Liaison and Diversion Senior Practitioner (Bank) Band 6 inDoncaster inDoncaster PUBLISHED TUE 22 OCT 2024

The Liaison and Diversion Service is commissioned nationally by NHS England.

It is an all age, all vulnerability service which offers assessment services to individuals in police custody and court who may present with vulnerabilities and who find themselves in contact with the youth or criminal justice systems as a result of being suspected of having committed a criminal offence. Vulnerabilities may include but not limited to mental health, alcohol and substance use, homelessness, learning disabilities, autism, or other speech and language difficulties.

We provide court related services which offer greater advice and support to the judiciary, including Court Reports.

L&D services aim to reduce reoffending, reduce unnecessary use of police and court time and reduce health inequalities for some of the most vulnerable in society.

It requires a commitment to close partnership working with other services and working with a complex and diverse range of individuals with varying needs.

Following assessment and identification of any vulnerabilities the practitioner will either facilitate diversion of the individual away from the criminal justice system into appropriate services or alternatively with the individuals consent signpost on to services to meet any vulnerabilities whilst they continue to be dealt with by the criminal justice system and beyond.

Liaising with other professionals and service providers to ensure appropriate care and support is in place is integral to the role.

We are looking for someone who embraces collaborative working with partner agencies, service users and carers and who has a keen interest in working with the Police. You will need to be resilient and have the ability and confidence to work with a high level of autonomy.

Importantly, you will be dynamic and persevering in your work, be naturally inquisitive, have excellent risk assessment and report writing skills, and the ability to quickly establish and develop rapport with service users.

About us

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To work as a senior member of a multi-disciplinary team providing intensive mental health and social care assessments, identify care pathways and where indicated diversion to individuals within the police custody suites, courts and probation services.

The successful applicant will work in the police custody suites and courts working with people within the criminal justice system, where potential mental health and or learning disability need is suspected and further assessment is indicated to inform disposal of the case and to identify robust pathways.

This involves a commitment to 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.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.To attend police custody suites and magistrates courts and provide mental health assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways for individuals where a potential mental health or learning disability need has been identified.

2.To provide the police and court with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.

3.To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court, and probation acting as a single point of contact for health.

4.To address the court in person when necessary, in order to advise the court in the disposal and care pathway of a particular case.

5.Where diversion is indicated to facilitate mental health act assessments at the police station.

6.To be proficient in all aspects of care and risk management associated with the role of lead professional, whilst referring to appropriate community teams.

7.To provide specialist advice and service to probation and custody suites where indicated.

8.To provide mental health information that is proportionate to probation in the formulation of their pre- sentence reports where a potential mental health need has been identified.

9.To have the interpersonal skills necessary to develop a therapeutic alliance with emotionally and psychologically disturbed clients and their carers enabling the client to accept responsibility for their personal wellbeing appropriate to their level of cognitive functioning.

10.To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain clients mental state and overall functioning.

11.To have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding or current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which mental health care is delivered e.g., CPA, MHA (1983) particularly in relation to the police courts and criminal justice system.

12.To take personal responsibility and supervise junior staff in the maintenance of written and electronic client and Trust records including inputting data related to own work activity and to be accountable for your own professional practice.

13.To participate in the development of and practice within the policies and procedures of the Trust and adhere to NHS., NMC and HCPC guidelines or appropriate governing body specific to professional role.

14.To have an understanding or and participate in the clinical audit process within health and social care.

15.To assist the team leader in the day-to-day management of the team taking responsibility for delegated areas and regularly acting as shift coordinator.

16.To promote and disseminate evidence-based practice relevant to the Assertive Outreach to individuals and target groups within the health and social care community, through the development and delivery or appropriate training.

17.To participate in the Trusts appraisal system taking responsibility for own continues professional development, keeping abreast of current research and evidence base and participating in training and development opportunities.