting opportunity for Mental Health Support Worker to be the one of the first to join our mental health team at HMP Millsike, a brand new Category C men's prison, located in the village of Full Sutton near York.

Please note that this role will support on a weekly basis at Category A men's Prison, Full Sutton which is located next to HMP Millsike. 

Prison environments are one of the most challenging, yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If you’re looking for a role where you can learn something new every day in an environment that never stands still, then this could be the opportunity for you.  

HMP Millsike will have an operational capacity of 1500 people who will spend their sentences learning the skills they need to find work on release as part of the government’s drive to cut reoffending. The prison site is currently under construction and Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust were recently awarded the Mental Health Service contract to begin delivering services in April 2025.

This is an excellent opportunity for healthcare support worker / assistant whom have experience working within mental health services to join a team where you will get to develop a full range of psychiatric skills and interventions. Additionally, to the competency framework, we offer a comprehensive induction and workforce development plan

Main duties of the job

Maintains safety, privacy and dignity of all patients in the delivery of patient centred care, recognising and respecting differences including spiritual and cultural beliefs.

Responsible for recognising the signs of patient harm, abuse or neglect, including poor clinical practice, identifying issues regarding the safeguarding of children who may be at risk and reporting all such concerns in accordance with Trust Safeguarding procedures.

Undertakes delegated activities within level of own competency, and with due regard to risk assessment, to assist with the implementation of intervention plans as part of the multidisciplinary team. 

Completes patient assessment tools and accurately summarises within patient care records.

Identifies changes in patients’ presentation and acts, reports and records appropriately.

Carries out ECG or venepuncture as required, if trained.

Undertakes random drug screening, as requested by registered practitioners, using approved testing kits for e.g. urine, blood, saliva.

Assists in the provision of health education and advice on health promotion to patients and their carers.

Demonstrates safe breakaway techniques in the management of violence and aggression as required.

Where appropriate and with authorisation, acts as an advocate for patients/carers.

Working for our organisation

As part of the new Mental Health Service contract awarded to TEWV in 2025, we are able to initiate the recruitment and now looking for an additional support worker to join the team at HM Prison Millsike is a Category C men's prison.

HMP Millsike will have an operational capacity of 1500 people who will spend their sentences learning the skills they need to find work on release as part of the government’s drive to cut reoffending. The prison site is currently under construction and Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust were recently awarded the Mental Health Service contract to begin delivering services in April 2025.

This is an opportunity for an experienced support worker to join a busy team working in a rewarding environment where you will get to practice a full range of psychiatric nursing interventions.

We would welcome candidate contact to arrange a visit to the prison or an informal discussion.

If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis. 

Trust Welcome Day

Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that month.

On your start date, you will be invited to our in person Trust Welcome Day at our Flatts Lane Centre, Middlesbrough. Your first day will be engaging and informative, it will allow you to meet and network with a range of Trust staff, learn more about us and what we offer. For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day could then be followed by up to 9 days face to face training. If this is applicable to you, further information will be provided ahead of your Welcome Day.

Right to Work in the UK

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).  Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply.  If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. 

 AI in Recruitment

We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms.  Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Newly Qualified Nurses

All band 5 nursing positions are only open to those candidates who already have their NMC registration in place and have successfully completed a preceptorship programme. Please note: Newly qualified applicants or those due to qualify will be recruited via a separate process, for more information about this process please contact: [email protected]

TEWV encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.

We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] .We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes. 

This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.

In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years.  Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s).  If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.

If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.

Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.