Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner
Job overview
Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion Practitioner – Southampton
We’re looking for a qualified mental health nurse, Learning Disabilities nurse, Occupational Therapist, Health visitor 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’.
Main duties of 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 for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust site
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Health Visitor or Social Work along with the relevant registration.
- At least 18 months post registration experience.
- Driving licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Hampshire as required
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Clinical and Operational Lead Jess Hillman on 0300 123 5066 or email: [email protected] who will be delighted to help. You can find out more about the service on our website.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria- A professional qualification at diploma, post graduate & degree level in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapist, Social Work, Psychological Therapist, Learning Disability Nurse, or health visitor status.
- Hold current registration with pertinent body (NMC, SW, SALT, HCPC)
- Evidence of post registration training and development
- Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria- Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
- 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
- Further evidence of professional development and training
Previous Experience
Essential criteria- Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community setting
- Experience of undertaking Initial Findings Reports, fact finding exercises and associated report writing
- 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 create and facilitate training and learning events
- Experience of analysing and collating complex information from a range of sources and communicating this effectively to multiple partners and stakeholders
- Ability to think creatively and problem solve
- Experience of operating across Criminal Justice & Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
- Ability to work as part a team understand dynamics & leadership
- Have knowledge and skills to work with specialist groups of people, including young people, people with dual diagnoses and personality disorder
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria- 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
- Understanding of the theories underpinning the concept of recovery and the wider determinants of health
- Knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the PACE Codes of Practice 2004
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria- 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
- Responsible for data entry with occasional requirements to generate reports, analyse data and identify trends
These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.
At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.
Watch our careers video to learn more.
We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.
Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.
If you need help with your application, please contact us on [email protected]
Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement.
No agencies, please.