Liaison and Diversion Practitioner | East London NHS Foundation Trust

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Luton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public service organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Band 6 Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to provide quality assessments for individuals in contact with the criminal justice system. The role involves working across various locations and engaging with vulnerable populations. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications, strong assessment skills, and the ability to work autonomously in a collaborative setting. The service operates seven days a week, requiring participation in a shifting schedule.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals in contact with the criminal justice system.
• Understanding of mental illness, personality disorder, and related vulnerabilities.
• Ability to write high-quality reports.

Responsibilities

• Provide quality screening and assessment of individuals.
• Engage with high-risk service users.
• Work across multiple locations including police custody and courts.

Skills

Rapport building

Assessment and management of risk

Collaborative working

Resilience

Education

Relevant professional qualification (Social Worker or Mental Health Nurse or Learning Disability Nurse)

Job description

The Bedfordshire and Luton Liaison and Diversion Service (L&DS) are looking to recruit Band 6 Liaison and Diversion Practitioners (Social Worker or Mental Health Nurse or Learning Disability Nurse). The L&DS Practitioner will provide quality screening and assessment of individuals who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Individuals may be assessed in police custody, the Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Court, or they may be a Voluntary Attendee. On rare occasions you may be required to assess in other areas such as the women’s centre, the TOKKO Centre, the service user’s home, etc.

The L&DS offer assessments to individuals who may be presenting with a range of vulnerabilities which may include: mental illness, personality disorder, alcohol and substance use, homelessness, acquired brain injury, learning disabilities, autism, or other speech and language communication difficulties. You will also see women and veterans as a priority, and engage with high risk service users who may have committed high shame crime such as taking and distributing indecent images of children and child sexual exploitation. Outside of the Youth Offending Service (YOS) operating hours, you may also assess the needs of children and young people.



The service has satellite bases in Luton and Kempston police custody and the Luton Magistrates’ Courts, you will be expected to be able to work across all bases. We will also be working with Voluntary Attendees. The service operates from 8am to 8pm seven days a week and you will be expected to be a part of a rota which may include working 12 hour shifts including working one weekend a month subject to service needs subject to negotiation and the demands of the service.

An ability to quickly and easily establish rapport, to understand the assessment and management of risk and to write high quality reports is essential. An understanding of the criminal justice system is preferred but not essential. Experience working with people who may have autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, intellectual disabilities, children and young people is also desirable.

We are looking for someone who embraces and has experience of collaborative working with partner agencies, service users and carers and who has a keen interest in working with Police, Courts and other public sector organisations. You will need to be resilient and have the ability and confidence to work with a high level of autonomy.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Gillian Stanway on 07901 918937.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

For further information please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.


This advert closes on Sunday 17 Aug 2025