Liaison and Diversion Practitioner - Barrow and Kendal

Integrated Care System; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Liaison & Diversion Practitioner for a pivotal role supporting individuals in police custody and court settings. This permanent position offers career development and requires a degree or relevant experience, along with a minimum of 2 years in a related field. Candidates should be knowledgeable about mental health issues and the Criminal Justice System. Enhanced DBS check required.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Support for training and CPD

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years working with people with complex needs.
• Experience assessing risk of service users.

Responsibilities

• Identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people in contact with the justice system.
• Share information verbally and in writing within Criminal Justice settings.

Skills

Knowledge of mental health issues

Understanding of Criminal Justice System

Ability to assess risk

Education

Degree qualification in relevant subject or equivalent experience

Job description

Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Liaison and Diversion Practitioner - Barrow and Kendal

The closing date is 27 August 2025

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

You will be working in partnership with police supporting individuals aged 10 upwards who are arrested and bought into custody, or who are voluntary attendees. Your role is part of a wider MDT, including community engagement workers, peer support workers and specialist practitioners.

As well as working within a small supportive team, you will have access to CPD and training to compliment your role, along with support in career development and progression across the organisation.

We offer reasonable adjustments and support with the application and interview process, and support flexible working patterns, we encourage anyone to contact team managers to discuss individual circumstances.

As the role is predominately based in police custody suites, successful candidates must undergo NPPV Level 2 (full) Police Vetting and have been resident in the UK for at least three years.Enhanced DBS is also required to undertake this role.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

This Liaison & Diversion Practitioner role will identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people with vulnerabilities in contact with the justice system and could be based in the community, police custody or courts from aged 10 upwards.

Referrals will be identified and received where there have been concerns that an individual has mental health issues, a learning disability, substance misuse, social care, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities, that will trigger a referral to the Liaison & Diversion service.

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)

Information will be shared appropriately verbally and in a written report within Criminal Justice settings to inform decision-making and facilitate diversion within and out of the criminal justice pathway

About us

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.

For Further enquires please contact staff below for an informal discussion, we also welcome visits to the service by arrangement with team managers

Forensic Community Service Manager Juliette Hargreaves [e-mail]- 01772 406725

Barrow and Kendal Team Manager Gail McGregor [e-mail] 07929795507

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

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
• Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
• Knowledge of relevant law, as a minimum; Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Children Act, Social Care Act and PACE code C.

Experience

• Working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years either whilst studying or post qualification
• Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others
• Sharing of information verbally and in writing

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