Specialist Liaison & Diversion Court Practitioner

Job overview
Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.
Would you like a fascinating, autonomous 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 Courts 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, writing comprehensive reports 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, with this role being predominantly focused on our Court pathway.
We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic practitioner, with a keen eye for assessment and formulation to respond to referrals from within the criminal justice system and support individuals with identified health or social vulnerabilities when they present at Kent & Medway Magistrates Courts.

• The successful candidate will predominantly work in Kent & Medway's Magistrates Courts so some experience of liaison, crisis intervention or forensic services would be an advantage. You will be working with people who experience mental health needs, learning disabilities, communication difficulties, drug and alcohol misuse and other health and social vulnerabilities.
• This role is focused on engagement and assessment to inform nationally agreed Court reports in order to support our client's at a critical time in their Criminal Justice journey, with recommendations being used to advise on the most appropriate and robust outcomes and care pathways.
• In essence, you will 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.

Working for our organisation
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, wecare for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.
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 tomake 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

Detailed job description and main 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 criteria

• A BSc or equivalent qualification/experience at post registration level
• Member of a professional body

Desirable criteria

• Further training, relevant to the role, at post graduate (MSc) or equivalent level

Experience

Essential criteria

• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience in mental health
• Minimum 2 years within experience of working within a community mental health team
• Understanding and expertise in the principles of risk assessment and risk management
• Experience of forensic mental health and/or the criminal justice system

Desirable criteria

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

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication, networking and negotiation skills
• Clear precise and professional written reporting skills
• A detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation, procedures and policies relating to Mental Health Care
• Ability to work autonomously and cooperatively as part of a multi-agency team

Desirable criteria

• A working knowledge of the sections applied in a forensic setting
• A demonstratable understanding of the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) principles

Important Information:
In cases where we receive a high volume of applications for a post, it may be necessary to bring the closing date forward. Please submit your completed application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible to respond individually to your application. Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the vacancy closing, please assume that your application has not been successful.

Probation Period. New employees external to the trust are subject to a six-month probationary period.
To deliver an effective service it is essential in some of our roles that you are able to travel between work bases in a timely manner.
Production of false or forged documents/qualifications in order to obtain employment is a criminal offence and will be reported to the Police.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Certain roles are subject to criminal record checks called Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Therefore, you will be required to submit a completed Disclosure form to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust are signed up to NHS England's Sexual Safety in Health Care Organisational Charter
The trust takes a systematic zero-tolerance approach to tackle any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace and in our care provision. We are committed to sexual safety which encompasses prevention, support and decisive action against perpetrators. We are committed to keeping you and our patients