Liaison And Diversion Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria Nhs Foundation Trust; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for the Liaison & Diversion Practitioner role based in East Lancashire. This permanent, full-time Band 5 post sits within the Liaison and Diversion Service for Police Custody Suites and Magistrates Courts.

You will assess vulnerabilities, support onward referrals, and collaborate with agencies to inform decision makers and ensure safe, appropriate services for service users in the Criminal Justice system.

Qualifications

• Degree or demonstrable evidence relevant to the field of practice.
• Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.
• Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability.

Responsibilities

• Assess vulnerabilities using validated tools and share information to ensure access to appropriate services.
• Assess service users' capacity for participation in criminal justice procedures.
• Consider cultural, gender, age and development needs, and housing, finance, relationships and employment needs.
• Document timely and accurately on electronic records.

Education

Degree qualification in relevant subject

Professional recognised qualification (RMN, Social Worker, OT)

Job description

Closing date: 10 November 2026
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen within the Liaison and Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner based in East Lancashire. This key position is based within the established Liaison and Diversion Service for Police Custody Suites and Magistrates Courts.

• 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.

Main duties of the job

The role will assess for a number of vulnerabilities, using validated tools, ensuring risk is assessed and relevant information shared to ensure appropriate services are accessed and manage the safety of clients and others.

Assessment will include an opinion on the service user's capacity for effective participation in criminal justice procedures, cultural and gender needs, age and development related needs, including transition to adulthood and older person needs, social circumstances (including, relationships, leisure requirements, daily living, educational and occupational needs, employment/vocational needs, housing, finance)

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support 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 and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work. Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Essential 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.

Essential 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 use and interpretation of health screening tools

Essential experience

• Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
• Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others
• Timely and accurate documentation on electronic records

Contact: Team Manager Peter Haworth, [e-mail], 07415732194

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. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.