Job overview
Are you an experienced, highly motivated mental health practitioner and who is passionate about improving health outcomes for those within the Criminal Justice system? Do you want to be part of a well-established and highly reputable service within the Trust? Do you have excellent communication skills and an ability to build strong, robust relationships with others?
If you think that this is you, your enthusiastic and committed, then our friendly team is for you.
We now can offer an exciting secondment opportunity (0.4 WTE) for Band 7 Magistrates Court Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to join our well-established Liaison and Diversion Service in West London. Due to internal recruitment and restructuring, this post will become vacant March 2026, and this will be based at Ealing Magistrates Court, which serves a large diverse borough within the West London area. The secondment will cover the post whilst we recruit into it on a permanent basis.
The Magistrates Court L&D Practitioner will sit within a wider Liaison and Diversion service in West London NHS Trust, forensic community services, including Court Diversion at Isleworth Crown Court, Westminster Magistrates Court, Police custody in Acton and Hammersmith stations and Youth Justice Tri Borough. 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 focusing on the Crown Court.
We are looking for suitably experienced mental health professionals rather than one particular discipline. We are interested in hearing from mental health/Learning disability nurses, social workers, clinical/forensic psychologists or occupational therapists. Speech and Language also welcome, if you have considerable mental health experience.
Main duties of the job
This scheme, commissioned by NHS England operate to a standard model and similar schemes are now available in every part of the country. It is an all-age service and all women and people under the age of 18 are screened as mandatory due to their vulnerability within the system. The Liaison and Diversion service provides proactive case identification, screening, assessment, liaison and diversion in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates’ Courts within the catchment of the West London. Liaison and Diversion services are responsible for providing 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 post holder will:
·To provide a specialist service to the Magistrate’s Court in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team.
·Assist the court in providing up to date information on a defendant’s mental health.
·Offer a single referral/contact point for all stakeholders, inside and outside the court in any court process when mental health issues arise such as to prisons.
You will need excellent communication and risk management skills and demonstrate a commitment to close partnership working with the Court staff, prisons and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary.
The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the relevant Mental Health legislation.
Working for our organisation
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 three London boroughs (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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered on the NMC (Registered MH nurse) and/or HCPC, Social work England (with evidence of further education).
2. Degree/masters in relevant clinical/professional subject.
3. Substantial/meaningful evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training
Desirable criteria
4. Post-registration qualification in mental health.
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team
6. Experience at Band 6 or above for at least two years
7. Experience of working within Liaison and Diversion service or another criminal justice setting or acute setting
8. Experience of conflict management and resolution.
Desirable criteria
9. Experience of service development
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
11. Familiarity with research, reports and publications relevant to liaison and diversion.
12. Understanding of Clinical Governance.
Desirable criteria
13. Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System
14. Awareness of health issues relating to dual diagnosis, homelessness
Skills
Essential criteria
15. Ability to communicate effectively (including being able to provide oral and written reports)
16. Ability to negotiate and form effective partnerships.
17. Ability to work in partnership with other agencies including the voluntary sector
18. Assessment skills, including an understanding of risk assessments, mental state examinations and comprehensive health and social care assessments
19. Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach which considers the needs of the whole person
20. Ability to use information technology systems in order to carry out duties
21. Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills.
Desirable criteria
22. Ability to provide training sessions that meets the needs of the service and affiliated stakeholders
Other requirements
Essential criteria
23. Enthusiasm and commitment.
24. Professional in approach, manner and appearance
25. Ability to work under pressure
26. Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations