Job summary
We are looking for you 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.

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.'

We operate across Thames Valley, working for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

Please note: This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK immigration rules. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Main duties of the job
Monday - Friday 9am-5pm based primarily within community setting but also meeting service users within the police custodies

• You will support children and young people (CYP) within the community and custody settings who are typically hard to engage, you will talk to families and professionals, to gain a holistic understanding of the CYP's circumstances and facilitate their access to support services, providing individualised support with practical problems or difficulties that may be affecting their health and wellbeing.
• An empathetic advocate of service users, you will promote their rights and responsibilities, building a rapport, whilst maintaining appropriate and transparent boundaries. You will be emotionally resilient, able to cope with people potentially displaying challenging behaviour and distressing situations
• To provide help and advice to service users that includes housing, social isolation and exclusion, education, debt management and employment problems etc.
• To provide the court with written and verbal information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform court disposal
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and Youth Justice System as a single point of contact for health.
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload

About us
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

Job responsibilities
The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

• An NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent or relevant training to diploma level.
• A warm personality, good communication and people skills.
• Access to a vehicle which can be used for work purposes or able to travel across multiple sites in Thames Valley as require to meet the needs of the service.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be 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: Stonewall Proud Employer, 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 welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact Winnie OyoIta on email Winnie.OyoIta@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

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

Person Specification
Education, qualifications or training
Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent OR
• Significant experience at a Band 3 level or equivalent within health and social care.
• Completed the Care Certificate or willingness to work towards if outside NHS.

Continuous Professional Development
Essential

• Evidence of professional development and training.

Previous Experience
Essential

• Experience of supporting children and young people with identified vulnerabilities.

Desirable

• Experience of mentoring, supervising, and supporting junior staff.
• Experience of teaching/training individuals and groups.

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Demonstrate well developed written communication skills, with the ability to produce letters, write reports, maintain accurate records, and record statistical information.
• Able to demonstrate a good understanding of children and young people's mental health, neurodiversity, trauma, safeguarding, contextual risk and the impact of social inequalities, with a positive non-judgemental approach towards CYP within the criminal justice system.
• Team-working skills within a multi-disciplinary group
• Ability to work with children and young people who may be difficult for services to engage, including those presenting with distress, challenging behaviours, trauma responses, neurodiversity, exploitation risk, or complex safeguarding needs

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.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, 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.