Job summary
- Main area
- Liaison & Diversion - TV
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-MHS1133
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Liaison and Diversion - Thames Valley
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/08/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/09/2026
Employer heading
Advanced Support Time Recovery Worker
Band 5
Job overview
Liaison & Diversion Advanced Support Time Recovery Worker
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with healthcare or criminal justice experience to join our 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 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 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’.
We value our employees and put people first. We achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating overall in our latest CQC inspection, which found that: ‘Managers across Berkshire Healthcare promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.’
Main duties of the job
- Screen and assess primary level of need, using screening tools/rating scales to gain an understanding of an individual’s difficulties.
- Hold a caseload of service users for up to 12 weeks (for Liaison & Diversion cases) and up to 6 months (for Reconnect cases) to support them to access a wide range of agencies and services that can provide help and advice.
- To provide the police, court and prison 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, probation and prison acting as a single point of contact for health
- To be able to autonomously plan and organise own workload efficiently and manage a well-structured appointment diary for engagements
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 sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
L&D services aim to improve overall health outcomes for people and to support people in the reduction of re-offending through assessing, proactive onward referrals and informing decision makers. It also aims to identify vulnerabilities in people earlier on which reduces the likelihood that people will reach a crisis-point and helps to ensure the right support can be put in place from the start.
The successful applicant will work in the police custody suites, courts, prison and the community; working with people within the criminal justice system where vulnerabilities are suspected and further assessment is indicated to inform disposal of the case and to identify care pathways for appropriate onward referral/support.
Due to the nature of the service, there is an additional requirement to secure police/prison vetting for this role. For the purposes of vetting, the candidate will require at least three-years residency in the UK. Vetting is a thorough investigation of an individual’s background, character, and suitability to work in the police force or prison. It includes checks on criminal records, financial history, employment history, personal relationships, and lifestyle choices.
The “must haves” for this role:
Educated to degree level or equivalent professional vocational qualification or practice experience of working in health or social care at a Band 4 or equivalent OR significant experience at a Band 4 Level or equivalent within health and social care.
Significant experience of employment within the voluntary or health and social care sector
Experience of supporting people with identified vulnerabilities.
Experience in managing own workload with minimal supervision.
Driving licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley as required.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements
Person specification
Education, qualifications or training
Essential criteria
- Educated to Degree Level or equivalent professional/vocational qualification in or practice experience of working in health or social care at a Band 4 or equivalent
- Completed the Care Certificate or willingness to work towards if outside NHS.
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria
- Evidence of enhancing professional development and training.
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of mentoring, supervising, and supporting junior staff.
- Experience of supporting people with identified vulnerabilities, including people with mental health.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate well developed written communication skills, with the ability to produce letters, write reports, maintain accurate records, and record statistical information.
- Able to demonstrate a good understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service.
- Team-working skills within a multi-disciplinary group.
- Ability to work with difficult to engage individuals with challenging behaviours
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates an appreciation of the values that underpin the delivery of care.
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Ability to use multiple IT systems to an advanced level including, excel, mental health record systems and Microsoft applications
- 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
- In addition to DBS there is additional requirement to secure police vetting for this role.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lucy Bashir
- Job title
- Service User Engagement Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07854 556882
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