Job Description:

Health Care Assistant - HMP Chelmsford

Location: Chelmsford

Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 pro rata

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Part Time (23 hours per week)

Closing Date: 2nd of June 2026

Make a real difference where it matters most.

We’re looking for a compassionate, motivated Health Care Assistant to join our multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality care within a residential detox and recovery service based at HMP Chelmsford. This is a part-time role (23 hours per week), offering a hands-on opportunity to support clients through medical detox and recovery, promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

You’ll work within an integrated healthcare framework, supporting individuals at a critical point in their recovery journey, alongside a dedicated team of healthcare professionals.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting nursing and medical staff to deliver care to clients undergoing medical detox, including those with complex needs
• Monitoring and reporting on physical, mental and psychological wellbeing
• Providing 1:1 support, brief crisis interventions, and contributing to community and conduct meetings
• Supporting safe medicines management and maintaining accurate electronic records
• Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team
• Promoting a safe, caring environment and escalating safeguarding or risk concerns

What we’re looking for:

• Experience within substance misuse services and/or residential settings
• Understanding of the impact of addiction on individuals and communities
• Knowledge of the 12 Step recovery model (minimum 3 years’ abstinence if in recovery)
• A compassionate, proactive approach and strong teamwork skills
• Commitment to safeguarding, infection control and best practice care

If you’re passionate about recovery-focused nursing and want to make a tangible impact in a unique and challenging environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Please see attached Job Description for full details

All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.

Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits - 

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• BHSF Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.