Newly Qualified Liaison & Diversion Practitioner | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A Healthcare Organization in the Thames Valley is seeking a Newly Qualified Practitioner to join its Liaison and Diversion team. This role is qualifying for recently qualified practitioners in fields like Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work. Working in police custody and court environments, the position offers a rich and supportive career path, including participation in a Preceptorship Programme and opportunities for professional growth. The post entails a rotational working pattern and provides various benefits including flexible work options and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing services

Discounts at retailers

Free parking

Qualifications

• Must have a professional degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field.
• Must possess a driving license with access to a vehicle.
• Must have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion services.

Responsibilities

• Triage, screen, and assess needs of individuals in custody.
• Provide timely information to police and courts.

Skills

Interest in Liaison and Diversion services

Ability to work flexibly

Good communication skills

Education

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

Job description

Liaison & Diversion Newly Qualified Practitioner – Thames Valley - Band 5

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.

Overview

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 trust’s 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’.

You will work with and support the senior practitioner within police custody, court and 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 & 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 patterns 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.

Our 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

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

Must haves

• 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 or pending registration
• A keen interest in Liaison and Diversion services.
• Driving license with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley as required.

Contact 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.

We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Service Manager Steph Gray on 0300 365 5555 (TV) or [e-mail] who’ll be delighted to help. You can find out more about the service on our website.

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 Saturday 6 Dec 2025.