Mental Health Practitioner in LADS

NHS; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Somerset is seeking a Criminal Justice Mental Health Practitioner to assess individuals in police custody. This role offers flexible working hours and allows you to make a significant impact on vulnerable individuals' lives within the criminal justice system. Applicants should possess a relevant professional qualification and have experience in mental health.

Benefits

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Career development opportunities

Access to Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• Professional registration required.
• Significant experience with mental health issues.
• Ability to work in a Forensic/Criminal Justice environment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality assessments in custody and courts.
• Identify needs and connect individuals to services.
• Prepare reports for court proceedings.
• Engage with statutory and voluntary agencies.

Skills

Experience with mental health problems

Risk assessment and management

Autonomous assessments

Providing supervision

Community mental health work

Forensic/Criminal Justice experience

Education

Professional qualification relevant to mental health practice

RMN/Degree/Diploma in Nursing

CQSW/Degree/Diploma in Social Work

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting people at their most vulnerable moments? Our Liaison and Diversion (LADS) team plays a vital role in Somerset's criminal justice system, helping individuals access the care and support they need.

What We Do

We work with people appearing at Somerset's criminal courts (Taunton, Yeovil, North Somerset Magistrates' Courts, and Taunton Crown Court) and those detained in police custody at Bridgwater Police Centre. Our mission is simple: identify mental health and other vulnerabilities early, and connect individuals to the right services.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work: Every day, you'll make a difference by ensuring people's needs are understood and addressed.
• No Night Shifts: Our service runs 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., so you can enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
• Flexible Options: Full-time and part-time hours available.
• Free onsite parking at Bridgwater Police Centre.
• Collaborative Environment: Be part of NHS England's national programme, working alongside Avon and Wiltshire Partnership across the Avon and Somerset area.

Interested?

We also run bimonthly LADS information sessions on Microsoft Teams-email Hannah Robson to join.

Please Note: Applicants will need to visit the custody office environment and shadow the team before interview.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver rapid, high-quality assessments of mental health and vulnerabilities in police custody (Bridgwater) and criminal courts (Taunton, Yeovil, North Somerset Magistrates' Courts, and Taunton Crown Court).
• Identify unmet needs and connect individuals to the right health and social care services through referrals and signposting.
• Share vital information (with consent) with criminal justice agencies to support informed and fair decision-making.
• Provide expert guidance and training to criminal justice colleagues, helping them understand mental health and vulnerability issues.
• Prepare professional reports, including screening summaries and contributions to psychiatric reports for court proceedings.
• Support voluntary attenders, working with individuals interviewed outside of custody as part of our innovative project.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and complete monthly data returns to ensure service quality and compliance.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

As a Criminal Justice Mental Health Practitioner, you will:

• Be based primarily in Bridgwater Police Custody Suite, with flexibility to cover courts across Somerset.
• Work autonomously while supported by senior practitioners and colleagues.
• Liaise closely with police, courts, community mental health teams, and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Deliver training and education packages to multi-agency staff.
• Provide verbal opinions to courts and facilitate the production of psychiatric reports.
• Support safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children.
• Maintain compliance with legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding legislation.
• Participate in audits, service reviews, and contribute to service development.
• Act as shift lead when required, supporting team prioritisation and supervision.
• Engage in multidisciplinary meetings and represent the team at local and national forums.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A professional qualification relevant to mental health practice.
• Either:
• RMN/Degree/Diploma in Nursing, CQSW/Degree/Diploma in Social Work, Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Current relevant professional registration

Experience

• Significant experience and knowledge (post qualification) of working with people with mental health problems.
• Significant experience of assessing risk and developing risk management plans.
• Experience of undertaking autonomous assessments.
• Experience of providing supervision.
• Experience of working in a community mental health setting.
• Experience of working within a Forensic/Criminal Justice environment.

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.