Senior Mental Health Practitioner
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 19/08/2026
- Closes
- 02/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“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.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role is for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner within the Forensic Liaison & Diversion (L&D) Service. The service provides early intervention for vulnerable individuals in the criminal justice system, offering screening, assessment, and pathways to care. The practitioner will work in Wandsworth Police Custody and Wimbledon Magistrates, providing specialist forensic mental health knowledge and clinical leadership to a team. The aim is to improve health outcomes for mentally disordered offenders and reduce reoffending.
Essential criteria
- Degree in Social Work or CQSW/Dip Social Worker OR RMN qualification
- Post-qualifying/registration training
Desirable criteria
- Educated to Masters Level.
- Knowledge of the South London Partnership ( SLP) ASW / AMPH
- Experience of up to 2 years as a Band 6 or above and demonstrable achievement in working within a forensic and/or community setting and or with experience in working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Robust working knowledge and/or experience of the criminal justice system.
- Knowledge of appropriate mental health legislation and relevant national policy developments in Offender Health.
- Skilled in the assessment and management of risk.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
- Successful Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) vetting is essential for this role
- Experience of engaging/supporting clinical research projects
- Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
- Knowledge & Skills
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step-down services and community.
- Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Housing Act, Quality & Safety Governance, Clinical audit and relevant national policies
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending behaviour and mental disorder.
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives.
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step down services and community
- Understanding of The Bradley Report in relation to L&D services
- Training & Qualifications
- Degree in Social Work or CQSW/Dip Social Worker OR RMN qualification
- Post-qualifying/registration training
- Educated to Masters Level.
- Knowledge of the South London Partnership ( SLP) ASW / AMPH
- Experience of up to 2 years as a Band 6 or above and demonstrable achievement in working within a forensic and/or community setting and or with experience in working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Robust working knowledge and/or experience of the criminal justice system.
- Knowledge of appropriate mental health legislation and relevant national policy developments in Offender Health.
- Skilled in the assessment and management of risk.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
- Successful Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) vetting is essential for this role
- Experience of engaging/supporting clinical research projects
- Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
- Knowledge & Skills
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step-down services and community.
- Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Housing Act, Quality & Safety Governance, Clinical audit and relevant national policies
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- Ability to effectively deal with aggression as well as exposure to distressing emotional situations related to serious offending behaviour and mental disorder.
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives.
- Knowledge of the forensic pathway throughout all levels of security to include step down services and community
- Understanding of The Bradley Report in relation to L&D services
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £58,133 – £65,261 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 11d ago · Closes in 4d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
The Forensic Liaison & Diversion (L&D) Service is looking for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our service. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join the Forensic Liaison and Diversion Team in South-West London & St George's Mental Health Trust (SWLSTG).
The Forensic Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services aim to provide early intervention for vulnerable people of all ages as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. L&D services provide a prompt response to concerns raised by the police, probation service, youth offending teams or court staff, and provide critical information to decision-makers in the justice system, in real time, when it comes to charging and sentencing these vulnerable people. L&D also acts as a point of referral and assertive follow up for these services users, to ensure they can access, and are supported to attend, treatment and rehabilitation appointments.
In this way, L&D services are expected to help reduce reoffending, reduce unnecessary use of police and court time, ensure that health matters are dealt with by healthcare professionals, and reduce health inequalities for some of the most vulnerable in society.
Main duties of the job
Improving health outcomes for mentally disordered offenders through early identification and screening and providing interventions that facilitate timely and appropriat
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