203554 (MG) Mental Health Nurse Band 6

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Scotland is reducing their full-time working week from 37.5 to 37 hours per week from 1 April 2024 but with no change in pay.  This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff.  This advert and any subsequent offer/contract of employment therefore reflects the new working hours.  However, as not all service areas will be able to adopt the 37 hour working week immediately from 1 April 2024, you may be required to work up to an additional 30 minutes per week for a temporary period for which you would be paid until the service you are working in changes rosters or working patterns to accommodate the new reduced working week.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Recruiting Board.

A link to the NHS Lothian Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan can be found via the following link: https://services.nhslothian.scot/nursingandmidwifery/strategic-plan-2023-2028/

The post holder is responsible for the development and delivery of programmes of care for a Mental Health service within the unique setting of a prison environment. The post holder is responsible for the initial assessment, planning, implementation and ongoing care needs of the prisoners, as well as providing emergency and anticipatory care, to Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDOs)  and adjusting their care on a daily basis, including assessing medication requirements and forwarding the medication request to either the doctor on duty or on-call doctor to prescribe (in most cases there is no medical review undertaken)The post holder will provide a comprehensive discharge and follow up service whilst managing and maintaining own caseload.  They work within an integrated multi-disciplinary team providing a Mental Health service to prisoners within HMP Edinburgh. The post holder will develop and maintain close working relationships with statutory and voluntary sector organisations and forge positive links with the local community.

The post holder is also responsible for managing their own caseload as part of a Mental Health service for prisoners experiencing a broad range of complex needs.  The post holder has the autonomy to decide when a prisoner should be discharged from their caseload and will provide support, education and advice on how to manage the prisoners ongoing Mental Health needs.  The post holder will provide relevant screening for prisoners presenting in crisis  and develop management strategies jointly with prison management team for dealing with the prisoners presentation

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

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We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post. 

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Sharlyn Taylor on  or Sharlyn.Taylor@nhs.scot