Job overview

Are you an experienced, highly motivated mental health practitioner and who is passionate about improving health outcomes for those within the Criminal Justice system? Do you want to be part of a well-established and highly reputable service within the Trust? Do you have excellent communication skills and an ability to build strong, robust relationships with others? 

We now have the opportunity to recruit 1 full time vacancy for Magistrates Court Liaison and Diversion Practitioner to join our well established Liaison and Diversion Service. This post will be based at Ealing Magistrates Court, which serves the West London area. The Magistrates Court L&D Practitioner will sit within a wider Liaison and Diversion service in West London NHS Trust, forensic community services, including Court Diversion at Isleworth Crown Court, Westminster Magistrates Court, Police custody in Acton and Hammersmith stations and Youth Justice Tri Borough. The post holder will be part of an established liaison and diversion service, working in partnership with the health sector, social services and the criminal justice system focusing on the Crown Court.
We are looking for suitably experienced mental health professionals rather than one particular discipline. We are interested in hearing from mental health/Learning disability nurses, social workers, clinical/forensic psychologists or occupational therapists. Speech and Language also welcome, if you have considerable mental health experience.

Main duties of the job

This scheme, commissioned by NHS England operate to a standard model and similar schemes are now available in every part of the country. It is an all-age service and all women and people under the age of 18 are screened as mandatory due to their vulnerability within the system. The Liaison and Diversion service provides proactive case identification, screening, assessment, liaison and diversion in all Police Custody Suites and Magistrates’ Courts within the catchment of the West London. Liaison and Diversion services are responsible for providing mental health screening assessment for detained persons. Where detained persons are identified who require further assessment and intervention, they will provide it or ensure appropriate referrals are made.

The post holder will:

• To provide a specialist service to the Magistrate’s Court in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Assist the court in providing up to date information on a defendant’s mental health.
• Offer a single referral/contact point for all stakeholders, inside and outside the court in any court process when mental health issues arise such as to prisons.
• You will need excellent communication and risk management skills and demonstrate a commitment to close partnership working with the Court staff, prisons and other agencies.
• The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate knowledge and direct experience of the Court/Liaison and Diversion process and relevant Mental Health legislation. 

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m. 

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.