South West Prisons Transfer Coordinator

Job overview

You will work closely with prison healthcare teams, inpatient providers, commissioners, the Ministry of Justice and other partner agencies to support transfers within national timescales and ensure continuity of care throughout each person’s pathway.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will coordinate referrals, assessments, admissions and remissions for people requiring transfer under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Acting as the key link between prison clinical teams and external providers, you will track each referral, identify and escalate delays, support resolution of disputed transfers and help ensure admissions are completed within the national 14-day transfer target. You will maintain accurate records and transfer data, provide specialist clinical advice, attend relevant reviews and forums, and support safe care planning when patients return to prison.

Working primarily across HMP Bristol and HMP Exeter, you will build effective relationships with healthcare teams, secure services, commissioners, the Ministry of Justice and other statutory and independent partners. The role also involves supporting service development, producing reports and activity information, sharing best practice, contributing to staff development and providing professional leadership within a challenging custodial environment.

Important Sponsorship Information for this post: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As Prisons Transfer Coordinator, you will case-manage individuals identified as requiring transfer to an external mental health inpatient service and ensure that referrals are complete, accurate and progressed without avoidable delay. You will coordinate medical and nursing assessments, liaise with providers regarding bed availability and clinical suitability, support funding and Ministry of Justice processes, and maintain oversight of each case from referral through to admission and, where appropriate, remission to prison.

You will provide high-quality clinical advice and prepare reports for secure mental health services, psychiatric intensive care units, commissioners and other partner organisations. The role requires a strong working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, particularly Part 3, the Care Programme Approach, confidentiality, safeguarding and the legislative framework governing the care and treatment of people in prison.

You will develop and maintain effective communication with multidisciplinary prison healthcare teams, NHS and independent inpatient providers, the Prison Service, commissioners and statutory agencies. You will attend or chair case conferences, clinical reviews and other relevant forums, promote integrated and person-centred care, and ensure that clinical information is recorded accurately and promptly on relevant systems.

The postholder will also contribute to service improvement across South West prisons, develop safe transfer processes and protocols, provide teaching on prison mental health transfers, share learning and examples of good practice, and supply timely activity data and reports. You will be expected to work independently, manage competing priorities and use sound professional judgement when resolving complex transfer issues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ:

All applicants must be willing to undertake National Security Vetting in order to work in a Prison Setting. This will be completed as part of the pre-employment checks through Oxleas and the prison vetting team.

You will need to provide:

Proof of right to work documentation

Proof of ID, needs to include 1 photographic ID

Proof of address documentation

Non-UK passport holders will need to have correct documentation (right to work in the UK) and a Home office Share code.

Address History:

5 years address history will be needed.

Applicants that are not UK Passport holders who provide less than 5 years UK address history will need to provide a Police Certificate which must be in English from where they resided previously.

Applicants who are UK Passport holders who have lived abroad for a period of more than six months during the last three years will need to provide a certificate of good conduct or an overseas police check in English from the countries resided in or visited.

In order to assist you in obtaining a Police Certificate, guidance can be sought from:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

If the country you have resided in is not listed here, you can obtain the necessary information by contacting the relevant Embassy or High Commission for that Country. Their contact details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en).

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.