Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Opportunity has arisen within Liaison and Diversion Team (L&D) for the role of an L&D Practitioner (Blackpool)., L&D services identify people who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
This is an 'all age' service and so you will be required to work with people from the age of 10 years upwards.
The main things that L&D services do for the people we see are identification, screening, assessment and referral to other services.

• We work in Police Custody Suites and Courts and offer assessments to individuals within the Criminal Justice system including Voluntary Attendees


• We look to identify unmet need and vulnerabilities that often lead to or exacerbate offending behaviour


• We liaise across agencies to support onward planning and intervention to address needs


• We offer some brief community based intervention to maximise service user access & engagement with those appropriate services


• We help to inform decision makers with relevant and timely information to support sentencing and disposal outcomes.

Important: This post is requires successful candidates to undergo Level 2 (full) Vetting from Lancashire Constabulary, clearance is essential in order to fulfil the role.

Essential Criteria: A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject OR Diploma in Health and Social Care AND/OR Experience of working with people with complex needs for a minimum of 2 years
Desirable: Professional recognised qualification such as RMN, Learning Disability Nurse, Social Worker, and Occupational Therapist. Psychology Degree CBT Diploma, Substance Misuse Diploma

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.
As an integrated Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:
+ Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
+ Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
+ Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.
The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, Psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.
For more information about Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT, Please note that further communication from Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCFT to contact them.
Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document. Applications from job share partners are welcome and other forms of flexible working will be considered for all posts.
For all posts which require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure & Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).
You are advised to consider applying for LSCFT vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within three weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Care is committed to celebrating difference as an asset and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds helps to create a more flexible, creative and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from people regardless of age, disability (especially those with experience of accessing mental health, or Learning Disability Services or caring for someone who has accessed mental health services or Learning Disability Services), ethnicity, gender, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Our goal is for the Trust to be truly representative of the communities we serve so we are particularly keen to receive applications from people in under-represented groups. The organisation is proud to be listed as one of the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers and our HR department holds the Lancashire LGBT Quality Mark. If there is anything you'd like to discuss in relation to your application
then please ask.