Court Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

Are you outgoing, hard working, self motivated and ambitious with an interest with helping people in the criminal justice system? If so, we have the perfect job for you!

We are looking for a Registered Mental Health, Learning Disability, Adult or Childrens Nurse, a Social Worker or Occupational Therapist to join the Dorset Integrated Non-Custodial Service as a Mental Health Practitioner in Dorset’s Magistrates’ Courts.

This Monday to Friday service supports people with mental health and substance misuse issues, learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities who are going through the criminal justice system. The aim is to improve their overall health outcomes and support them in the reduction of re-offending, identifying vulnerabilities that could lead to crisis point and ensure the right support can be put in place.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

After a bespoke induction you will work closely with the Crown Court Practitioner to introduce the service into Magistrates’ Courts then act as the single point of contact for Judges, Magistrates, Probation, Court Officials, Police and the Prison Service.

Your excellent clinical skills will be used to assess defendants then plan, implement and evaluate their care. You will provide clinical advice and support to colleagues and assist in the production of probation and medical reports.

You will be required to cover periods of leave in Bournemouth Crown Court. Some courts offer free parking, for those that don’t you will be able to re-claim the cost of your parking along with any mileage you incur driving between your base and other sites of work.

The Court environment is unique and new to most people. Before applying for this post, we strongly recommend you contact the team on 01202 705526 to gain a better understanding of the role.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net