Job summary
Are you an experienced, highly motivated mental health practitioner and who is passionate about improving health outcomes for those within the Criminal Justice system?
We now have the opportunity to recruit one full time vacancy (1.0 WTE) for Band 7 Senior Police Liaison Practitioner to join our well established team working in MET police custody suites, Acton and Hammersmith. These custody suites serve large diverse boroughs within the West London area.
The police Liaison teams sits within a wider Liaison and Diversion service in West London NHS Trust, including Court Diversion at Westminster and Crown Court at Isleworth and Youth Justice Tri Borough. We provide a 7-day service to the suites, ensuring access to all those who become involved in the Criminal Justice system.
We are looking for suitably experienced mental health professionals rather than one particular discipline. We are interested in hearing from mental health/Learning disability nurses, social workers or occupational therapists or a speech and language therapist with relevant mental health experience.
Main duties of the job
We provide proactive screening and assessment to individuals within Police custody, identifying need/vulnerabilities, signposting to other services and where indicated diverting to health. You will be primarily screening those over 18 but at times will be expected to assess children and young people if our Youth team is not available. Our aim is to improve overall health outcomes, reduce further police contact and re-offending rates, and to avert disorder-related crises.
This scheme, commissioned by NHS England operate to a standard model and similar schemes are now available in every part of the country. It is an all-age service and all women and people under the age of 18 are screened as mandatory due to their vulnerability within the system.
The service needs practitioners who are able to think quickly and work independently under pressure when screening and assessing vulnerable people in police custody. You will need excellent communication and risk management skills and demonstrate a commitment to close partnership working with the Police and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary.
The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate knowledge and direct experience of the crisis pathway and risk management to a high standard and should have previous experience working with young people and adults within acute, community and/or forensic settings.
If you think that this is you, your enthusiastic and committed, then our friendly team is for you.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Registered Mental Health Nurse with current registration or similar professional qualification
- Meaningful evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.
- Competence in relation to clinical information systems, spreadsheets, databases.
Desirable
- Specialist forensic risk assessment training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team
- A minimum of 2 years' post-registration experience.
- Experience of crisis work and risk assessment/management.
Desirable
- Experience of working with young people and assessing clients with drug and alcohol related problems
- Experience of service development
- Experience of working in a criminal justice setting and/or another mental health liaison service
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to use information technology systems in order to carry out duties
- Ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments
- Ability to work independently and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team.
Desirable
- Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust; to be checked at interview.
- Declared medically fit by the Occupational Health department to perform the duties of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Registered Mental Health Nurse with current registration or similar professional qualification
- Meaningful evidence of continuing professional development and post registration training.
- Competence in relation to clinical information systems, spreadsheets, databases.
Desirable
- Specialist forensic risk assessment training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team
- A minimum of 2 years' post-registration experience.
- Experience of crisis work and risk assessment/management.
Desirable
- Experience of working with young people and assessing clients with drug and alcohol related problems
- Experience of service development
- Experience of working in a criminal justice setting and/or another mental health liaison service
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to use information technology systems in order to carry out duties
- Ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments
- Ability to work independently and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team.
Desirable
- Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust; to be checked at interview.
- Declared medically fit by the Occupational Health department to perform the duties of the post.
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).
