Senior Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Job responsibilities

The post holder will act as a senior practitioner responsible for liaising with Criminal Justice Services

They will work directly at the interface with the criminal justice agencies (police, courts, probation, and prisons) to ensure the needs of mentally vulnerable individuals are assessed and addressed in an efficient, safe and coordinated manner.

Provide support and supervision to professionals working within the police custody suites within local operating hours to establish/maintain working relationships and to develop and test pathways.

Respond to urgent requests for assessment of individuals in police custody.

Provide timely access to screening and assessment of mental vulnerability in court settings.

Provide an early point of access for individuals considered to be in need of assessment.

Conduct screening of mental vulnerability utilising evidence based screening tools (incl. ADHD, ABI, LD, ASC, Safeguarding and Risk associated with vulnerability)

Provide support to Criminal Justice Agencies with the identification and screening of mental vulnerability.

Offer advice, information and support to agencies who work with mentally vulnerable individuals.

Act as an appropriate Health/Social Care Professional when required.

Support the process of Appropriate Adult within Police Custody environment.

Offer and deliver a programme of Awareness Training for professionals and volunteers working in CJ settings.

Demonstrate commitment to development of Liaison and Diversion role with engagement at local and national level.

Offer and deliver multi-agency assessments within the context of offending behaviour.

Provide assessments to establish vulnerability including but not limited to mental health need, learning disability or difficulty, communication need, behavioural issues or substance misuse issues.

Facilitate access to rapid assessments for individuals when required.

Work within the MAPPA, 5bp and Local Authority Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adult Policies.

Support the identification of the needs of carers and provide appropriate advice, information and support.

Implement the processes of liaison and diversion at the earliest stage, whilst maintaining a focus on risk management and protection of the public.

Share information within the confines of agreed policy and protocols to assist in risk management of individuals

Offer Advice, Consultation and Liaison between the relevant Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice agencies.

Contribute to Probation and/ or Youth Offending Service Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs) to facilitate a holistic picture of risk and need thus enabling informed and appropriate disposal outcomes.

Provide oral and written evidence using NHSE court report template in the court arena.

Liaise and share information with HM Prison Service, secure children facilities and prison health In-reach Teams regarding need, assessment findings, care/treatment plans and risk indicators and management strategies.

Facilitate Diversionary activities involving the Police, Probation, Health and Local Authority representation and Youth Offending Team workers when appropriate.

Provide a pathway to support the active partnership between mental health, social care, probation, youth offending, education, substance misuse, learning disabilities services and other allied health professionals when working with individuals who offend.

Support pathways that enable criminal justice agencies to refer offenders (suspected/ potential) into health and social care services.

Liaise with local prisons to facilitate appropriate support and treatment for mentally vulnerable individuals on remand.

Identify and monitor health and social care needs of individuals within the criminal justice system to provide a seamless service between custody and community.

Transfer/signpost individuals to the appropriate level of service or agency support, in accordance with CPA guidance and principles.

Support with the co-ordination of hospital admission from custodial environments and the co-ordination of Mental Health Act assessments from custodial environments.

Signpost and encourage engagement with community based support services.

Offer advice and information on accessing primary care, substance misuse and social care services.

Make recommendations regarding physical health checks.

Contribute to the formulation of multi-disciplinary risk management plans with partner agencies, in accordance with 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Information Sharing Policy.

Offer risk assessment and management advice to all agencies.

Work within the guidance of national and local MAPP Arrangements.

Support the organisation with its statutory duty to cooperate in local MAPP arrangements.

Participate in professionals meetings to support health and social care staff working with those at risk of offending.

Ensure risk is communicated effectively by participating in safe guarding, MARAC and other age appropriate frameworks/ services.

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification registered on the appropriate part of the NMC/HCPC register with current
• Assessor/Mentorship Training
• Post registration training in relevant
• Leadership/Management training

Experience

Essential

• Experienced mental health, CAMHS or learning disability practitioner with a good working knowledge of how health and social care services are delivered in a community setting
• Experience of Multi-Disciplinary working
• Evidence of positive contribution to change management
• Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge/understanding of the Criminal Justice system and settings.
• Experience of working with children/young adults

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work as part of an MDT
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy
• Good problem solving skills
• Flexible and responsive approach to care
• Ability to identify and support the management of risk to in a proportionate and defensible manner
• Understanding and experience of delivering care with compassion in a sometimes pressured environment
• Experience of the interface between Health Services and the Criminal Justice System
• Ability to work with minimum supervision in a safe and coordinated manner

Desirable

• Ability to promote, develop and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues in health, social care and criminal justice settings

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of children/vulnerable adults guidelines
• Knowledge or willingness to develop awareness of wider mental vulnerability as defined by PACE

Desirable

• Understanding of the interface between health, social care and criminal justice services and a commitment to overcoming potential barriers

Other

Essential

• oDemonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times

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).