Magistrates Court Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Job summary

We’re looking for a qualified Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disabilities Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Health Visitor, Public Health Nurse or Social Worker to join our 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 prison.

We are a dynamic, people-centred team who are looking for some who is passionate about health outcomes for those making their way through the criminal justice system.

With a reputation for excellence, our service is committed to improving the health of our clients, identifying care pathways, and reducing reoffending.

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’.

We value our employees and put people first. We achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating overall in our latest CQC inspection, which found that: ‘Managers across Berkshire Healthcare promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.’

Main duties of the job

Triage, screen and assess needs predominately within magistrate’s court, however able to support with other aspects of the service such as custody suites, prison, provide assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has been identified. This role is predominantly based within the magistrates setting.

To act as lead for Hampshire and IOW magistrates’ court and provide clinical in-put to the wider pathways under Liaison and Diversion Services when required (including police custody, volunteer attendance and Reconnect).

To provide the police, court and prison with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.

Working pattern + Service operating hours

Our service operates in police custody from 7am-8pm, 7 days a week currently using long days to fulfil this. Our service operates in court from 9am-5pm, 5 days a week. Our service operates across the Hampshire and IOW area so 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 operates in magistrates court 9am to 5pm.

Work base:You will work from within Magistrates Court within predominately Southampton and across Hampshire and IOW when required.

Person Specification

Education, qualifications or training

Essential

  • A professional qualification at diploma, postgraduate or degree level in either Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Learning Disability Nurse, Public Nursing or Health Visitor status with the necessary experience
  • Hold current registration with pertinent body as listed for the professional qualifications above (NMC, HCPC, Social Work)

Desirable

  • Mentorship qualification or equivalent teaching qualification/training.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support
  • Further evidence of post registration training and professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a community or acute setting or criminal justice environment.
  • Experience of delivering supervision to more junior staff
  • Previous experience of working with specialist groups of people with complex needs, for example, including young people, people with dual diagnoses and personality disorder.

Desirable

  • Experience of operating across Criminal Justice & Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
  • Experience of managing performance, breaches in policy & liaising closely with Human Resources

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

  • Able to assess and manage risk, formulate mitigation plans taking into account health and criminal justice outcomes
  • Ability to work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
  • Ability to show collaborative approach to service user care

Desirable

  • Knowledge of Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the PACE Codes of Practice 2004

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to use multiple IT systems to an advanced level including, excel, mental health record systems and Microsoft applications
  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
  • Ability to travel efficiently to multiple sites
  • In addition to DBS there is additional requirement to secure police vetting for this role.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 19 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.