Liaison and Diversion Twilight Practitioner | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Reading seeks a qualified Twilight Shift Practitioner to join their Liaison and Diversion team. This role is ideal for an experienced health or social care professional passionate about supporting individuals in the criminal justice system. Key responsibilities include conducting assessments in police custody and collaborating with various agencies. This position offers flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Generous NHS pension scheme

27 days annual leave

Discounts at popular retailers

Career development opportunities

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments and advice in police custody suites.
• Provide timely information to aid police and court decisions.
• Build effective links with health referral agencies.

Skills

Assessment skills

Risk management

Communication

Autonomy

Education

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

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for a qualified Mental Health/Learning Disabilities Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker or Health Visitor to join our Liaison and Diversion team as our first ever Twilight Shift Practitioner.

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.

About the trust

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

Responsibilities

• To attend police custody suites 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.

Benefits

• 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

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 outcomes.
4. Licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley as required.

Additional information

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’re 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.

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.

This advert closes on Monday 6 Oct 2025