Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is looking for a Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to support individuals with vulnerabilities entering the criminal justice system. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and experience with mental health and complex needs, along with the ability to work within a diverse team across multiple locations. This is a permanent role with a salary range of £31,049 to £37,796.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject or Diploma in Health and Social Care.
• Experience of working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years.
• Professional qualification such as a Learning Disability Nurse or Occupational Therapist is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Identify individuals with vulnerabilities entering the criminal justice system.
• Provide assessment, referral, and support through the criminal justice pathway.
• Work alongside agencies to support interventions and planning.

Skills

Knowledge of mental health issues

Knowledge of Criminal Justice System

Assessment and mitigation of risk

Working with complex needs

Education

Degree qualification in relevant subject

Professional recognised qualification (RMN, Social Worker, etc.)

Psychology Degree

Job description

Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

The closing date is 02 December 2025

Important: This post requires successful candidates to undergo NPPV Level 2 (full) Police Vetting of which successful clearance is essential in order to fulfil the role. As part of this vetting process the candidate is required to have been resident in the UK for at least three years.

An opportunity has arisen within the Liaison and Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner as part of The Bay Liaison & Diversion Team. This key position within the established Liaison and Diversion Service for Police Custody Suites and Magistrates Courts will be offered as a permanent post.

This postholder will be expected to work across all three sites.

The service operates seven days per week 8-8 when fully operational and staff work on a shift basis.

Essential Criteria: A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject OR Diploma in Health and Social Care AND/OR Experience of working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years

Desirable: Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, and Occupational Therapist. Psychology Degree CBT Diploma, Substance Misuse Diploma

Please refer to the Job description and person specification for full details regarding the requirements of the post and essential and desirable criteria.

Main duties of the job

Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have substance misuse, mental health, learning disability or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.

The service can then support people through the early stages of criminal system pathway, refer them for appropriate health or social care or enable them to be diverted away from the criminal justice system into a more appropriate setting, if required.

This is an 'all age' service and so you will be required to work with people from the age of 10 years upwards and originates from the Bradley Report 2009.

The main things that L&D services do for the people we see are identification, screening, assessment and referral to other services.

• We work in Police Custody Suites and Courts throughout Lancashire & Cumbria and offer assessments to individuals within the Criminal Justice system including Voluntary Attendees
• 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 needs
• We offer some brief community based intervention to maximise service user access and engagement with those appropriate services
• We help to inform decision makers with relevant and timely information to support sentencing and disposal outcomes.

About us

The Bradley Report (2009) is a useful reference point to learn more and you are encouraged to read this to understand the role of Liaison & Diversion within police custody and the Criminal Justice Service.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well‑being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi‑time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Informal discussions and/or visit is encouraged in order that candidates understand the role

Gail McGregor Team Manager [e-mail] tel: [phone] or Hayley McGoldrick Team Leader [e-mail] tel: [phone] or Daniel Wilson Team Leader [e-mail] tel: [phone]

Person Specification

Qualifications

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

Knowledge

• 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 assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
• Knowledge of theoretical approaches to working with vulnerable people
• Knowledge of Safeguarding Adults and Children

Experience

• Working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years either whilst studying or post qualification
• Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
• Timely and accurate documentation on electronic records
• Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others

Personal

• This post requires successful candidates to undergo NPPV Level 2 (full) Police Vetting of which successful clearance is essential in order to fulfil the role. As part of this vetting process the candidate is required to have been resident in the UK for at least three years.

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.

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

£31,049 to £37,796 a yearper annum (subject to confirmation)