Job summary

Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion Practitioner - Southampton and Basingstoke

We're looking for a qualified mental health nurse, Learning Disabilities nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker to join our Hampshire Liaison and Diversion team. You will have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion and a passion about supporting our service users as they make their way through police custody, court and up to prison.

We are a dynamic, people-centred team who are looking for some who is passionate about health outcomes for those making their way through the criminal justice system.

With a reputation for excellence, our service is committed to improving the health of our clients, identifying care pathways, and reducing reoffending.

Recognised with a number of awards, including a Thames Valley/Hampshire Constabulary Police Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.

We value our employees and put people first. We achieved an 'Outstanding' rating overall in our latest CQC inspection, which found that: 'Managers across Berkshire Healthcare promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.'

Main duties of the job

About the Job

• To attend police custody suites and magistrates' courts and provide assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential health vulnerability has been identified.
• To provide the police and court with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and probation acting as a single point of contact for health
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.

Working pattern + Service operating hours

• Our service operates in police custody from 9am - 9pm, 7 days a week using a combination of early shifts, late shifts and long days. Our service does not operate at night. Any request for specific working patterns can be considered In line with our flexible working policy.

About us

Some of the benefits of joining our team:

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
• Annual leave - 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff
• We are pioneers in compassionate leadership and Quality Improvement, which is about creating a culture where everyone has a voice and where service users and staff collaborate to have a direct impact on the things that matter most
• Working in a passionate team, you will have access to our Trust-wide learning and development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth. We encourage opportunities to help you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio, enabling you to extend your skills and ensure that you excel.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for a new car
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
• Confidential telephone care service providing independent support and advice for staff.
• And so much more

Work base:

You will work from within police custody suites within Southampton and across Hampshire.

Parking:

Parking is provided for staff at all sites.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The 3 must haves for you to be considered for this role:

A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work along with relevant registration

At least 18months post registration experience

Licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to multiple sites across Hampshire as required.

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A professional qualification at diploma, post graduate & degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapist , Social Work, Psychological Therapist or Health Visitor with the necessary experience
• Hold current registration with pertinent body (RMN, SW, SALT, OT, BPS)
• Evidence of post registration training and development
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.

Professional Development

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
• Further evidence of professional development and training
• Take responsibility for your own learning and be willing to continuously learn and grow, reflecting on own practice and encouraging others to develop their practice, actively using research to influence and change practice.
• Assess personal strengths and areas for development, identify own learning goals, identify, access and make use of relevant learning resources and opportunities, plan and achieve your learning goals

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting.
• Experience of undertaking Initial Findings Reports, fact finding exercises and associated report writing
• Experience of analysing and collating complex information from a range of sources and communicating this effectively to multiple partners and stakeholders
• Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans taking into account health and criminal justice outcomes
• Ability to work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work as part a team understand dynamics & leadership

Desirable

• Experience of operating across Criminal Justice & Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
• Ability to think creatively and problem solve
• Ability to work as part a team understand dynamics & leadership

Skills

Essential

• An ability to work under pressure across multiple systems such as Criminal Justice & Health
• Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.
• Ability to plan and organise a range of complex clinical activities which require judgements to be made on competing factors
• Collaborative approach to client care
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations
• Ability to work effectively with service users and carers in a collaborative manner

Desirable

• Understanding of the theories underpinning the concept of recovery and the wider determinants of health

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Responsible for data entry with occasional requirements to generate reports, analyse data and identify trends
• Professional in approach, manner and appearance.
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
• Ability to travel efficiently to multiple sites

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

371-MHW868-C