Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Specialist Liaison & Diversion Practitioner

The closing date is 30 June 2025

Job summary

Would you like a fascinating, fast moving and fulfilling role?

If the answer is yes, then we are seeking to recruit an experienced Mental Health Nurse,Social Worker,or Occupational Therapist to join our established, successful and dynamic team as we consolidate and develop Liaison and Diversion services in police custody suites, courts and prisons across Kent and Medway.

Work with enthusiastic and passionate colleagues to provide an all age, all vulnerabilities service to clients in the Criminal Justice System. Make a real difference to people's lives by identifying their support needs and encouraging them to engage with services that can help them.

Collaborate with a range of professionals across health, justice and social care to reduce reoffending and support safer communities.

Main duties of the job

The role of a Specialist Liaison and Diversion Practitioner (SLDP) is both an interesting and challenging one, where you will experience all aspects of the criminal justice system.

We are looking for forward thinking and enthusiastic practitioners, with a keen eye for risk assessment and formulation to respond to referrals from within the criminal justice system and support individuals with identified health or social vulnerabilities. You will also have the opportunity to provide community support and being involved in outreach initiatives.

  • The successful candidate will work in Police Custody Suites, Courts, Prisons and varying community locations across Kent and Medway so some experience of liaison, crisis intervention or forensic services would be an advantage. Youwill be working with people who experience mental health needs, learning disabilities, communication difficulties, drug and alcohol misuse and other health and social vulnerabilities.
  • Our SLDP's do not hold caseload's and their work is aimed at point-in-time assessment, liaison and diversion. These crucial assessments will be used to inform the most appropriate and robust care pathways.
  • In essence, ourSLDP's provide the crucial link between a variety of stakeholders and can make a real difference to the outcome of service users' experiences in the criminal justice system.

About us

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. We arerated Good overall by the CQC.

Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community.

We are proud to employ over 3,800 people from 66 nationalities, and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Our strategy

Our mission is what we set out to do every dayWe deliver brilliant care through brilliant people

Our vision is where we want to be in the futureTo provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time.

Check out our recruitment videos Recruitment - YouTube

Details

Date posted

16 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-FR0576

Job locations

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role requires close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Please see the attached job description for full details on the role's responsibilities and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role requires close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Please see the attached job description for full details on the role's responsibilities and person specification.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Member of a professional body

Desirable

  • A degree or equivalent qualification/experience at post registration level

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within community mental health
  • Extensive clinical experience including both individual and group work
  • Understanding and expertise in the principles of risk assessment and risk management
  • Post registration experience of working within a relevant setting

Desirable

  • Detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation procedures and policies relating to Mental Health Care ie CPA, Mental Capacity Act
  • Experience of the criminal justice system
Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Member of a professional body

Desirable

  • A degree or equivalent qualification/experience at post registration level

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within community mental health
  • Extensive clinical experience including both individual and group work
  • Understanding and expertise in the principles of risk assessment and risk management
  • Post registration experience of working within a relevant setting

Desirable

  • Detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation procedures and policies relating to Mental Health Care ie CPA, Mental Capacity Act
  • Experience of the criminal justice system

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

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

David Barker

david.barker13@nhs.net

08001975542

Details

Date posted

16 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-FR0576

Job locations

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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