Outreach Practitioner

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Outreach Practitioner to join the Sussex Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Service. You will assess people attending Police Custody and Court and support liaison and diversion to services in the local area.

The role requires experience in criminal justice settings and working with vulnerable adults and young people, across mental health, learning disabilities, and substance misuse.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse/General Nurse on NMC Register.
• Registered Social Worker.
• Post-registration experience, evidence of formal courses and training at diploma/degree level.

Responsibilities

• Working in a Health and Justice Outreach service within Sussex, dependent on skills and service need.
• Delivering a high quality clinical service to patients and their families.
• Managing complex assessments in the Outreach service, and possible in custody and courts.
• Responsible for clinical and caseload supervision of other team members where identified.
• The post holder will be responsible for providing the practitioner process in Health and Justice.
• Diverting and liaising with multiple criminal justice agencies, police and other partners.
• Identify, assess and refer people of all ages with a wide range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and/or social vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the youth and adult criminal justice systems on suspicion of having committed a crime.
• When a person is assessed as having single or multiple vulnerabilities, they will be referred to the appropriate treatment or support service and an appropriate package of care and/or support will be instigated.
• Accurate, timely information on the person will be shared with police and the courts (with an individuals consent where necessary) to ensure that any charging, sentencing or disposal decisions are based upon an authoritative assessment of their mental health, any learning disability and whether they have a substance misuse issue.
• Health and Justice services support the most appropriate outcome for those individuals. For many this contact with criminal justice agencies will be the first time they will have been assessed and diagnosed.

Education

NMC Registered Nurse (MH/LD/General)

Registered Social Worker

Job description

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Outreach Practitioner

The closing date is 19 October 2026

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

An exciting opportunity has arisen for experienced practitioners with a criminal justice interest, to work in the Sussex Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Service. The post holder would be expected to work within the Outreach Team across the Sussex area. This will include providing high quality assessments of people attending Police Custody and Court, and supporting people with liaison and diversion to supportive services in the local area. The service will be delivered to people of all ages including those under the age of 18yrs who present with any vulnerability including but not limited to; mental health, physical health, learning disability, head injury, unemployment, housing, educational needs etc. The role will also specialise in supporting children and young people who enter into the criminal justice system.

Main duties of the job

The main focus of the outreach service is to support vulnerable adults and children to engage in the services available in the community. This may mean supporting people to health appointments, engagement in mental health and drug and alcohol services. Support is also provided with accessing online therapeutic interventions. The team provide psychosocial approaches and guidance to help address health inequalities and support approaches to help reduce the risks of reoffending.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

• Working in a Health and Justice (H&J) Outreach service within Sussex, dependent on skills and service need.
• Delivering a high quality clinical service to patients and their families.
• Managing complex assessments in the Outreach service, and possible in custody and courts.
• Responsible for clinical and caseload supervision of other team members where identified.
• The post holder will be responsible for providing the practitioner process in Health and Justice.
• Diverting and liaising with multiple criminal justice agencies, police and other partners.
• Identify, assess and refer people of all ages with a wide range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and/or social vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the youth and adult criminal justice systems on suspicion of having committed a crime.
• When a person is assessed as having single or multiple vulnerabilities, they will be referred to the appropriate treatment or support service and an appropriate package of care and/or support will be instigated.
• Accurate, timely information on the person will be shared with police and the courts (with an individuals consent where necessary) to ensure that any charging, sentencing or disposal decisions are based upon an authoritative assessment of their mental health, any learning disability and whether they have a substance misuse issue.
• Health and Justice services support the most appropriate outcome for those individuals. For many this contact with criminal justice agencies will be the first time they will have been assessed and diagnosed.

Qualifications & Training

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disability Nurse/General Nurse on NMC Register.
• Registered Social Worker.
• Post-registration experience, evidence of formal courses and training at diploma/degree level.

Experience

• Experience of working with Clients who have difficulty in engaging with services and have complex mental health needs.

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust