Newly Qualified Liaison & Diversion Practitioner | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 28 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £31,049 - £37,796 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 December 2025 |
| Location: | Reading, RG1 8NQ |
| Company: | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7651174/371-MHS924-A |
Summary
Liaison & Diversion Newly Qualified Practitioner – Thames Valley - Band 5
We’re looking for a recently/newly qualified (or those who expect to qualify within the next 4 months) Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disabilities nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker to join our Thames Valley Liaison and Diversion team. You will have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion and a passion about supporting our service users as they make their way through police custody, court and up to prison.
Post will be rotational over an 18-month period. Initially started in police custody then moving across to court for then our Prison Reconnect Team. Each section of the service will have set competencies to be completed. Following this 18-month period of working 9-5 Monday to Friday the role will transition into a police custody role working shifts.
You will be offered access to the trusts Preceptorship Programme or AYSE support.
Berkshire Healthcare has been awarded the 2023 National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark.
Recognised with a number of awards, including a Thames Valley/Hampshire Constabulary Police Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare ‘Team of the Year’ and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform ‘Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year’.
You willwork with andsupport the senior practitioner within police custody,courtor prison.
• Triage,screenand assess needs with support from senior practitioners within the following settings: police stations, prisons, custody suites, communitysettingsand magistrates’ courts and provide assessments, advice andidentifyrobust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has beenidentified.
• Provide the police and court with written and verbal informationpertaining tothe individual ina timelyfashion to inform disposal.
• Work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court, and community
Working pattern + Service operating hours :Our serviceoperatesin police custody from 7am-8pm, 7 days a week currently usingearly/late/long daysto fulfil this. Our serviceoperatesin court from 9am-5pm, 5 days a week. Our serviceoperatesacross theThames Valley areaso travel across our sites will be expected, some of these sites are not accessible via public transport.Any request for specific working pattens can be considered In line with our flexible working policy.
This role willoperateMonday – Friday, 9am to 5pm on a rotational basis across police custody, court and reconnect.
Work base: You will work from within police custody suites,courtand prison on a rotational basis across Thames Valley.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites
FOR SECONDMENT ROLES ONLY - If the secondment role becomes permanent, the successful candidate may be offered the permanent position.
The “must haves” for this role:
• A professional qualification at degree level or equivalent in either Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Social Work along with relevant registration or pending registration
• A keen interest in Liaison and Diversion services.
• Driving license with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to travel to multiple sites across Thames Valley as required.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Service Manager Steph Gray on 0300 365 5555 (TV) or Stephanie.Gray@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help. You can find out more about the service on our website.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
This advert closes on Saturday 6 Dec 2025
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