Job summary
The post holder will work under the remit of the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Services providing a proactive assessment, liaison and diversion service in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates' Courts in the area. The service will cover all ages and vulnerabilities, including youths in police custody. The post holder will be part of an established liaison and diversion service and work in partnership with health, social services and the criminal justice system, to ensure that individuals presenting with mental health problems or other vulnerabilities can have their needs addressed and be diverted into appropriate health care services as necessary. 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.
Main duties of the job
To act as an autonomous practitioner in court 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.
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 court detention.
To prepare accurate written reports following assessment in line with quality standards.
To make clinical judgements in custody on situations as they arise, or change.
About us
The CNWL Liaison and Diversion teams are part of a highly respected and innovative service that works currently across health and social services and the criminal justice system in central and North West London.
The service is funded through the NHS England Liaison and Diversion programme. 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake Court work with same day assessments on identified vulnerable clients, who appear over night from the custody suites and who have not been previously seen at the Police Station. To ensure that information is passed to the defence team and the Court Clerk in a manner in keeping with the information sharing protocol. Following the hearing to ensure that information concerning proceedings and the assessment is passed to the GP and other services involved with the client. Where remanded to prison to ensure that information is passed to the mental health in reach team or the reception at the Prison.
To accept referrals from Court cell area, the Bench, Council, Probation, DIP Team workers, solicitors, family or the defendant or any other Court user, who become aware of or have clients with a dual diagnosis or are presenting with a possible mental disorder. This is in addition to accepting referrals from in-patient services and CMHTs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake Court work with same day assessments on identified vulnerable clients, who appear over night from the custody suites and who have not been previously seen at the Police Station. To ensure that information is passed to the defence team and the Court Clerk in a manner in keeping with the information sharing protocol. Following the hearing to ensure that information concerning proceedings and the assessment is passed to the GP and other services involved with the client. Where remanded to prison to ensure that information is passed to the mental health in reach team or the reception at the Prison.
To accept referrals from Court cell area, the Bench, Council, Probation, DIP Team workers, solicitors, family or the defendant or any other Court user, who become aware of or have clients with a dual diagnosis or are presenting with a possible mental disorder. This is in addition to accepting referrals from in-patient services and CMHTs.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- 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
- Post registration qualification in forensic mental health.
Previous Experience
Essential
- 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
- 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
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments and good report writing skills.
- Ability to make sound and safe risk assessments
- Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
- Evidence of effective networking and liaison experience.
- Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
- Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
Desirable
- Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need.
- Knowledge of current legislation relating to community mental health provision and forensic psychiatry
- Knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1884 and PACE Codes of Practice 2004.
- Ability to promote users' involvement.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- 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
- Post registration qualification in forensic mental health.
Previous Experience
Essential
- 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
- 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
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments and good report writing skills.
- Ability to make sound and safe risk assessments
- Evidence of effective time management and organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary/multi- agency team.
- Evidence of effective networking and liaison experience.
- Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
- Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
Desirable
- Skills in assessing people with forensic history or need.
- Knowledge of current legislation relating to community mental health provision and forensic psychiatry
- Knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1884 and PACE Codes of Practice 2004.
- Ability to promote users' involvement.
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).
