Liaison and Diversion Mental Health Practitioner | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

North East London NHS Foundation Trust; Ilford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Ilford is seeking a professional for a mental health liaison position. The role involves assessing individuals referred from police custody and courts, ensuring collaboration with justice services to enhance care quality. Applicants should have experience in mental health management and be capable of working with various agencies. This position requires passing a probationary period and offers a High Cost Area Supplement.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Comprehensive induction training

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health assessments and management.
• Strong understanding of the Criminal Justice System.
• Ability to work collaboratively with various agencies.

Responsibilities

• Screening individuals with mental health problems.
• Building relationships within Health and Criminal Justice Services.
• Developing innovative approaches to mental health services.

Job description

Overview

To provide high-quality mental health liaison, assessment, and management for individuals referred from Police Custody Suites and Courts, acting as a bridge between police, courts, and mental health services.

The post holder will provide high-quality liaison, assessment and management plans to the individuals referred via the Police Custody Suites and Courts. The post holder will provide liaison and an interface between the police staff and the receiving Hospital mostly involving section 136 MHA 1983 (amended).

Responsibilities

• Screening individuals identified as having mental health problems, provide ongoing assessment (including awareness and understanding of other factors including physical health, use of drugs and alcohol, learning difficulties and speech, language and communication issues), immediate case management and to formalize timely and sensitive sharing of information between police, court and mental health services.
• Enhancing and developing relationships within Criminal Justice Services and building strong links between Health, Social Services and the Criminal Justice System itself is an essential role of the post holder. You will work in a collaborative way with Mental Health Services, and other statutory/non-statutory agencies ensuring a high-quality service is provided.
• Seeking to develop innovative approaches to working with mental health services, both locally and across London, for example, linking with YOTs and CAMHS services, participating in service reviews and recording information that demonstrates and supports the benefits of liaison and diversion.

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 - per annum, pro rata for part time).

Additional Information

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

This advert closes on Tuesday 11 Nov 2025