Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious NHS team as a Mental Health/Learning Disabilities Nurse, engaging with individuals in police custody to assess and support their health needs. This role in Berkshire offers an opportunity to make impactful changes within the criminal justice system while being part of an award-winning service. The position includes flexible working options, a generous leave policy, and excellent career development opportunities, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave plus opportunity to buy/sell leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Access to wellbeing tools

Discounts at popular retailers

Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Professional qualification at degree level or equivalent.
• Significant experience at Band 6 in community setting.
• Able to assess and manage risk effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments and advice in police custody and courts.
• Work with multiple agencies for health-based care pathways.
• Manage time effectively across delegated workload.

Skills

Communication

Risk Management

De-escalation Techniques

Education

Degree level qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work

Job description

Job summary

Liaison and Diversion, is it right for you?

Do you think everyone under arrest is guilty of a crime? Or that all criminals should be locked up for as long as possible?

If so, this is NOT the job for you. Do you believe that a person's health needs, and past experiences can be linked to their criminal offending? By identifying and reducing health needs, can vulnerable people be supported to make positive changes and reduce the risk of reoffending?

We're looking for a qualified Mental Health/Learning Disabilities Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Speech & Language Therapist or Health Visitor to join our Liaison and Diversion team.You're an enthusiastic, experienced, and registered health/social care professional with an interest in health and justice and a passion for supporting people in police custody or court. Previous experience in criminal justice and offender health is desirable, but not essential. With a reputation for excellence, our service is committed to improving the health of our clients, identifying care pathways, and reducing reoffending. We're an award-winning team, including the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year' and 'Women' categories, commendations from Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary and Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year'.

If you want to use your skills to help change lives of people in the criminal justice system, we'd love you to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To attend police custody suites and magistrates' courts providing assessments, advice and identifying robust care pathways for individuals with a potential health vulnerability.
• To provide the police and court with written and verbal information about individuals in a timely fashion to help decision-making.
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and probation, 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.

About us

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.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + 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

Details Date posted

17 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS777-A

Job locations

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

Reading

RG1 8NQ

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work along with relevant registration.2. Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting.3. Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans considering health and criminal justice outcomes4. Licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to multiple sites across Berkshire as required.

Residence in the UK for at least 3 years is required for this role due to police vetting requirements.

Work base:You will work within police custody suites in Berkshire, which include Loddon Valley Custody or Maidenhead. You may also be required to work from any of our sites in Thames Valley to meet service needs.

Working pattern + Service operating hours:Our service operates in police custody from 7am 8pm, 7 days a week using a combination of early shifts, late shifts. Our service does not operate at night. Requests for specific working pattens can be considered in line with our flexible working policy.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Louise Smith on 07929 767 593 or email: [e-mail] or who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work along with relevant registration.2. Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting.3. Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans considering health and criminal justice outcomes4. Licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to multiple sites across Berkshire as required.

Residence in the UK for at least 3 years is required for this role due to police vetting requirements.

Work base:You will work within police custody suites in Berkshire, which include Loddon Valley Custody or Maidenhead. You may also be required to work from any of our sites in Thames Valley to meet service needs.

Working pattern + Service operating hours:Our service operates in police custody from 7am 8pm, 7 days a week using a combination of early shifts, late shifts. Our service does not operate at night. Requests for specific working pattens can be considered in line with our flexible working policy.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Louise Smith on 07929 767 593 or email: [e-mail] or who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• A professional qualification at diploma, post graduate & degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapist, Social Work, or Health Visitor with the necessary experience
• Hold current registration with pertinent body (RMN, SW, HCPC, SCHN)
• Evidence of post registration training and development

Desirable

• Practice Assessor / Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
• Further evidence of professional development and training
• Take responsibility for your own learning and be willing to continuously learn and grow, reflecting on own practice and encouraging others to develop their practice, actively using research to influence and change practice.

Previous Experience Essential

• Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting
• Experience of analysing and collating complex information from a range of sources and communicating this effectively to multiple partners and stakeholders
• Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans taking into account health and criminal justice outcomes
• 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.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking Initial Findings Reports, fact finding exercises and associated report writing
• Experience of operating across Criminal Justice & Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
• Have knowledge and skills to work with specialist groups of people, including young people, people with dual diagnoses and personality disorder

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the PACE Codes of Practice 2004

Additional Requirements Essential

• Responsible for data entry with occasional requirements to generate reports, analyse data and identify trends
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
• Ability to travel efficiently to multiple sites
• In addition to DBS there is additional requirement to secure police vetting for this role.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• A professional qualification at diploma, post graduate & degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapist, Social Work, or Health Visitor with the necessary experience
• Hold current registration with pertinent body (RMN, SW, HCPC, SCHN)
• Evidence of post registration training and development

Desirable

• Practice Assessor / Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
• Further evidence of professional development and training
• Take responsibility for your own learning and be willing to continuously learn and grow, reflecting on own practice and encouraging others to develop their practice, actively using research to influence and change practice.

Previous Experience Essential

• Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting
• Experience of analysing and collating complex information from a range of sources and communicating this effectively to multiple partners and stakeholders
• Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans taking into account health and criminal justice outcomes
• 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.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking Initial Findings Reports, fact finding exercises and associated report writing
• Experience of operating across Criminal Justice & Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
• Have knowledge and skills to work with specialist groups of people, including young people, people with dual diagnoses and personality disorder

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the PACE Codes of Practice 2004

Additional Requirements Essential

• Responsible for data entry with occasional requirements to generate reports, analyse data and identify trends
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
• Ability to travel efficiently to multiple sites
• In addition to DBS there is additional requirement to secure police vetting for this role.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

Reading

RG1 8NQ

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

Reading

RG1 8NQ

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)