Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Liaison & Diversion Practitioner

The closing date is 18 January 2026

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 allied health professional to work as an integrated part of the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team in Northamptonshire.

This role has multiple bases including Criminal Justice Centre Brackmills, Weekly Wood Justice Centre Kettering, Northamptonshire Courts and county wide community setting.

The role of the Liaison & Diversion Practitioner is to work in partnership with Police, Probation, His Majesties Court and Tribunal Service and Third Sector organisations in the screening and assessment of offenders pre and post charge in Police Custody, Magistrates Courts and other Criminal Justice locations.

The Liaison & Diversion Service is an all age, all vulnerability model and will screen identified individuals and advise partner agencies on their needs and the potential impact on their offending behaviour to help identify appropriate custodial or alternative to custody options. The practitioner will demonstrate an understanding of mental health assessments and the health needs of offenders and will work closely alongside partner agencies to promote the safety and the well- being of offenders, their families/carers and the wider public. The post holder will assess and, where appropriate, refer to Primary and/or Secondary and/or Third Sector organisations based on any identified need alongside providing advice and support to the criminal justice process.

Main duties of the job

Provide under guidance initial assessments of suspects or offenders to identify present needs, and refer to other pathways dependant on presenting vulnerability.

Work collaboratively with local services and agencies to conduct detailed assessments of appropriate referrals with a focus on offending behaviour, risk of harm to others and related issues and needs.

Undertake under guidance comprehensive assessment of client's individual needs and strengths to obtain and record all relevant information about their physical health, substance misuse, learning disability, mental health, their social and personal circumstances, their care service histories and current needs and problems.

Utilising agreed tools and processes, undertake risk assessments in relation to offending behaviours including taking a lead role in facilitating the assessment process and providing specialist support regarding risk decision making and risk management planning.

Demonstrate specialist knowledge across a range of procedures underpinned by theory.

Develop, monitor and review plans to meet identified needs.

Deploy a range of strategies using evidence based psychosocial interventions for individuals that is time limited, with a focus on reducing and managing offending behaviour and risk of harm to others.

To assess needs and requirement in housing, occupation and benefits with knowledge of appropriate support agencies.

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools.We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

270-TG636-MH

Job locations

Newland House

Campbell Square

Northampton

NN1 3EB


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Holds a relevant registration for this post

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with those with highly complex health and social care needs.
  • Experience of working with service users in crisis
  • Experience of working with multiple agencies in the community

Desirable

  • Experience of working within community setting
  • Willingness to undertake ASYE year as part of the role if available
  • Experience of working in the criminal justice system
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Holds a relevant registration for this post

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with those with highly complex health and social care needs.
  • Experience of working with service users in crisis
  • Experience of working with multiple agencies in the community

Desirable

  • Experience of working within community setting
  • Willingness to undertake ASYE year as part of the role if available
  • Experience of working in the criminal justice system

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Newland House

Campbell Square

Northampton

NN1 3EB


Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Newland House

Campbell Square

Northampton

NN1 3EB


Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader

Rachael Blundred

rachael.blundred@nhft.nhs.uk

03000270677

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

270-TG636-MH

Job locations

Newland House

Campbell Square

Northampton

NN1 3EB


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