Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion team at a leading trust, where you will make a significant impact on vulnerable individuals navigating the criminal justice system. The role requires a professional mental health qualification and substantial experience, engaging in early interventions and support that improves health outcomes and reduces re-offending.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing a busy caseload of clients with mental health problems.
• Experience in community mental health setting, statutory or voluntary sector.
• Ability to assess and coordinate care including physical health and substance misuse.

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely triage assessments and support individuals in the criminal justice process.
• Engage with individuals of various ages facing complex needs.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-agency environment.

Skills

Understanding of Mental Health Act

Knowledge of Criminal Justice System

Community Structures Awareness

Education

Professional mental health qualification

Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism

Job description

Location: Exeter, EX27RY&Barnstaple, EX312AS
Salary: £37338.00 to £44962.00
Date posted: 19th June 2025
Closing date: 6th July 2025

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable people at a critical point in their journey? Join our dynamic and expanding Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion (L&D) team unique, fast-paced service at the frontline of the criminal justice system.

Unlike traditional community mental health roles, this position offers the opportunity to intervene early right at the point when individuals are first brought into custody. You will conduct timely triage assessments and provide crucial support and signposting to people navigating the criminal justice system, working with them until an appropriate outcome is reached.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you will engage with individuals of all ages and with a wide range of complex needs, including mental health issues, learning disabilities, substance misuse, homelessness, and social vulnerability. Your work will be instrumental in improving health outcomes, reducing risk, and preventing re-offending creating real and lasting change.

Rather than care coordination, this role calls for skilled professionals who can think on their feet, work collaboratively, and make a measurable impact through innovative and person-centred practice.

Main duties of the job

The role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner is mainly based in police custody, however some work in the court and community is undertaken. There is an expectation that the post holder be able to travel to cover other custodies where required. The base for this post will be either Barnstaple or Exeter depending on where the post holder lives.

You will often work under pressure and without direct supervision, so we are looking for someone confident and capable, With experience of working in the community. You will prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload, providing support for your colleagues where required.

Youwill work as part of a multi-agency team, working within probation, alongsidethe police and Criminal Justice Professionals. Undertake effective psycho-socialassessments, and brief targeted interventions for people coming into contactwith Criminal Justice through probation, police custody and courts. Individuals with offending histories, combined with a wide range of mental health and social problems, who mayalsohave co-existing complex needs including homelessness, substance misuse,significant risk to self or others, are socially excluded, and who at times maypresent with extremely challenging behaviours.Signposting to other agencies and supporting these individuals throughthe criminal justice process.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

• An understanding of the NSF and Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
• Understanding of the Criminal Justice System and potential challenges offenders presenting with mental health issues have in accessing mental health services and the impact this has on the individual and society.
• Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.

Experience

• Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
• Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
• Ability to assess and co-ordinate care that includes physical health, Learning Disability, substance misuse presentations (adults and young people).
• Providing clinical supervision.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
• Participation in user involvement in services.
• Experience of working with young people

Qualifications

• A professional mental health qualification eg RMN, Social Work Degree or equivalent, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, ENB 811/812 or CPN Degree
• Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism.
• Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff

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.