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Job summary

Main area
NMC, SWE, HCPC or OT with significant Post-registration experience in mental health
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (1x FTC/Secondment for 12 months)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (4 shifts across 7 days a week (8am-6pm shifts) - 5th shift in certain weeks)
Job ref
246-GYW7832353-B
Employer
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Martlesham Police Investigation Centre
Town
Martlesham
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 gross per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

Liaison and Diversion Practitioner - Police Custody

Band 6

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams.  We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

Job overview

We are looking for registered health or social care professionals to work in a team in a fast-paced criminal justice environment. You will need to be a registered NMC, SWE, HCPC or OT with significant Post-registration experience in mental health.  

For this post, you will work in police custody and complete triage assessments with people whilst they are detained there (from the age of ten). You will work closely with the police, your assessment and information gathering will support that person across the offender pathway. Depending on a person’s criminal justice journey this may include Courts and Probation and the wider health and social care systems in the community.

In this role your criminal justice knowledge will greatly expand, so we welcome applicants who have not worked in this area as we can provide training and your knowledge will develop as you work across the team. 

Main duties of the job

We are looking for 1x Secondment/Fixed Term position for a year at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre.   Your primary role will be to complete holistic triage assessments for people who have been arrested and brought to police custody. You will possess excellent interpersonal skills that will enable you to engage, challenge, motivate, influence, and inspire at all levels. As part of a small team, you will work various shift patterns comprising of mostly 9-hour shifts, to enable the service to cover extended hours, seven days per week, 365 days a year.

The working criminal justice locations include Police Investigation Centres (PIC’s), Courts and other supporting criminal justice/health environments in line with service need. However, this role will primarily work inside the PIC (custody). The service covers both Norfolk and Suffolk and may require some cross county working. It is essential that you can travel independently.

Travel to other PICs may be necessary from time to time.  You may also be required to complete remote telephone assessments depending on service needs at other PICs located further away.

Working for our organisation

Benefits

Benefits included with this role are: -

  • NHS pension
  • Comprehensive in house & external training programmes
  • Career progression
  • Starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days Per annum based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
  • Staff physio service
  • Gym membership
  • NHS discounts and many more

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly, and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing their experiences and learning from each other.

NSFT is committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development (CPD) for its entire staff. There are a variety of definitions of CPD across the professions, but it is usually taken to mean learning activities which update existing skills.

CPD is determined through appraisal with a personal development plan agreed between an individual and their manager, with the commitment of the necessary time and resources.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Complete triage and screening of service users within custody to assess their needs and create plans with them for support post custody by making onward referrals and signposting. This will include speaking to detainees in consultation rooms or when required via the cell hatch. This is in consultation with police to plan the safest way forward.
  • Co-production with service users in creating their next steps plan/safety plan including referrals to a wide range of agencies - such as Turning Point, Wellbeing, Secondary Mental Health services, Crisis and Home Treatment Teams, Survivors in Transition, CRUSE, Domestic Abuse support services. This may include referrals for Mental Health Act assessments in consultation with colleagues, managers, and care teams of those detained. It is essential that you are skilled in mental health assessments.
  • Work collaboratively with police colleagues, promoting partnership working across the criminal justice system.
  • Able to work independently on own initiative to meet the needs of service users. 
  • Ensure service users’ needs are accurately reflected in health record documentation.
  • Assist service users and carers to access information and support

 

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Health Education England commissioned Skills for Health to develop a career and competence framework for Liaison and Diversion with the aim of developing a flexible workforce able to respond to people with vulnerabilities who are either in or at risk of  becoming involved with the Criminal Justice System. The framework helps support the development and growth of the workforce in this area, within mental health services and supports the movement of staff between the different roles across the non-custodial criminal justice services, such as Reconnect, Court Health services, Court Wellbeing/MHRT teams and L and D services. The link to the Competency framework can be found below. Any new recruits will work through the framework with their mentor and line Manager during their induction period. 

https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FINAL-Non-Custodial-Career-and-Competence-Framework-document.pdf

https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Level-5-Practitioner-LD-Final-Feb-2023-v1.pdf

Candidates may only be given a minimum of 3 days’ notice regarding interviews. You will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying.

Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @SouthgateNSFT and @NSFTjobs

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Nursing degree or equivalent degree level qualification NMC registration

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Familiar with undertaking clinical assessments including risk assessments.
  • Experience of working with challenging clients particularly those with personality disorders services.
  • Experience of completing mental health assessments in a mental health setting.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working with clients with severe learning disabilities or those in a secure environment.
  • Previous experience of working in the community.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of the policies and legislation that underpin the development of Liaison and Diversion
  • Working knowledge of the application of the Mental Health Act 1983

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel independently.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingWomens Staff NetworkCycle to Work

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Karman Daniels
Job title
Community Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07500764224
Additional information

[email protected]  or call admin on 01603 786756

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