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. Successful candidates will need to have excellent communication skills as well as the flexibility to work alongside these different groups. Candidates will need to be able to work effectively as part of a team as well as having the skills and confidence to work autonomously in a range of environments. Supervision and consultation are available to the team to support practice.

This post will cover both Willesden Magistrates Court, Colindale Police Custody and Wembley Police Custody Suite.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

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.

The service will cover all ages and vulnerabilities, including youths in police custody. The post holder will be part of an established liaison and diversion service and work in partnership with health, social services and the criminal justice system, to ensure that individuals presenting with mental health problems or other vulnerabilities can have their needs addressed and be diverted into appropriate health care services as necessary.

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.

Unsocial working hours will be required for this post. Shifts will be based on a 7 day rota which all practitioners are expected to participate in. The post holder may on occasions be required to work across sites on any given day in order to ensure the service is covered.

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 for this post:

Common failures

• 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 description 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.
• 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.
• To prepare accurate written reports following assessment in line with quality standards

Person Specification Previous Experience Essential

• oExperience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team.
• oExtensive post-registration experience, plus experience of working in a community or forensic psychiatric setting at Band 6 or equivalent or above.
• oExperience of crisis work and risk assessment.

Education and Qualifications Essential

• oQualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with current registration with the relevant professional body
• oSubstantial evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.

Desirable

• oPost registration qualification in forensic mental health.

Skills and knowledge Essential

• oEffective written and verbal communication skills.
• oThe ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments and good report writing skills.
• oAbility to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team.

Desirable

• oSkills in assessing people with forensic history or need.

Previous experience Desirable

• 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 Essential

• Ability to make sound and safe risk assessments
• Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills
• Evidence of effective networking and liaison experience
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of current legislation relating to community mental health provision and forensic psychiatry
• Knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1884 and PACE Codes of Practice 2004
• Ability to promote users' involvement
• Experience of working with vulnerable children and young persons

Other Essential

• The post-holder must have the ability to understand and implement the Equal Opportunities Policy at a level appropriate to the job.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

333-D-HJ-1227-B