Job summary
- Main area
- Health and Justice
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (This is an extended hours service that includes both long day shifts and 9am-5pm shifts covering 7 days a week including bank holidays)
- Job ref
- 333-D-HJ-1907
- Employer
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Wembley Police Custody and Willesden Magistrates Court
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £53,751 - £60,651 Per annum incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 31/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/11/2025
Employer heading
Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Job overview
Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify clients who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
The role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner involves working with a wide range of services such as the police, probation, the court and legal services as well as both inpatient and community health and social care services. Our work includes unsocial hours on weekday evenings, weekends and bank holidays. This post will cover Wembley police custody suite and Willesden Magistrate’s Court.
The service will cover all ages and vulnerabilities, including youths in police custody.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work under the remit of the Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Services providing a proactive assessment, liaison and diversion service in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates’ Courts in the area.
Enhancing and developing relationships within Criminal Justice Services and building strong links between Health, Social Services and the Criminal Justice System itself is an essential role of the post holder. You will work in a collaborative way with local community Mental Health Services, and other statutory/non-statutory agencies ensuring a high quality liaison and diversion service is provided to individuals.
Working for our organisation
Please note: Candidates will need to submit an application for Metropolitan Police vetting clearance and have it approved before a contract can be agreed. The following is guidance we have from the Metropolitan Police regarding vetting which you should take into consideration before you complete an application:
Common failures
- Non-declaration of criminal convictions or Police involvement;
I.E investigations even if no further action, warnings, cautions (No matter how old)
- County court judgements
- Less than 3-year Residency
- Defaults – No debt management plans in place.
- Convictions which resulted in imprisonment or suspended sentence
- Vetting applications will be returned if any of the details are omitted
ALL family members, partners, co-residents and parents’ partners must be provided
- Address history must run 5 years straight.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· To act as an autonomous practitioner in court and police detention cells. The post holder will also be expected to assess an individual’s mental state and risk and within the context of the alleged offence and the criminal justice system, implement a care pathway for each individual.
· The post holder will maintain a presence on the site they are working for the duration of their shift in order to be able to respond to referrals in a timely manner. It is the post holder’s responsibility to check regularly if there is anyone to be seen in custody. If there is a need to leave the police custody suite, the post holder must leave a contact number with the custody staff and respond to calls.
· In the absence of the youth justice liaison and diversion worker, the post holder will be expected to screen any youths in police custody during their shift in police stations. This will involve engaging with the young person and at times their guardians and depending on the screening outcomes, may involve making onward referrals including safeguarding, youth offending teams and CAMHS.
· To undertake a full mental state assessment, risk assessment, and gather a background history for individuals with a variety of needs. These would include those with a serious mental illness or personality disorder and associated learning, social, personal, dependency and substance misuse issues who are in police custody suites and court detention.
· The post holder will consider the appropriateness of a MHTR (mental health treatment requirement) and will screen and liaise accordingly.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with current registration with the relevant professional body
- Substantial evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.
Desirable criteria
- Post registration qualification in forensic mental health.
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
- Post-registration experience, which is experience of working in a community or forensic psychiatric setting at Band 6 or equivalent or above.
- Experience of crisis work and risk assessment.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in forensic psychiatry.
- Experience of the assessment of clients with drug/alcohol related problems and clients with a history of transience or homelessness.
- Experience in Liaison and Diversion.
Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments and good report writing skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
Desirable criteria
- Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Claire Gordon-Ellis
- Job title
- Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07525 249073
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