Liaison And Diversion Practitioner
Berkshire Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a skilled mental health professional to join the Isle of Wight Liaison and Diversion Service, covering Newport Police Custody Suite and courts. Roles span nursing, OT, health visiting, public health and social work; work involves assessments and pathways.
You will work 9am-5pm with some weekend work and occasional travel across Thames Valley/Hampshire; DBS vetting applies; driving licence required.
Qualifications
- Professional qualification at degree level in MH Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, OT, Health Visitor, Public Health or Social Work with registration.
- Minimum 18 months post-registration experience.
- Driver with own vehicle and willingness to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley/Hampshire.
- Police vetting requires UK residency for at least three years.
- Current UK professional registration (NMC/HCPC/SW).
- Experience working with criminal justice systems is desirable.
Responsibilities
- Triage, screen and assess needs across custody suites, courts and prison; identify care pathways.
- Provide timely written and verbal information to police, court and prison to inform disposal.
- Work with referring agencies as a single health contact point across custody, court and probation.
- Manage own time and workload autonomously.
Skills
Education
Job description
We are looking for a passionate Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Health Visitor, Public Health Nurse or Social Worker to join our award-winning Hampshire and Isle of Wight Liaison and Diversion Service. This post is based on the Isle of Wight.
This is an opportunity to use your professional skills beyond traditional clinical settings and support people who are involved with the criminal justice system. You will work with individuals experiencing complex needs and vulnerabilities, including mental health difficulties, substance misuse, homelessness and social exclusion.
You will work across Newport Police Custody Suite and Newport Magistrates' Court and, as required, prison settings, providing specialist assessment, advice and care planning, identifying appropriate pathways into health and community services and helping people access the right support at the right time.
Ideally, you will live on the Isle of Wight. If you live off-island, you will need to consider ferry travel, including time, costs and potential weather-related disruption.
The working pattern for the post is 9am-5pm, including every other weekend. There may be occasional travel across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire for training, team meetings and induction. Some locations are not accessible by public transport.
- Triage, screen and assess needs within the following settings: police stations, custody suites, prison, community settings and magistrates' courts and provide assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has been identified.
- To provide the police, court and prison with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.
- To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court, probation and prison acting as a single point of contact for health.
- To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
The wider Hampshire Liaison and Diversion service operates in police custody from 7am-8pm 7 days a week. The court service operates from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
This Isle of Wight post will work 9am-5pm, including every other weekend, and will be based at Newport police custody suite.
The role may also involve supporting colleagues remotely across Hampshire when required. Occasional travel across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight may be expected, including for training, team meetings and during the induction period; some sites are not accessible by public transport. Any request for a specific working pattern can be considered in line with our flexible working policy.
Within Newport police custody suite.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service plus opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Date posted: 29 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-MHS1112-C
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
L&D services aim to improve overall health outcomes for people and to support people in the reduction of re-offending through assessing, proactive onward referrals and informing decision makers. It also aims to identify vulnerabilities in people earlier on which reduces the likelihood that people will reach a crisis-point and helps to ensure the right support can be put in place from the start.
The successful applicant will work in the police custody suites and occasionally the courts; working with people within the criminal justice system where vulnerabilities are suspected and further assessment is indicated to inform disposal of the case and to identify care pathways for appropriate on ward referral/support.
Due to the nature of the service, there is an additional requirement to secure police/prison vetting for this role. For the purposes of vetting, the candidate will require at least three-years residency in the UK. Vetting is a thorough investigation of an individual's background, character, and suitability to work in the police force or prison. It includes checks on criminal records, financial history, employment history, personal relationships, and lifestyle choices.
- A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Health Visitor, Public Health or Social Work along with the relevant registration.
- At least 18 months post registration experience.
- Driving licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley/Hampshire as required.
- This post is subject to police vetting which requires that you have been a resident within the UK for a period of three years.
- A professional qualification at diploma, postgraduate or degree level in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Learning Disability Nurse or Health Visitor status with the necessary experience
- Hold current registration with pertinent body (NMC, SW, HCPC, BPS)
- Evidence of post registration training and development
- Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.
- Ability to work and communicate across multiple agencies and professions.
- Ability to work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to think creatively and problem solve
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Significant experience at Band 5 or equivalent in a community setting.
- Training / presentation skills
- Ability to teach junior staff and students
- An ability to work under pressure
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations
- Ability to work effectively with service users and carers in a collaborative manner
- Understanding of the theories underpinning the concept of recovery and the wider determinants of health
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system
- Professional in approach, manner and appearance.
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
- Car owner / driver
- Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
- Further evidence of professional development and training
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Liaison and Diversion Service - Hants and IOW, Newport Police Station, High St, Newport PO30 1SZ
https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/
Clinical and Operational Lead, Laura Pring, laura.pring@berkshire.nhs.uk, 03001235066
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.
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