Liaison & Diversion Specialist Practitioner / Team Leader

Lancashire Care Foundation Trust; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Blackburn is seeking a Liaison and Diversion Deputy Team Leader/Specialist Practitioner to oversee staff and perform triage assessments for individuals with complex health and social needs within the criminal justice system. The ideal candidate will have a clinical qualification and experience with vulnerable populations. This position promotes flexible working arrangements and requires successful candidates to undergo DBS checks.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Support for work-life balance

Qualifications

• Registered practitioner with experience in the Criminal Justice Pathway.
• Ability to conduct triage assessments for health and social needs.
• Experience managing and supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support staff in the Liaison & Diversion service.
• Provide triage assessment of individuals with complex needs.
• Work closely with the Team Manager to ensure service delivery.

Skills

Clinical qualification

Experience with vulnerable groups

Knowledge of Health and Social Care

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

About the Liaison & Diversion Service

The Liaison & Diversion service operates an All Age (from age of criminal responsibility – 10 years), all Vulnerability model based on the National Liaison & Diversion operating model produced by NHS England. The service is at the heart of NHS England’s Health and Justice Programme and is part of the National Service provider model, working in every Police Custody Suite and Court in England. The service provides triage to identify unmet needs and vulnerabilities and offers liaison, onward referral and guidance for persons who have come to the attention of the Criminal Justice Agencies, whilst providing information to key criminal justice decision makers.

Role and Responsibilities

• The Liaison and Diversion Deputy Team Leader/Specialist Practitioner will be someone with a clinical qualification and experience and knowledge of Health and Social Care, with specialist knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable groups and those likely to be disadvantaged by their involvement in the justice system.
• The successful candidate will work closely with the Team Manager, providing day-to-day supervision and support to the Liaison & Diversion Staff.
• Be a professionally registered practitioner to work within the Criminal Justice Pathway, providing triage assessment of people with multiple and often complex health, mental health and social needs/vulnerabilities.

Vetting and Clearances

• Important: This post requires successful candidates to undergo Police NPPV Full Vetting, and this clearance is essential to fulfil the role.
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Clearance. Successful candidates will be required to pay for their own DBS check at a cost of £50, with deductions taken from the first 3 months’ salary.

Working Arrangements

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. Applicants are encouraged to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Information for Applicants

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact:

• Peter Haworth, L&D Team Manager
  Email: [e-mail]
  Tel: [phone]
• Pauline Fletcher, Deputy Team Leader
  Email: [e-mail]
  Tel: [phone]

Additional Information

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT. For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Closing Date

This advert closes on Tuesday 23 Sep 2025