Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Cnwlnhshealthcharity; Wembley; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in London is looking for a Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to work at Willesden Magistrates Court and Wembley Police Custody Suite. The role involves assessing individuals with possible mental health issues upon entering the criminal justice system. Candidates must be registered professionals with experience in multi-disciplinary settings. The position offers part-time hours and a competitive salary range of £53,751 - £60,651 per annum.

Benefits

Generous relocation package

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary/multi‑agency team.
• Crisis work and risk assessment experience.
• Experience in forensic psychiatry.
• Assessment of clients with substance misuse problems.

Responsibilities

• Act autonomously in court and police detention cells.
• Assess individuals’ mental state and risk.
• Maintain presence in custody to respond to referrals.
• Conduct mental state assessments and risk assessments.
• Prepare accurate written reports.

Skills

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Ability to make comprehensive psycho-social assessments

Sound and safe risk assessments

Effective time management and organisational skills

Ability to work independently

Networking and liaison experience

Culturally sensitive approach

Education

Qualified Registered Mental Nurse, Mental Health Social Worker or Occupational Therapist

Evidence of continuing professional development

Job description

Health & Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job ref 333-D-HJ-1943

Main area Health and Justice Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent: 22.5 hours per week Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week

Site Willesden Magistrates Court Town London Salary £53,751 - £60,651 per annum inc HCAS pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/12/2025 23:59 Interview date 15/01/2026

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

The service is funded through the NHS England Liaison and Diversion Programme. Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services aim to identify people who may have mental health issues, a learning disability, substance misuse issues or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Our direct contact with service users may take place at police stations or in the courts. Our work can be very challenging but we continue to aim to ensure that individuals receive the best and most appropriate care for their needs. Through screening, assessment and appropriate referral, we are able to promote better health outcomes, reduce re-offending and reduce pressure on the police and court services.

Main duties of the job

• The role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner involves working with a wide range of services such as the police, probation, the court and legal services as well as both inpatient and community health and social care services.
• Our work includes unsocial hours on weekday evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.
• Successful candidates will need to have excellent communication skills as well as the flexibility to work alongside these different groups.
• Candidates will need to be able to work effectively as part of a team as well as having the skills and confidence to work autonomously in a range of environments.
• Supervision and consultation are available to the team to support practice.
• This post will cover both Willesden Magistrates Court and Wembley Police Custody Suite.

Working for our organisation

Please note: Candidates will need to submit an application for Metropolitan Police vetting clearance and have it approved before a contract can be agreed. The following is guidance we have from the Metropolitan Police regarding vetting which you should take into consideration before you complete an application for this post:

• Non-declaration of criminal convictions or Police involvement;
• I.E investigations even if no further action, warnings, cautions (No matter how old)
• County court judgements
• Less than 3-year Residency
• Defaults – No debt management plans in place.
• Convictions which resulted in imprisonment or suspended sentence
• Vetting applications will be returned if any of the details are omitted
• ALL family members, partners, co-residents and parents’ partners must be provided
• Address history must run 5 years straight.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To act as an autonomous practitioner in court and police 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.
• The post holder will maintain a presence on the site they are working for the duration of their shift in order to be able to respond to referrals in a timely manner. It is the post holder’s responsibility to check regularly if there is anyone to be seen in custody. If there is a need to leave the police custody suite, the post holder must leave a contact number with the custody staff and respond to calls.
• In the absence of the youth justice liaison and diversion worker, the post holder will be expected to screen any youths in police custody during their shift in police stations. This will involve engaging with the young person and at times their guardians and depending on the screening outcomes, may involve making onward referrals including safeguarding, youth offending teams and CAMHS.
• 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 police custody suites and 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.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• 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

Previous Experience

• 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.
• 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

• 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.
• 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.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.