About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced, highly motivated mental health practitioner, with CAMHS/Youth Justice experience and who is passionate about improving health outcomes for young people within the Criminal Justice system?
We now have the opportunity to recruit a full time (1.0 WTE) Band 7 Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner, Hammersmith and Fulham Borough, to join our well established and expanding Liaison and Diversion service within West London. This is a 12-month fixed term contract and would consider a secondment internally. As part of your role, you will be expected to attend police custody, to screen and assess any under 18 presenting. This is deemed the "reachable moment" within Youth Justice. The two custody suites, Hammersmith and Acton, serves a large diverse borough within the West London area.
The Youth Justice Liaison team sits within a wider Liaison and Diversion service in West London NHS Trust, including Court Diversion at Westminster and Ealing, Crown Court at Isleworth and Police Liaison service at Acton and Hammersmith, alongside two other YJLD practitioners in Hounslow and Ealing boroughs.
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 or occupational therapists.
Main duties of the job
We provide proactive screening and assessment to individuals within Police custody, Youth Justice Teams and Court, identifying need/vulnerabilities, signposting to other services and where indicated diverting to health. You will be screening those under 18.
Our aim is to improve overall health outcomes, reduce further police contact and re-offending rates, and to avert disorder-related crises. Your will improve access to appropriate services for vulnerable young people by making referrals to health and social care agencies as required. The YJLD Worker may also need to make a care plan to address the needs of the young person while a referral is being made and is expected to hold a small caseload, while assertively in reaching to other services.
The service needs practitioners who can think quickly and work independently under pressure when screening and assessing vulnerable young people in the Youth Justice service. You will need excellent communication and risk management skills and demonstrate a commitment to close partnership working with the Police, YJS, Education and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary.
The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate knowledge and direct experience of the crisis pathway and risk management to a high standard and should have previous significant clinical experience working with young people within acute, community and/or forensic settings.
About us
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' overallby 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.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training Essential
Professional qualification in mental health (e.g. Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker). Current registration with appropriate body overseeing professional practice (e.g. NMC, HCPC). Educated to degree level or willing to work towards. Competence in relation to clinical information systems, spreadsheets and data bases.
Desirable
Professional training in one or more psychological therapies
Experience Essential
Experience of working with young people in a mental health setting. Experience of working autonomously and managing a case load.
Desirable
Experience of working with young people in a youth justice setting (YOI, YJS).
Knowledge Essential
Mental Health Act Children's Act Police and Criminal Evidence Act Understanding of statutory guidance affecting young people under 18 in the NHS and social care. Knowledge and experience of legislation and guidance around safeguarding children and young people.
Desirable
Knowledge of Northwest and West London and/or H&F area.
Personal Qualities Essential
Flexibility and creativity in working to meet needs of young people and their families. Resilience - able to deal with complex and changing professional challenges. Excellent communication skills - verbal and written.
Desirable
Confidence in public speaking and informal teaching.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name West London NHS Trust
Address Hammersmith YJS
145 King Street
Hammersmith
W6 9JT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)