Charge Nurse Mental Health - Prison Health Care

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in conjunction with the management team and primary care team to contribute to and deliver a comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions nursing service within a prison setting. Working as part of a large multidisciplinary team, the Charge Nurse will undertake assessments and provide, coordinate and evaluate a range of nursing interventions to meet the healthcare needs of individuals in custody. The post holder will provide clinical leadership, support the management of nursing teams, contribute to the ongoing development of prison healthcare services, and ensure high standards of care are maintained within a secure environment. The role includes responsibility for assessing care needs, developing, implementing and evaluating programmes of care, and providing expert clinical guidance on health and wellbeing issues, treatment options and best practice.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) may be able to provide visa sponsorship for certain roles, subject to the post meeting the relevant eligibility criteria. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and will be determined on a case-by-case basis following interview and during the pre-employment verification process. Applicants must state their current right to work in their application.

Please See Below For More Details

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Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent

HMP Greenock

36 Hours per week, 0800 - 1600 working 5 days over 7.

Key Responsibilities

Provide professional and clinical leadership within a prison healthcare setting, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred mental health and addictions services. Undertake comprehensive assessments, plan and evaluate programmes of care, coordinate multidisciplinary interventions and support the management and development of nursing teams. Provide expert advice and guidance to healthcare staff on matters relating to mental health, addictions, health promotion and wellbeing. Ensure compliance with professional, legal and organisational standards of practice, balancing duty of care with public safety considerations within a secure environment. Contribute to service improvement initiatives and the ongoing development of prison healthcare services.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (1st Level) with current NMC registration.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Significant post-registration experience within a relevant clinical setting.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and post-registration study relevant to the role.
• Understanding of professional and clinical accountability, legal issues, role limitations and professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of balancing duty of care and public safety responsibilities within a secure setting.
• Understanding of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Proficient in current IT systems and digital working practices.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet competing deadlines.
• Willingness to undertake Non-Medical Prescribing training.
  
  

Desirable

• In-depth knowledge of the mental health and addictions needs of people in custody.
• V300 Independent Prescriber qualification or currently working towards V300 registration.
  
  

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
  
  

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact

Gordon Hannah, Nurse Team Lead, 01475 883 308, Gordon.Hannah3@nhs.scot

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process:

This vacancy may close early due to a high volume of applications. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This post may require a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
  
  

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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