Location
HMP Wandsworth, Heathfield Road, London

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£31,554 per annum

About the Role
As a Health Care Assistant within a custodial healthcare setting, you will provide constant (1:1) observation to patients as directed by a Registered Nurse, maintaining continuous visual contact in line with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and HMPPS protocols. You will support the safety and wellbeing of patients at risk of self-harm or suicide, including those managed under the ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) process. Your responsibilities include observing and reporting on patients’ mental state, behaviour, presentation, and risk indicators, promptly escalating any concerns to the Nurse in Charge or relevant healthcare professional.

You will maintain dynamic risk awareness within the prison environment, being vigilant to ligature risks, concealed items, and behavioural escalation. Delivering basic therapeutic engagement, you will provide reassurance, active listening, and encourage the use of coping and distraction techniques appropriate to the custodial setting.

Working collaboratively with healthcare staff and prison officers, you will ensure a coordinated approach to patient safety and risk management. You will maintain a safe clinical environment by reporting and escalating any environmental or security risks in line with prison and healthcare procedures.

Accurate completion of observation records and ACCT documentation (where appropriate) is essential, ensuring all records are timely, factual, and defensible. You will undertake and record physical observations such as temperature, pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation as delegated by the Registered Nurse, promptly reporting any abnormalities.

Supporting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) while maintaining dignity within security constraints is part of the role. Maintaining professional boundaries at all times, you will participate in handover processes to ensure clear communication of risk, care needs, and incidents with no gaps in observation.

You will respond appropriately to emergency situations including self-harm, medical emergencies, and behavioural incidents, seeking support as required. Adherence to Oxleas policies and HMPPS security procedures, including safer custody, safeguarding, infection control, and information governance, is mandatory.

Participation in mandatory and prison-specific training, including personal safety, security awareness, and ACCT processes, is required.

Important Information: All applicants must be willing to undertake National Security Vetting as part of pre-employment checks. Documentation required includes proof of right to work, photographic ID, proof of address, and for non-UK passport holders, appropriate Home Office documentation and police certificates as applicable.

Experience
Experience working in healthcare or custodial settings is desirable but not essential. A willingness to learn and adapt to the unique challenges of a prison healthcare environment is crucial.

About you
You will be vigilant, compassionate, and able to maintain professional boundaries in a complex custodial environment. You must be able to work collaboratively with healthcare and prison staff, demonstrate excellent communication skills, and respond calmly and effectively in emergency situations. A strong commitment to patient safety and wellbeing is essential.

Qualifications
No formal qualifications are required; however, you must be willing to undertake mandatory training including personal safety, security awareness, and ACCT processes. National Security Vetting clearance is mandatory prior to employment.