Liaison & Diversion Practitioner – Court Pathway

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Kidderminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits as a Liaison & Diversion Practitioner within the Liaison & Diversion Team based at Magistrates Court. Focused on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in individuals entering the criminal justice system, you will provide assessments and interventions aimed at promoting health and well-being. Join a diverse organization that values inclusivity while enjoying career development opportunities and excellent benefits like the NHS pension scheme and flexible working options.

Benefits

Career development and progression opportunities

Excellent NHS Pension scheme

Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Flexible working options

Up to 27 days annual leave

Health and Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Recognized professional qualification such as RMN, RGN, or Social Worker.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and legal frameworks.
• Degree qualification or equivalent experience relevant to practice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct holistic health assessments in Liaison and Diversion.
• Assess service users' individual needs and refer them to agencies.
• Maintain effective reporting systems, including electronic health records.

Skills

Knowledge of mental health issues

Knowledge of learning disabilities

Knowledge of health screening tools

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Professional Social Work qualification

Occupational Therapist registered with HCPC

Tools

Silvercloud

Justice Star

Job description

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Liaison & Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner based in Magistrates Court.

Liaison & Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have substance misuse, mental health, learning disability or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system. We look to identify unmet needs and vulnerabilities that often lead to or exacerbate offending behavior, offer onward referral and signposting as appropriate. We liaise across agencies to support onward planning and intervention to address identified needs and, where appropriate, support the diversion of individuals away from the criminal justice process into a more suitable setting.

We work in Police Custody Suites, Courts, and Community throughout West Mercia and provide assessments to individuals within the Criminal Justice system, including Voluntary Attendees. We help inform decision-makers with relevant and timely information to support sentencing and disposal outcomes.

We also offer brief community-based interventions to maximize service user access and engagement with appropriate services.

This is an 'all age' service, and you will be required to work with people from the age of 10 years upwards.

The post holder will be expected to travel across the MPFT footprint.

Main duties of the job

1. Take responsibility for holistic health assessment in Liaison and Diversion, in conjunction with the service user and carer (if necessary), promoting self-determination, choice, and autonomy.
2. Provide written reports for Crown or Magistrates Courts or attend and give verbal evidence as required, offering considered recommendations.
3. Assess service users' individual needs, and refer them to appropriate agencies.
4. Complete and contribute to risk assessments and risk management plans, promoting positive risk-taking to improve quality of life and independence.
5. Maintain effective reporting systems, including verbal and electronic health records.
6. Utilize outcome measures to review the effectiveness of the service.
7. Use Silvercloud and Justice Star tools to support service users.
8. Provide feedback to youth justice panels and Youth Offending services.

Working for our organization

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities, and in return, we will support you through:

• Career development and progression opportunities
• Excellent NHS Pension scheme
• Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Flexible working options
• Up to 27 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days with service, plus additional leave purchase options
• Health and Wellbeing support and resources
• Travel reimbursement for community team work
• Lease car options for over 500 business miles per year
• Salary sacrifice car and bike schemes
• Free parking at trust sites
• Annual flu vaccinations
• Citizens Advice support and Hardship Fund assistance

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization with staff networks to support inclusivity.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

• Registered Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disability Nurse, or Registered General Nurse on NMC Register.
• Or Professional Social Work qualification, DipSW, CQSW, CSS, BA, MA, or foreign qualification certified by the regulatory body, with current registration.
• Or Occupational Therapist/Speech and Language Therapist registered with HCPC.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria

• Recognized professional qualification such as RMN, RGN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, AHP.
• Knowledge of mental health issues, learning disabilities, and the Criminal Justice System.
• Knowledge of health screening tools, risk assessment, capacity and consent, legal frameworks, and safeguarding.

Desirable criteria

• Degree qualification or equivalent experience relevant to practice.
• Specialist knowledge in substance misuse, Autism, ADHD, Personality Disorder, Domestic Violence, and psychosocial approaches.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive post-registration experience working with clients with mental health difficulties.
• Experience working with clients with complex needs and engagement challenges.
• Experience in community assessment, planning, and management of vulnerable individuals.
• Experience contributing to CPA/SAP processes.