Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Liaison Clinical Practitioner

The closing date is 23 November 2025

Job summary

Post holder will be expected to work in the London Women's Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) service; a pan-London service that has developed to reduce short-term custodial sentences and improve the wellbeing of women in the criminal justice system with mental health needs. MHTRs were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act in 2003, recognising that for many individuals who offend mental health and substance misuse issues underpin their offending behaviour. They are one of three Treatment Requirements available to the court at sentencing. Treatment requirements offer courts an alternative to short custodial sentences and aim to prevent reoffending by addressing underlying vulnerabilities and improving quality of life. This service aims to increase the use of MHTRs specifically as part of a community order or suspended sentence order. The MHTR Service will also provide the courts with information and confidence to sentence to robust and effective treatment requirements.

The service is comprised of two services: the well-established primary care MHTR service and the pilot secondary care MHTR service. This post will sit within the main MHTR team although the work will be focused within the pilot secondary care service. London is one of three pilot sites across England, which have been commissioned to pilot an MHTR pathway into secondary care services.

***Sponsorship Information for this post: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post***

Main duties of the job

This is a newly developed role, supporting the team with liaison with secondary care services to secure MHTRs that are held by the secondary care team.

The post holder will be responsible for receiving referrals from court liaison and diversion teams, court-based probation teams and practitioners from the women's primary care MHTR team, for women who may be eligible for MHTR within secondary care mental health services. It will be the role of the post holder to take on the task of negotiating a care pathway for women into secondary care services by liaising with the relevant clinical teams in collaboration with the consultant clinical psychologist for the service. The post holder will also be responsible for working within local safeguarding policies and procedures and the role will involve some liaison with aligned community partner agencies, including Women's Centres. There will be opportunity to link with professionals doing similar work in other parts of the UK. The post holder will be required to collect and submit data, in order to contribute to an assessment of the effectiveness of the secondary care MHTR pilot. There will also be some outreach activity linked to raising awareness of MHTR for secondary care clinicians and members of the judiciary. The post holder may be required to be involved with data collection and assessments with service users as required.

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

  • We're Kind
  • We're Fair
  • We Listen
  • We Care

Details

Date posted

19 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£46,419 to £55,046 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

277-7566412-LPP

Job locations

LLP

7 Holyrood Street

London

SE1 2EL


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To contribute to the formulation and implementation of plans for the treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems under the secondary care MHTR in collaboration with secondary care service providers and probation.

To evaluate and make decisions about the available treatment options for women who present at court who have current and / or pre-existing mental health problems.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, onward referral and discharge of clients whose problems meet criteria for secondary care mental health services.

To provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation and treatment plan.

To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies.

To contribute to risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

Where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans including clients, probation practitioners, secondary mental health service providers, referring agents and others involved the network of care.

To hold a small caseload where required.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, using a trauma-informed and gender sensitive approach, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multidisciplinary care.

Research

To contribute to the Secondary Care MHTR Evaluation as required.

To gather data on success of securing secondary care MHTRs, including trusts and services that have agreed.

Develop professional skills in research, service evaluation, outcome measures and audit, and contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the services operational policies and procedures

Record and report personally generated audit and research information, and data relating to own clinical and non-clinical activity

Enter clinical and audit/research information as required into local and Trust information systems

Leadership

To support MHTR practitioners in screening cases which might be suitable for secondary care MHTR.

To take a lead in implementing the Secondary Care MHTR pathway across London in partnership with MHTR Clinical Leads, LPP leads and commissioners involved with the pilot.

Draw on a broad theoretical knowledge to develop and support the skills of assistant psychologists, and other non-psychology staff through developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision.

Identify and propose changes to work practices and procedures in own area of work, and contribute to discussions relating to MHTR service issues

Communication

To provide both training and awareness raising sessions about the use of MHTR to probation officers, members of the judiciary and secondary care mental health service professionals as indicated.

To contribute to the written service model, service policies and protocols.

Develop and maintain knowledge of local resources and relationships with relevant statutory, voluntary and community groups and organisations

Administration

To monitor referrals for MHTR and report through a monthly data capture.

To monitor attendance and adherence to MHTR once offered in collaboration with probation practitioners.

To monitor, record and report on clinical and other activities as required

Responsible for organising own day to day activities, and planning and prioritising own clinical workload

Responsible for managing own waiting lists and patterns of service user attendance in consultation with line management

Receive and send emails, and use the internet to access information relevant to professional practice and research

Use agreed platforms for video-conferencing and remote working

Professional Issues

To advise supervisor and MHTR Clinical Leads of areas of need arising within own area of work

Develop and maintain the highest professional standards of practice by continuing to gain additional post-qualification experience and skills; by participating in regular clinical and professional supervision and appraisal; by active participation in internal and external CPD activities; and by updating knowledge of current developments in own field and related disciplines, through a personal development plan agreed with line manager

Develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision

Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to forensic and general mental health services and the criminal justice system.

Develop, maintain and use knowledge and understanding of the work and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network, including knowledge of medication and physical health issues, education, vocational training, employment, and social care systems

Maintain the highest standards of record-keeping including electronic data-entry and recording, report writing, and dissemination of relevant information appropriately to other professionals

To implement Trust, directorate and LPP policies and procedures

Utilise theory, literature on evidence-based practice and research to support evidence based practice in own work and work with other members of the team or department

Physical Skills

None

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

None

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To contribute to the formulation and implementation of plans for the treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems under the secondary care MHTR in collaboration with secondary care service providers and probation.

To evaluate and make decisions about the available treatment options for women who present at court who have current and / or pre-existing mental health problems.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, onward referral and discharge of clients whose problems meet criteria for secondary care mental health services.

To provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation and treatment plan.

To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies.

To contribute to risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

Where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans including clients, probation practitioners, secondary mental health service providers, referring agents and others involved the network of care.

To hold a small caseload where required.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, using a trauma-informed and gender sensitive approach, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multidisciplinary care.

Research

To contribute to the Secondary Care MHTR Evaluation as required.

To gather data on success of securing secondary care MHTRs, including trusts and services that have agreed.

Develop professional skills in research, service evaluation, outcome measures and audit, and contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the services operational policies and procedures

Record and report personally generated audit and research information, and data relating to own clinical and non-clinical activity

Enter clinical and audit/research information as required into local and Trust information systems

Leadership

To support MHTR practitioners in screening cases which might be suitable for secondary care MHTR.

To take a lead in implementing the Secondary Care MHTR pathway across London in partnership with MHTR Clinical Leads, LPP leads and commissioners involved with the pilot.

Draw on a broad theoretical knowledge to develop and support the skills of assistant psychologists, and other non-psychology staff through developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision.

Identify and propose changes to work practices and procedures in own area of work, and contribute to discussions relating to MHTR service issues

Communication

To provide both training and awareness raising sessions about the use of MHTR to probation officers, members of the judiciary and secondary care mental health service professionals as indicated.

To contribute to the written service model, service policies and protocols.

Develop and maintain knowledge of local resources and relationships with relevant statutory, voluntary and community groups and organisations

Administration

To monitor referrals for MHTR and report through a monthly data capture.

To monitor attendance and adherence to MHTR once offered in collaboration with probation practitioners.

To monitor, record and report on clinical and other activities as required

Responsible for organising own day to day activities, and planning and prioritising own clinical workload

Responsible for managing own waiting lists and patterns of service user attendance in consultation with line management

Receive and send emails, and use the internet to access information relevant to professional practice and research

Use agreed platforms for video-conferencing and remote working

Professional Issues

To advise supervisor and MHTR Clinical Leads of areas of need arising within own area of work

Develop and maintain the highest professional standards of practice by continuing to gain additional post-qualification experience and skills; by participating in regular clinical and professional supervision and appraisal; by active participation in internal and external CPD activities; and by updating knowledge of current developments in own field and related disciplines, through a personal development plan agreed with line manager

Develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision

Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to forensic and general mental health services and the criminal justice system.

Develop, maintain and use knowledge and understanding of the work and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network, including knowledge of medication and physical health issues, education, vocational training, employment, and social care systems

Maintain the highest standards of record-keeping including electronic data-entry and recording, report writing, and dissemination of relevant information appropriately to other professionals

To implement Trust, directorate and LPP policies and procedures

Utilise theory, literature on evidence-based practice and research to support evidence based practice in own work and work with other members of the team or department

Physical Skills

None

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

None

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • First level qualification in nursing, social work, or equivalent core professions
  • Professional registration with the relevant regulatory body, e.g. the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), Health and Care Professional's Council (HCPC); Social Work England or Accreditation with a Professional Standards Authority recognised Accreditation body (e.g. BABCP; BPC) in a recognized therapy (e.g. CBT,MBT, CAT, EMDR, NET etc.) (E)

Desirable

  • Received training (either formally or through experience) in risk assessments and / or formulation
  • Domestic abuse specific training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with service users with complex needs and challenging behaviour, including personality difficulties and/or complex trauma
  • Experience of working within a Community Mental Health Team or similar
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience of holding a caseload

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a forensic setting or with a forensic population
  • Experience in working clinically with women and working knowledge or interest in women's health (e.g. maternal mental health, perinatal period, menopause, etc.)
  • Experience of working in diverse inner-city areas

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to work well within a team and foster good working relationships, as well as work autonomously to manage own caseload and time
  • Ability to work under pressure and to deal with emergency situations/ crises/ highly emotional situations safely and effectively
  • Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, sensitive and potentially distressing information to service users and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS

Desirable

  • Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, and maintain a safe therapeutic environment
  • Skills in effective management of conflict, anger, rejection and other common difficulties presented by service users with personality difficulties or other complex mental health difficulties.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • First level qualification in nursing, social work, or equivalent core professions
  • Professional registration with the relevant regulatory body, e.g. the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), Health and Care Professional's Council (HCPC); Social Work England or Accreditation with a Professional Standards Authority recognised Accreditation body (e.g. BABCP; BPC) in a recognized therapy (e.g. CBT,MBT, CAT, EMDR, NET etc.) (E)

Desirable

  • Received training (either formally or through experience) in risk assessments and / or formulation
  • Domestic abuse specific training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with service users with complex needs and challenging behaviour, including personality difficulties and/or complex trauma
  • Experience of working within a Community Mental Health Team or similar
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience of holding a caseload

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a forensic setting or with a forensic population
  • Experience in working clinically with women and working knowledge or interest in women's health (e.g. maternal mental health, perinatal period, menopause, etc.)
  • Experience of working in diverse inner-city areas

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to work well within a team and foster good working relationships, as well as work autonomously to manage own caseload and time
  • Ability to work under pressure and to deal with emergency situations/ crises/ highly emotional situations safely and effectively
  • Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, sensitive and potentially distressing information to service users and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS

Desirable

  • Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, and maintain a safe therapeutic environment
  • Skills in effective management of conflict, anger, rejection and other common difficulties presented by service users with personality difficulties or other complex mental health difficulties.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

LLP

7 Holyrood Street

London

SE1 2EL


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

LLP

7 Holyrood Street

London

SE1 2EL


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Lead

Dr Lorna Fallon

lorna.fallon2@nhs.net

07484900632

Details

Date posted

19 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£46,419 to £55,046 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

277-7566412-LPP

Job locations

LLP

7 Holyrood Street

London

SE1 2EL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)