Job summary
Are you passionate about supporting people at their most vulnerable moments? Our Liaison and Diversion (LADS) team plays a vital role in Somerset's criminal justice system, helping individuals access the care and support they need.
What We Do
We work with people appearing at Somerset's criminal courts (Taunton, Yeovil, North Somerset Magistrates' Courts, and Taunton Crown Court) and those detained in police custody at Bridgwater Police Centre. Our mission is simple: identify mental health and other vulnerabilities early, and connect individuals to the right services.
Why Join Us?
- Impactful Work: Every day, you'll make a difference by ensuring people's needs are understood and addressed.
- No Night Shifts: Our service runs 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., so you can enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
- Flexible Options: Full-time and part-time hours available.
- Free onsite parking at Bridgwater Police Centre.
- Collaborative Environment: Be part of NHS England's national programme, working alongside Avon and Wiltshire Partnership across the Avon and Somerset area.
Interested?
Contact hannah.evans@somersetft.nhs.uk for more details.
We also run bimonthly LADS information sessions on Microsoft Teams-email Hannah Robson to join.
Please Note: Applicants will need to visit the custody office environment and shadow the team before interview.
Main duties of the job
- Deliver rapid, high-quality assessments of mental health and vulnerabilities in police custody (Bridgwater) and criminal courts (Taunton, Yeovil, North Somerset Magistrates' Courts, and Taunton Crown Court).
- Identify unmet needs and connect individuals to the right health and social care services through referrals and signposting.
- Share vital information (with consent) with criminal justice agencies to support informed and fair decision-making.
- Provide expert guidance and training to criminal justice colleagues, helping them understand mental health and vulnerability issues.
- Prepare professional reports, including screening summaries and contributions to psychiatric reports for court proceedings.
- Support voluntary attenders, working with individuals interviewed outside of custody as part of our innovative project.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and complete monthly data returns to ensure service quality and compliance.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Criminal Justice Mental Health Practitioner, you will:
- Be based primarily in Bridgwater Police Custody Suite, with flexibility to cover courts across Somerset.
- Work autonomously while supported by senior practitioners and colleagues.
- Liaise closely with police, courts, community mental health teams, and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
- Deliver training and education packages to multi-agency staff.
- Provide verbal opinions to courts and facilitate the production of psychiatric reports.
- Support safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children.
- Maintain compliance with legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding legislation.
- Participate in audits, service reviews, and contribute to service development.
- Act as shift lead when required, supporting team prioritisation and supervision.
- Engage in multidisciplinary meetings and represent the team at local and national forums.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Criminal Justice Mental Health Practitioner, you will:
- Be based primarily in Bridgwater Police Custody Suite, with flexibility to cover courts across Somerset.
- Work autonomously while supported by senior practitioners and colleagues.
- Liaise closely with police, courts, community mental health teams, and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
- Deliver training and education packages to multi-agency staff.
- Provide verbal opinions to courts and facilitate the production of psychiatric reports.
- Support safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children.
- Maintain compliance with legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding legislation.
- Participate in audits, service reviews, and contribute to service development.
- Act as shift lead when required, supporting team prioritisation and supervision.
- Engage in multidisciplinary meetings and represent the team at local and national forums.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional qualification relevant to mental health practice.
- Either:
- RMN/Degree/Diploma in Nursing, CQSW/Degree/Diploma in Social Work, Degree in Occupational Therapy.
- Current relevant professional registration
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge (post qualification) of working with people with mental health problems.
- Significant experience of assessing risk and developing risk management plans.
- Experience of undertaking autonomous assessments.
Desirable
- Experience of providing supervision.
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting.
- Experience of working within a Forensic/Criminal Justice environment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A professional qualification relevant to mental health practice.
- Either:
- RMN/Degree/Diploma in Nursing, CQSW/Degree/Diploma in Social Work, Degree in Occupational Therapy.
- Current relevant professional registration
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge (post qualification) of working with people with mental health problems.
- Significant experience of assessing risk and developing risk management plans.
- Experience of undertaking autonomous assessments.
Desirable
- Experience of providing supervision.
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting.
- Experience of working within a Forensic/Criminal Justice environment.
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.
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.
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).
