Court Liaison & Diversion Practitioner | East London NHS Foundation Trust

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking healthcare professionals to join a collaborative service for individuals with mental health issues in Greater London. Responsibilities include assessing and managing care for individuals in the criminal justice system, preparing reports, and enhancing links between health and justice services. Candidates with current professional registration and experience in mental healthcare are encouraged to apply. This role offers a fast-paced work environment along with opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have current professional registration in mental healthcare.
• Experience in assessment and risk management in criminal justice is essential.
• Knowledge of legal policies and care systems required.

Responsibilities

• Assess individuals presenting with mental health issues in court.
• Prepare and submit detailed reports following assessments.
• Collaborate with health and social services to provide care.

Skills

Assessment and risk management

Mental healthcare expertise

Knowledge of legal and ethical aspects

Education

Current professional registration within mental healthcare

Job description

This is a great opportunity for healthcare professionals with interest and experience of assessment and risk management to join ELFT in a collaborative partnership with other NHS providers across London delivering the Liaison & Diversion service for East London Magistrates Courts.

Postholders will join the established L&D service partnership to ensure that individuals presenting with mental health problems or other vulnerabilities are supported and can be diverted into the healthcare pathway when necessary.

There are currently 3 full-time vacancies available, and the main base will be at Thames in Bow, with some additional sessions at Stratford and City of London Magistrates Courts.

You will work within the wider East London L&D Service, including our practitioners based within police custody and the community link and peer support team provided by our partner Waythrough.

Suitable candidates hold current professional registration within the field of mental healthcare; we seek suitably skilled and experienced people rather than drawing from one particular discipline. If you are a mental health or learning disability nurse, a social worker, clinical/forensic psychologist, speech language therapist or OT looking for variety and autonomy within a fast‑paced setting, this role could be for you!

Responsibilities

• Act as an autonomous practitioner in the context of the alleged offence and the criminal justice system, implementing a care pathway for each service user.
• Undertake a full mental state assessment, risk assessment, and gather a background history for individuals with a variety of needs, including serious mental illness or personality disorder and associated learning, social, personal, dependency and drug use issues who are in court detention.
• Prepare accurate written reports following assessment in line with quality standards.
• Make clinical judgements at court on situations as they arise, or change.
• Enhance and strengthen relationships within Criminal Justice Services and the links between Health and Social Services and the Criminal Justice System.
• Work collaboratively with local community mental health services and other statutory/non‑statutory agencies to ensure a high‑quality liaison and diversion service is provided to individuals.
• Proactively screen and receive reports from custody suites, responding in a timely manner to prioritise assessment of detained people deemed to have health or social vulnerabilities.
• Possess appropriate knowledge regarding legal issues, court procedures and the role of other professions.
• Provide specialist advice and liaison to all colleagues encountered within health settings, social services and professions within the criminal justice system.
• Facilitate appropriate signposting and onward referral, and/or provide interventions in close collaboration and liaison with other relevant agencies.
• Facilitate appropriate diversion to mental health services as necessary; awareness of admission pathways and MHA processes are essential.
• Provide awareness training for the judiciary, court staff, prosecution and defence representatives, probation and other staff regarding court assessments and liaison and diversion services.
• Understand and follow the rules, regulations and protocols as specified by the Magistrate’s Court.
• Participate in multi‑disciplinary team/business meetings, huddles and clinical forums whenever possible.
• Maintain attendance and participation at appropriate clinical forums whenever possible.
• Ensure that the Liaison service provided is sensitive to individual needs, paying particular attention to their ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek out appropriate opportunities to contribute to the delivery of health education and promotion within the community.
• Advise on prescribed medication as and when necessary, monitoring effects of prescribed medication in conjunction with court FMEs and HCPs.
• Encourage shared knowledge and skills within the clinical area to sustain a supportive learning environment.

Qualifications

• Current professional registration within the field of mental healthcare.
• Experience and skills in assessment, risk management and liaison within a criminal justice context.
• Knowledge of legal, ethical and organisational aspects of care and health policy.

Management Responsibilities

• Comply with relevant policies and procedures pertaining to the East London NHS Foundation Trust services, and the procedures laid down by the hosting establishments (Police Stations and Courts).
• Work within the Trust and Criminal Justice Team guidelines and policies at all times.
• Contribute to the development of the service by participating in the evaluation of clinical audit.
• Receive regular clinical and managerial supervision on professional practice from the Senior Practitioners and service managers.
• Participate in and actively encourage the promotion of mental health awareness, by organising and participating in seminars, lectures and workshops for other agencies (NHS staff; the Police; universities etc.).
• Utilise knowledge of the principles and practice‑research to create an environment where research awareness and an analytical approach to client care in the mental health issues are valued by all staff.
• Act as a constructive agent for change and managing, implementing and supporting agreed changes in line with trust strategy and policy.
• Exercise professional accountability and responsibility.
• Maintain an environment in which there are equal opportunities and a commitment to diversity in its broadest sense in a non‑discriminatory and inclusive manner.
• Practice with an awareness of the legal, ethical, socio‑economic and organisational aspects of care and health policy.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

This advert closes on Monday 5 Jan 2026.