Community Practitioner

NHS Jobs; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS clearance

Job summary

CNTW NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Community Practitioner for the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team. The post covers Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, working in police custody suites and Magistrates Courts on a 7 day rota (7am-7pm).

The role collaborates with Police, Courts, Probation and other CJ agencies to coordinate care. Essential requirements include registered nurse or equivalent, post-registration clinical experience and training in CPA, safeguarding, and MAPPA.

Qualifications

• 12 to 24 month band 5 qualified nurse experience dependent upon service need.
• Awareness and understanding of professional accountability, NMC standards and other local and national initiatives
• Understanding of difficult to manage/challenging behaviours.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment of adults within the Criminal Justice System, ensuring health needs are considered.
• Ensure referrals, assessments, interventions and care are evidence based per Trust guidelines.
• Maintain effective links with Criminal Justice agencies to ensure access to services.
• Deliver an assertive response to individuals needing mental health assessment in CJ settings.
• Produce written assessment reports and action plans for partner agencies.
• Act as liaison and coordinator between CJ system and mental health/social care services.
• Liaise with local prisons regarding risks, vulnerabilities and suicide prevention.

Skills

Written assessments

Risk assessment

Safety planning

Communication skills

Clinical leadership

Adaptability

Working under pressure

Teaching skills

Training staff

Education

NMC registration

CPA & Safeguarding training

Post-registration clinical training

MAPPA & Child Protection training

Job description

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Community Practitioner

The closing date is 01 October 2026

Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service

An opportunity has arisen within the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team, (CJLD) working with individuals in the criminal justice system.

CJLD has both an adult and a youth pathway. The successful candidate may be required to work across both pathways.

This is an opportunity to work within a unique service, working across the footprint of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

The role involves working inside Northumbria Police custody suites and Magistrates Courts.

The successful candidate will work within a 7 day rota (7am - 7pm) in police custody and court.

The successful candidate will work closely with other agencies in criminal justice, such as Police, Courts, Probation Services etc.

In addition to enhanced DBS clearance, it is essential successful candidate passes NPPV2 Police Vetting - offer of post will be subject to successful candidate attaining Police Vetting clearance.

Main duties of the job

To provide assessment of adults within the Criminal Justice System, ensuring that their mental health, learning disability or other identified health or social needs are considered.

To ensure that all referrals, assessments, interventions and care delivery programmes are evidence based and in line with Trust guidelines, policies and best practice documents.

To ensure effective links with all Criminal Justice agencies and complementary support services, and to ensure that people access these services when required.

To ensure an assertive response to people presenting in the Criminal Justice System, who need a mental health assessment.

To provide professional and clinical direction to members of Magistrates Court, Court cell security officers, Police and all others involved in the Criminal Justice System.

To produce written assessment reports, action plans/recommendations to partner agencies within the criminal justice system.

To act as a focal point within the community and provide effective coordination and communication between those involved in the Criminal Justice system and mental health and social care, including supporting, informing and advising carers.

To act as liaison with local prisons regarding risks, vulnerabilities and suicide prevention of persons remanded or sentenced to custody.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• 12 to 24 month band 5 qualified nurse experience dependent upon service need.
• Awareness and understanding of professional accountability, NMC standards and other local and national initiatives
• Understanding of difficult to manage/challenging behaviours.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of individuals with complex mental health needs.
• Risk Assessment and Risk Management / Safety Planning skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective & appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in N.I.C.E. Guidance).
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of a high level of professional, organisational and leadership skills (self & others).
• Ability to adapt within a changing environment.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Clinical Leadership.
• Training & Induction of staff.
• Teaching/Presentation skills.

Education and Qualifications

• Professional Qualification and current Professional Registration as, a First Level Registered Nurse (RNMH, RMN, RNLD) or equivalent as an AHP, Social Worker or Clinical Psychologist
• Evidence of post-registration training in clinical/ psychological interventions / skills relevant to the post.
• Proven track record of post registration clinical experience relevant to the post.
• Training in CPA (Care Programme Approach), Safeguarding, MAPPA (Multi Agency Panel for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults) and Child Protection.
• Up-to-date knowledge/experience of relevant legislation.
• Post Registration Qualifications in Psychological Interventions
• Experience of working within a community team.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust