Mental Health Practitioner

We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner (RMN, RNLD, Social Worker, OT) to join the Integrated Non-Custodial Liaison and Diversion service, offering assessment and support for children and young people within police custody suites across Wiltshire and Swindon. The role will be based in a variety of settings, predominantly in police custody suites, with a developing early-intervention role in the community for children and young people on the cusp of criminal justice involvement.

The Integrated Non-Custodial (IN‑CS) Liaison and Diversion service offers assessment and support for children and young people within police custody suites and other criminal justice settings in Wiltshire and Swindon. We operate under an all‑vulnerabilities model, identifying care pathways for children and young people with a wide range of support needs, including mental health needs, substance misuse issues, learning disabilities and neurodiversity.

The successful applicant will be working specifically with children within the criminal justice system, to inform the disposal of cases and to identify robust care pathways. This involves a commitment to close partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sector agencies, and a commitment to working with a complex and diverse range of young people with varying needs.

• To attend police custody and courts and provide mental health assessments, advice, and identify robust care pathways for individuals where a potential mental health need has been identified.
• To provide the police or courts with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal of the case.
• Prepare comprehensive health and social circumstances reports where indicated, within a specified timeframe.
• To work closely with, and build links with, all referring agencies within police custody and court, acting as a single point of contact for Health.
• To address the court in person when necessary, in order to advise the court on the disposal and care pathway of a particular case.
• To signpost and refer to appropriate services for the identified needs of the service user.
• To make recommendations to police and court regarding whether the criminal justice system remains involved or diversion is indicated.
• To build a good working knowledge of the Mental Health Act in relation to the courts and the criminal justice system.
• Where diversion is indicated, to facilitate Mental Health Act assessments in conjunction with the AWP Assessment Teams.
• To refer to the Youth Detention Services where custody is indicated, ensuring appropriate risk information is received along the care pathway.
• To provide specialist advice and service to the Youth Custody Service and the custody suites where indicated.
• To be responsible for adhering to all Trust policies and procedures.
• To communicate clearly with a diverse group of service users.
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
• Take accountability for own professional practice.
• The ability to formulate a risk assessment and risk management plan.
• To provide formal and informal clinical supervision to junior staff, students and mental health workers where appropriate and in agreement with the team manager.
• To facilitate the efficient operation of the team, including providing cover for the role of Team Manager in their absence as required.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community‑based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire, and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person‑centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees provide better care. AWP is committed to supporting and creating a positive, research‑active and evidence‑based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and on the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP, we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.