Health & Justice Band 6 Practitioner

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Middlewich; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health & Justice Band 6 Practitioner based in Middlewich. You will work within the Liaison & Diversion team, identifying vulnerabilities in individuals entering the criminal justice system and coordinating onward referrals and signposting.

The role involves holistic health assessments, reporting to Crown or Magistrates Courts, risk assessment and management, and collaboration across agencies to support diversion from the criminal justice

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mental health issues and criminal justice system.
• Specialist knowledge in substance misuse, autism/ADHD, personality disorder, domestic violence.
• Awareness of safeguarding, information governance and relevant law (MHA, MCA, Children Act, PACE).

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for holistic health assessment within liaison and diversion.
• Provide written reports or give verbal evidence to courts with recommendations.
• Assess service users' needs and refer to appropriate agencies.
• Complete and contribute to robust risk assessments and promote positive risk taking.
• Maintain an effective reporting system in health records (verbal and electronic).
• Use outcome measures to review Liaison & Diversion effectiveness.
• Utilise SilverCloud and Justice Star tools for service users.
• Provide feedback to youth justice panels and Youth Offending services.

Skills

Mental health knowledge

Criminal justice system knowledge

Risk assessment

Assessment and referral

Education

NHS recognised professional qualification (RMN/RGN/LDN/Social Worker/AHP)

Degree in relevant subject or demonstrable equivalent experience

Job description

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Health & Justice Band 6 Practitioner

The closing date is 09 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Liaison & Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner based in Middlewich Custody Suite.

Liaison & Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have substance misuse, mental health, learning disability or other vulnerabilities when they first come onto contact with the criminal justice system. We look to identify unmet need and vulnerabilities that often lead to or exacerbate offending behaviour, offer onward referral and signposting as appropriate. We liaise across agencies to support onward planning and intervention to address identified needs and where appropriate support the diversion of individuals away from the criminal justice process into a more appropriate setting.

We work in Police Custody Suites, Courts and Community throughout Cheshire and offer assessments to individuals within the Criminal Justice system including Voluntary Attendees. We help to inform decision makers with relevant and timely information to support sentencing and disposal outcomes.

We offer brief community based intervention to maximise service user access and engagement with appropriate services.

This is an 'all age' service and so you will be required to work with people from the age of 10 years upwards.*THIS ROLE IS SUBJECT TO POLICE VETTING**The post holder will be expected to travel across the MPFT footprint*

Main duties of the job

• Please refer to the attached Job Description in summary:
• Take responsibility for holistic health assessment (within service specification) in Liaison and Diversion in conjunction with service user and carer (If necessary), helping to promote self-determination, choice and autonomy.
• To provide a written report for Crown or Magistrates Courts or to attend and give verbal evidence as required. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.
• Assess service users individual needs, agree and refer on to appropriate agency.
• Complete and contribute, where appropriate to robust risk assessments and risk management plans. Deliver and promote positive risk taking, where appropriate, to improve quality of life and maximise occupational performance/independence.
• Maintain an effective reporting system by observing and reporting verbally and electronically in health records.
• Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of process, as part of Liaison and Diversion Service.
• To use both Silvercloud and Justice Star tools in supporting service users.
• To provide feedback to youth justice panels and Youth Offending services.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

Qualifications & Training

• Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, RGN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, AHP.
• Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice.

Experience

• Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability. Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it. Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools. Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others. Knowledge of a wide range of vulnerabilities including the needs of children and young people. Knowledge and understanding of capacity and consent. Knowledge of theoretical approaches to working with vulnerable people. Knowledge of appropriate health and social care interventions. Knowledge of relevant law, as a minimum; Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Social Care Act and PACE code C. Knowledge of human growth and development. Knowledge of Safeguarding Adults and Children Knowledge of Information Governance, Data Protection and GDPR.
• Specialist knowledge in substance misuse. Specialist knowledge in Autism and ADHD. Specialist knowledge in Personality Disorder. Specialist knowledge Domestic Violence. Knowledge of Psychosocial and Psychological Approach.

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust