Senior Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Guildford is seeking a Senior Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to assess vulnerable individuals and provide clinical expertise in support of mental health outcomes. The ideal candidate must be a registered mental health professional with collaborative skills, and be willing to work primarily in police custody and court environments. The role offers a salary of £40,617 to £48,778 per annum, pro rata, along with opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Strong advocate for vulnerable individuals.
• Ability to work in police custody and court environments.
• Preparedness for enhanced DBS and Sussex Police clearance.

Responsibilities

• Assess vulnerable individuals for mental health needs.
• Develop clear care plans and risk management plans.
• Provide clinical expertise to support police and court decisions.

Skills

Registered Mental Health Professional

Clinical Expertise

Organizational Skills

Collaborative Work

Education

Professional Qualification as RMN

Membership of a professional body NMC

Driving License suitable for use in the UK

Job description

Overview

Senior Liaison and Diversion Practitioner – Surrey Liaison and Diversion Service is seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated, registered mental health professional to join our team.

The closing date is 10 October 2025

We support those who have come into contact with the youth and criminal justice system with a caring, compassionate, person-centred approach. We support all ages from 10 and provide high quality community-based interventions to improve health and social care outcomes and reduce future re-offending.

You will be a strong advocate and work collaboratively with Mental Health Services, Drug and Alcohol Services, Social Care, Probation, Prison Healthcare, Court and Custody colleagues to achieve positive outcomes.

This role requires you to provide clinical expertise, be organised and efficient. The role will be based within police custody or Surrey Courts for the majority of time. Full driving licence is required. Police custody suites are located in Staines, Guildford and Salfords. Our service operates shifts 07:00 - 19:00.

Main duties of the job

You will assess vulnerable individuals focusing on health, social circumstances and risk information as part of vulnerability and Mental Health Assessments. These will cover mental health concerns, substance misuse, learning disabilities, from which you will develop clear care plans and risk management plans to promote safe onward care of vulnerable people as they leave police custody, whether they are remanded to a court or prison, or are returning to the community.

You will also provide clinical expertise to the Liaison and Diversion Team, Surrey Police and associated teams and peers. Your assessments and supportive plans will support police and court decision making and respond to the assessed person’s needs appropriately.

If you are keen to learn and grow your skills in clinical excellence, by making a real difference to a person’s life, within a fast paced, rapidly growing team, this may be the role for you.

This role requires both enhanced DBS clearance and Sussex Police clearances (NPPV level 2), which we will assist the successful candidate to apply for. Essential criteria for clearance: UK resident for over 3 years.

Our Liaison and Diversion Service is committed to developing our Practitioners by encouraging and providing opportunities for Continued Professional Development, participation in Quality Improvement initiatives and driving clinical excellence.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached document for the job description and for a detailed overview of the main responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Professional Qualification as RMN (Mental health)
• Membership of a professional body NMC
• Driving License suitable for use in the United Kingdom

Experience

• Evidence of post qualification study
• 12 months post qualification experience in a mental health setting
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act including sections relevant to forensic mental health
• Have sound knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act

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.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

£40,617 to £48,778 a year Incl 5% Fringe HCAS, pa, pro rata