Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner
The closing date is 31 October 2025
Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify clients who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
The role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner involves working with a wide range of services such as the police, probation, the court and legal services as well as both inpatient and community health and social care services. Our work includes unsocial hours on weekday evenings, weekends and bank holidays. This post will cover Wembley police custody suite and Willesden Magistrate's Court.
The service will cover all ages and vulnerabilities, including youths in police custody.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work under the remit of the Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Services providing a proactive assessment, liaison and diversion service in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates' Courts in the area.
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 local community Mental Health Services, and other statutory/non‑statutory agencies ensuring a high quality liaison and diversion service is provided to individuals.
About us
Please note: Candidates will need to submit an application for Metropolitan Police vetting clearance and have it approved before a contract can be agreed. The following is guidance we have from the Metropolitan Police regarding vetting which you should take into consideration before you complete an application:
* Non‑declaration of criminal convictions or Police involvement;
* I.E investigations even if no further action, warnings, cautions (No matter how old)
* County court judgements
* Less than 3-year Residency
* Defaults - No debt management plans in place.
* Convictions which resulted in imprisonment or suspended sentence
Vetting applications will be returned if any of the details are omitted.
ALL family members, partners, co‑residents and parents' partners must be provided.
* Address history must run 5 years straight.
Job responsibilities
To act as an autonomous practitioner in court and police detention cells. The post holder will also be expected to assess an individuals mental state and risk and within the context of the alleged offence and the criminal justice system, implement a care pathway for each individual.
The post holder will maintain a presence on the site they are working for the duration of their shift in order to be able to respond to referrals in a timely manner. It is the post holders responsibility to check regularly if there is anyone to be seen in custody. If there is a need to leave the police custody suite, the post holder must leave a contact number with the custody staff and respond to calls.
In the absence of the youth justice liaison and diversion worker, the post holder will be expected to screen any youths in police custody during their shift in police stations. This will involve engaging with the young person and at times their guardians and depending on the screening outcomes, may involve making onward referrals including safeguarding, youth offending teams and CAMHS.
To undertake a full mental state assessment, risk assessment, and gather a background history for individuals with a variety of needs. These would include those with a serious mental illness or personality disorder and associated learning, social, personal, dependency and substance misuse issues who are in police custody suites and court detention.
The post holder will consider the appropriateness of a MHTR (mental health treatment requirement) and will screen and liaise accordingly.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Qualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with current registration with the relevant professional body
* Substantial evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.
Previous Experience
* Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency team.
* Post‑registration experience, which is experience of working in a community or forensic psychiatric setting at Band 6 or equivalent or above.
* Experience of crisis work and risk assessment.
* Experience of working in forensic psychiatry.
* Experience of the assessment of clients with drug/alcohol related problems and clients with a history of transience or homelessness.
* Experience in Liaison and Diversion.
Skills and knowledge
* Effective written and verbal communication skills.
* The ability to make comprehensive psycho‑social assessments and good report writing skills.
* Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency team.
* Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need.
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.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wembley Police Custody and Willesden Magistrates Court
£53,751 to £60,651 a year, per annum incl. HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
333-D-HJ-1907
Job locations
Wembley Police Custody and Willesden Magistrates Court
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