Newly Qualified Liaison & Diversion Practitioner

BERKSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a recently qualified Mental Health Nurse to join its Liaison and Diversion team. You’ll assist service users in police custody, courts, and prisons, providing assessments and support. The role offers flexible working patterns with excellent opportunities for career development and benefits such as 27 days’ leave, generous pensions, and wellbeing services.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at retailers

Support networks for staff

Free parking

Qualifications

• Recently/newly qualified or expect to qualify within 4 months.
• Keen interest in Liaison and Diversion services.

Responsibilities

• Triage, screen and assess needs with support from senior practitioners.
• Provide written and verbal information to police and court.
• Build links with all referring agencies.

Skills

Mental Health Nursing

Social Work

Communication

Assessment Skills

Education

Degree in Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work

Job description

We're looking for a recently/newly qualified (or those who expect to qualify within the next 4 months) Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disabilities nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to join our Thames Valley Liaison and Diversion team. You will have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion and a passion about supporting our service users as they make their way through police custody, court and up to prison. You will work with and support the senior practitioner within police custody, court or prison.

Responsibilities

• Triage, screen and assess needs with support from senior practitioners within the following settings: police stations, prisons, custody suites, community settings and magistrates' courts and provide assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has been identified.
• Provide the police and court with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.
• Work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court, and community

Working Pattern and Service Operating Hours

Our service operates in police custody from 7am-8pm, 7 days a week currently using early/late/long days to fulfil this. Our service operates in court from 9am-5pm, 5 days a week. Our service operates across the Thames Valley area so travel across our sites will be expected, some of these sites are not accessible via public transport. Any request for specific working pattens can be considered in line with our flexible working policy. This role will operate Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm on a rotational basis across police custody, court and reconnect. Work base: You will work from within police custody suites, court and prison on a rotational basis across Thames Valley.

Values

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Post will be rotational over an 18-month period. Initially started in police custody then moving across to court for then our Prison Reconnect Team. Each section of the service will have set competencies to be completed. Following this 18-month period of working 9-5 Monday to Friday the role will transition into a police custody role working shifts.

You will be offered access to the trusts Preceptorship Programme or AYSE support. Berkshire Healthcare has been awarded the 2023 National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark. Recognised with a number of awards, including a Thames Valley/Hampshire Constabulary Police Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.

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

FOR SECONDMENT ROLES ONLY - If the secondment role becomes permanent, the successful candidate may be offered the permanent position.