Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

We are looking for a passionate Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Health Visitor, Public Health Nurse or Social Worker to join our award-winning Hampshire & Isle of Wight Liaison & Diversion Service. This post is based on the Isle of Wight. This is an opportunity to use your professional skills beyond traditional clinical settings and support people who are involved with the criminal justice system.

You will work with individuals experiencing complex needs and vulnerabilities, including mental health difficulties, substance misuse, homelessness and social exclusion. You will work across Newport Police Custody Suite and Newport Magistrates' Court and, as required, prison settings, providing specialist assessment, advice and care planning, identifying appropriate pathways into health and community services and helping people access the right support at the right time.

Ideally, you will live on the Isle of Wight. If you live off-island, you will need to consider ferry travel, including time, costs and potential weather-related disruption. The working pattern for the post is 9am-5pm, including every other weekend. There may be occasional travel across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire for training, team meetings and induction. Some locations are not accessible by public transport.

Applications will be considered as they are received and the vacancy may close early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore recommend applying early.Main duties of the job Triage,screenand assess needs within the following settings: police stations, custody suites, prison, communitysettings & magistrates' courts and provide assessments, advice & identifyrobust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has beenidentified.

To provide the police,court & prison with written & verbal informationpertaining tothe individual ina timelyfashion to inform disposal To work closely & build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court,probation & prisonacting as a single point of contact for health To work autonomously, with the ability to organise & manage own time according to delegated workload.

Working pattern& service operating hours : The widerHampshireLiaison and Diversionserviceoperates in police custody from 7am-8pm 7 days a week.Thecourtserviceoperatesfrom 9am-5pm,Monday to Friday. This Isle of Wight postwillwork 9am-5pm, including every other weekend, & will be based at Newport police custody suite. The role may also involve supporting colleagues remotelyacrossHampshirewhenrequired.

Occasionaltravel acrossHampshire & the Isle of Wight maybe expected, including for training, team meetings & during the induction period;some sites are not accessiblebypublictransport.Any request foraspecific workingpatterncan beconsidered in line with our flexible working policy., Liaison and Diversion (L&D) servicesidentifypeople who have vulnerabilities when they firstcome into contact withthe criminal justice system as suspects,defendantsor offenders.

L&D services aim to improve overall health outcomes for people and to support people in the reduction of re-offending through assessing, proactive onwardreferralsand informing decision makers. It also aims toidentifyvulnerabilities in people earlier on which reduces the likelihood that people will reach a crisis-point and helps to ensure the right support can be put in place from the start. Thesuccessful applicant will work in the police custody suites and occasionally the courts; workingwith people within the criminal justice system where vulnerabilities are suspected and further assessment isindicatedto inform disposal of the case and toidentifycare pathways forappropriate onwardreferral/support.

Due to the nature of the service, there is anadditionalrequirement to secure police/prisonvetting for this role. For the purposes of vetting, the candidate willrequireat least three-years residency in the UK.Vetting is a thorough investigation