Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in London seeks a Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to work autonomously within the criminal justice system. This role requires qualifications as a registered mental health professional and entails responsibilities such as assessing individuals' mental health, developing care pathways, and working collaboratively with various services. The candidate must be flexible and able to handle challenging situations.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Post-registration experience in a community or forensic psychiatric setting.
• Experience of crisis work and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Act as an autonomous practitioner in court and custody detention cells.
• Assess individuals’ mental state and implement care pathways.
• Prepare accurate written reports following assessments.

Skills

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Ability to make sound and safe risk assessments

Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills

Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity

Ability to build constructive relationships

Knowledge of current legislation relating to community mental health

Education

Qualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist

Substantial evidence of continuing professional development

Job description

Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

The closing date is 20 August 2025

The service is funded through the NHS England Liaison and Diversion Programme. Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services aim to identify people who may have mental health issues, a learning disability, substance misuse issues or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Our direct contact with service users may take place at police stations or in the courts. Our work can be very challenging but we continue to aim to ensure that individuals receive the best and most appropriate care for their needs. Through screening, assessment and appropriate referral, we are able to promote better health outcomes, reduce re-offending and reduce pressure on the police and court services.

Main duties of the job

The role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner involves working with a wide range of services such as the police, probation, the court and legal services as well as both inpatient and community health and social care services. Our work includes unsocial hours on weekday evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays. Successful candidates will need to have excellent communication skills as well as the flexibility to work alongside these different groups. Candidates will need to be able to work effectively as part of a team as well as having the skills and confidence to work autonomously in a range of environments. Supervision and consultation are available to the team to support practice.

This post will cover both Westminster Magistrates Court and Charing Cross Police Custody Suite.

About us

This post will cover Charing Cross custody suite and Westminster Magistrate's Court.

Please note: Candidates will need to submit an application for Metropolitan Police vetting clearance and have it approved before a contract can be agreed. The following is guidance we have from the Metropolitan Police regarding vetting which you should take into consideration before you complete an application:

- Non-declaration of criminal convictions or Police involvement;I.E investigations even if no further action, warnings, cautions (No matter how old)

- County court judgements

- Less than 3-year Residency

- Defaults - No debt management plans in place.

- Convictions which resulted in imprisonment or suspended sentence

• Vetting applications will be returned if any of the details are omitted

ALL family members, partners, co-residents and parents' partners must be provided

Address history must run 5 years straight.

Job responsibilities

To act as an autonomous practitioner in court and custody detention cells. The post holder will also be expected to assess an individuals mental state and risk and within the context of the alleged offence and the criminal justice system, implement a care pathway for each individual.

In the absence of the youth justice liaison and diversion worker, the post holder will be expected to screen any youths in police custody during their shift in police stations. This will involve engaging with the young person and at times their guardians and depending on the screening outcomes, may involve making onward referrals including safeguarding, youth offending teams and CAMHS.

To undertake a full mental state assessment, risk assessment, and gather a background history for individuals with a variety of needs. These would include those with a serious mental illness or personality disorder and associated learning, social, personal, dependency and substance misuse issues who are in court detention.

Prepare accurate written reports following assessment in line with quality standards

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Qualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with current registration with the relevant professional body
• Substantial evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.

Previous Experience

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
• Post-registration experience, which is experience of working in a community or forensic psychiatric setting at Band 6 or equivalent or above.
• Experience of crisis work and risk assessment.
• Experience of working in forensic psychiatry.
• Experience of the assessment of clients with drug/alcohol related problems and clients with a history of transience or homelessness.
• Experience in Liaison and Diversion.

Skills and knowledge

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments and good report writing skills.
• Ability to make sound and safe risk assessments
• Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
• Evidence of effective networking and liaison experience.
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need.
• Knowledge of current legislation relating to community mental health provision and forensic psychiatry
• Knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1884 and PACE Codes of Practice 2004.
• Ability to promote users' involvement.

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Westminster Magistrates Court and Charing Cross Police Custody

£56,276 to £63,176 a yearper annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P.T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-D-HJ-1844

Job locations

Westminster Magistrates Court and Charing Cross Police Custody