Senior Practitioner for the Crown Court

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An opportunity at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for a Senior Practitioner in the Criminal Justice Mental Health Service. The role includes conducting mental health assessments, providing support in court environments, and collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach to mental health in the criminal justice system. This position, which runs for 12 months, offers a competitive salary and a chance to work within a leading mental health organization.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or equivalent with evidence of post-basic study.
• Experience in Mental Health services, particularly crisis management.
• Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the criminal justice system.

Responsibilities

• Provide Liaison and Diversion service at Crown Court sites.
• Collaborate with Health, Social Services, and Criminal Justice System.
• Enhance relationships within Criminal Justice services.

Skills

Crisis management

Conflict management

De-escalation techniques

Mental health assessment

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Degree or Diploma Level Nursing

Job description

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Practitioner for the Crown Court

The closing date is 29 June 2025

The Criminal Justice Mental Health Service (CJMHS) is a Liaison and Diversion service providing a proactive assessment, liaison and diversion service in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates' Courts within the catchment of the South London and Maudsley. Our Liaison and Diversion service provides a service to Brixton Police Station, Walworth Road Police Station, Lewisham Police station, Croydon Custody suite (Windmill Road) and also provides a service to Croydon Magistrates Court. We have an office based on the Lambeth Hospital site.

A more recent development has seen the service expand into the Crown Court with Liaison and Diversion services now provided at Inner London Crown Court and at Croydon Crown Court and coming soon to Southwark Crown Court.

Liaison and Diversion services are responsible for providing a proactive mental health screening assessment for detained persons. Where detained persons are identified who require further assessment and intervention they will provide it or ensure appropriate referrals are made. The service will cover all vulnerabilities and all ages. The post holder will be part of an established liaison and diversion service, working in partnership with the health sector, social services and the criminal justice system primarily focusing on the Crown Court.

Main duties of the job

Enhancing and developing relationships within Criminal Justice Services and building strong links between Health, Social Services and the Criminal Justice System itself is an essential role of the post holder. You will work in a collaborative way with Liaison and Diversion colleagues, local community Mental Health Services and other statutory/non-statutory agencies ensuring a high quality liaison and diversion service is provided to individuals.

To promote continuity of service across all locations, to provide a flexible service to our stakeholders, or as part of an extended induction programme into Liaison and Diversion, successful candidates may be rostered to work across all of the previously mentioned locations and this may include some shift or weekend work.

Predominantly, the candidate will be based at one or more of the crown court sites where the service operates Mon-Fri between the hours of 9 am and 5pm.

Provide a Liaison and Diversion service at Southwark Crown Court up to 3 days a week.Provide support to Crown Court practitioners at other locations

Support information sharing between other parts of Liaison and Diversion and courts including Magistrates Court on Saturdays (pilot).

About us

About South London and Maudsley:

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community.

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (Part 3 or Part 13 of NMC register) or equivalent* and evidence of post-basic study. (*RMN CQSW, OT, DipSW British Psychology Society registered Psychologists**) (AI) ** For Registered Psychologists, candidates must currently be a member of a suitable sub-domain of the British Psychology Society having completed a Masters in Forensic or Criminal Psychology. (A)
• ENB 998 or equivalent teaching and assessing qualification. (A) Educated to Degree or Diploma Level Nursing; substantial evidence of ongoing education and other courses relevant to Forensic and Liaison Psychiatry to Masters Level or equivalent (A)

Experience

• Demonstrable experience working in MH services, particularly in crisis management services with acutely unwell people (A+E liaison, CMHT, Home Treatment, for example). (AI)
• Prior experience of working with Mentally Disordered Offenders and the Criminal Justice System including Liaison and Diversion experience (AI)
• Evidence of autonomous working and/or shift coordination (AI)
• Demonstrable evidence of risk assessment/management. (AI)
• Experience of conflict management and resolution. (AI)
• Demonstrable working knowledge and understanding of Mental Capacity Act (2005) (AI)

Knoweldge and Skills

• Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.
• Have knowledge and skills to work with specialist groups of people, including young people, people with dual diagnoses and personality disorder (AI).
• Knowledge of the needs of Mentally Disordered Offenders
• Working knowledge of the criminal justice system, Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the PACE Codes of Practice 2004

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.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Criminal Justice Mental Health Service (NHS)

£54,320 to £60,981 a yearper annum and inc of Inner London HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-7222668-LF-A

Job locations

Criminal Justice Mental Health Service (NHS)