Police Custody L&D Practitioner

West London Mental Health Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent mental health service provider is seeking a full-time Band 6 Police Liaison and Diversion Practitioner in Greater London. The role focuses on assessing individuals within police custody, requiring a strong background in mental health, social work, or related fields. Candidates should be capable of working independently under pressure and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to diverse boroughs in West London and further develop clinical skills.

Qualifications

• Significant mental health experience required.
• Direct experience with crisis pathways and risk management is essential.
• Working knowledge of vulnerable young people and adults in various settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe custody and administration of medication.
• Proactively identify and assess individuals in Police custody.
• Provide advice and information to custody staff on mental state and risk.

Skills

Experience in mental health (nursing, social work, occupational therapy)

Knowledge of crisis pathways and risk management

Ability to work independently under pressure

Job description

We now have an exciting opportunity to recruit one full time Band 6 Police Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to join our well established and progressive team working in MET police custody suites, Acton and Hammersmith. These custody suites serve large diverse boroughs within the West London area and can be busy and at times unpredictable, with everyday being different and an opportunity to develop your clinical skills/knowledge and experience.

The Police Liaison teams sit within a wider Liaison and Diversion service in West London NHS Trust, including Court Diversion at Westminster, Ealing Magistrates, Isleworth Crown Court and Youth Justice.

We are looking for suitably experienced mental health professionals rather than one particular discipline. We are interested in hearing from mental health nurses, social workers or occupational therapists, who have an interest in the Criminal Justice System and offending. We would also like to hear from Speech and Language professionals with significant mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Safe custody of medication, including checking and administration.
• Proactive case identification, screening and assessment of individuals within Police custody.
• Identifying needs/vulnerabilities, signposting to other services and, where indicated, diverting to health.
• Gathering collateral information and performing mental state and risk assessment, while offering advice/information to custody staff.
• Primarily screening those over 18, with occasional assessment of children and young people if the Youth team is not available.

This scheme, commissioned by NHS England, operates to a standard model and is now available in every part of the country. It is an all-age service; all women and people under the age of 18 are screened as mandatory due to their vulnerability within the system.

The service needs practitioners who can think quickly and work largely independently (with limited/some supervision) under pressure when screening and assessing vulnerable people in police custody, often with high levels of complexity. This is a non-health care setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health (nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or speech and language) with significant mental health experience.
• Knowledge and direct experience of crisis pathways and risk management to a high standard.
• Previous experience working with vulnerable young people and adults within acute, community and/or forensic settings.
• Ability to think quickly and work largely independently under pressure in a non-health care setting.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham. We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m. The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached. The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

This advert closes on Monday 26 Jan 2026.