Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Specialist Liaison & Diversion Practitioner

The closing date is 25 November 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

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

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.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together

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

Date posted

11 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-FR0576-A

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

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 and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

The Red House, Maidstone

22 Oakapple Lane

Maidstone Countywide

ME16 9NW

Employer's website

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