Liaison and Diversion Court Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen within the Liaison and Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner based in the Magistrates Court in both Carlisle and Workington, Cumbria. This key position within the established Liaison and Diversion Service for Police Custody Suites and Magistrates Courts.

Essential Criteria: A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject OR Diploma in Health and Social Care AND/OR Experience of working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years

This post requires successful candidates to undergo NPPV Level 2 (full) Police Vetting of which successful clearance is essential in order to fulfil the role and as part of this vetting process the candidate is required to have been resident in the UK for at least three years.

Desirable: Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, and Occupational Therapist. Psychology Degree CBT Diploma, Substance Misuse Diploma

Main duties of the job

Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services identify people who have substance misuse, mental health, learning disability or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.

The service can then support people through the early stages of criminal system pathway, refer them for appropriate health or social care or enable them to be diverted away from the criminal justice system into a more appropriate setting, if required.

This is an 'all age' service and so you will be required to work with people from the age of 10 years upwards.

The main things that L&D services do for the people we see are identification, screening, assessment and referral to other services.

o We work in Police Custody Suites and Courts throughout Lancashire & Cumbria and offer assessments to individuals within the Criminal Justice system including Voluntary Attendeeso We look to identify unmet need and vulnerabilities that often lead to or exacerbate offending behaviour, offer onward referral and signposting as appropriateo We liaise across agencies to support onward planning and intervention to address needso We offer some brief community based intervention to maximise service user access and engagement with those appropriate serviceso We help to inform decision makers with relevant and timely information to support sentencing and disposal outcomes.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

351-SPS1400-MF

Job locations

Carlisle x1 Workington x1

Carlisle/Workington

CA1 3NQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
  • Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it
  • Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools
  • Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
  • Knowledge of a wide range of vulnerabilities including the needs of children and young people

Experience

Essential

  • Working with people with complex needs for a number of years either whilst studying or post qualification
  • Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
  • Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of mental health issues and/or learning disability
  • Knowledge of Criminal Justice System, including roles and responsibilities of staff working in it
  • Knowledge of use and interpretation of health screening tools
  • Knowledge of assessing and mitigating risk - including risk of harm to self and others
  • Knowledge of a wide range of vulnerabilities including the needs of children and young people

Experience

Essential

  • Working with people with complex needs for a number of years either whilst studying or post qualification
  • Initial Assessment of Health and Social Needs
  • Assessment of Risk of Service Users to self and others

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carlisle x1 Workington x1

Carlisle/Workington

CA1 3NQ


Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carlisle x1 Workington x1

Carlisle/Workington

CA1 3NQ


Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Team manager

Lauren Miller

lauren.miller@lscft.nhs.uk

07970346529

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

351-SPS1400-MF

Job locations

Carlisle x1 Workington x1

Carlisle/Workington

CA1 3NQ


Supporting documents

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