A Liaison and Diversion Practitioner post with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, funded through the NHS England programme and covering Willesden Magistrates Court and Wembley Police Custody Suite. The practitioner screens and assesses people in police custody and court cells for mental health, learning disability and substance misuse needs, then refers them on to appropriate care. Shifts include weekday evenings, weekends and bank holidays, with the post holder staying on site throughout. Metropolitan Police vetting must be approved before any contract is agreed.
What the job involves
- Act autonomously as a practitioner in court and police detention cells
- Assess mental state, risk and background history for people with serious mental illness, personality disorder and associated needs
- Implement a care pathway for each individual, within the context of the alleged offence and the criminal justice system
- Stay on site for the full shift to respond to referrals promptly
- Check regularly for people to be seen in custody; if leaving the suite, leave a contact number with custody staff and respond to calls
- Screen young people in police custody when the youth liaison and diversion worker is absent, engaging with them and their guardians
- Make onward referrals, including safeguarding, youth offending teams and CAMHS, based on screening outcomes
- Work with police, probation, court, legal and health and social care services
- Prepare accurate written reports following assessment, in line with quality standards
What's required
Qualifications
- Qualified registered mental nurse, mental health social worker or occupational therapist
- Substantial continuing professional development and post-registration training
Registration & licences
- Current registration as a mental nurse (NMC), mental health social worker (Social Work England) or occupational therapist (HCPC)
Experience
- Working in a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team
- Post-registration experience in a community or forensic psychiatric setting at Band 6 or above, or equivalent
- Crisis work and risk assessment
- Networking and liaison experience
Skills & knowledge
- Effective written and verbal communication, with good report writing
- Comprehensive psycho-social assessment
- Sound and safe risk assessment
- Time management and organisation, working independently with minimal supervision
Checks & eligibility
- Metropolitan Police vetting approved before contract, with full declaration of convictions and police involvement, including cautions and warnings
- Five-year unbroken address history, with all family members, partners, co-residents and parents' partners listed
- No county court judgements, or debt defaults without a debt management plan
- At least three years' residency
Other
- Treating service users with respect, dignity and cultural sensitivity, building relationships with warmth and empathy
Nice to have
- Post-registration qualification in forensic mental health
- Experience of working in forensic psychiatry
- Experience of assessing clients with drug or alcohol problems, or with a history of transience or homelessness
- Experience in Liaison and Diversion
- Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need
- Knowledge of current legislation on community mental health provision and forensic psychiatry
- Knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and PACE Codes of Practice
- Ability to promote service users' involvement
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
