Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion Practitioner

To improve early identification in the youth justice system of young people (up to age 18) with mental health problems, neuro-developmental issues, conduct disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities or other vulnerabilities.
- The primary function of the role is to screen all young people who have been arrested for an extensive range of mental health, emotional and social need, completing ongoing specialist assessments as required, and identifying and referring on to appropriate interventions to meet assessed need. The screening and assessment will inform the charging decision thus diverting some young people from the criminal justice system or ensuring that their needs are met within it.

The primary function of the role is to screen all young people who have been arrested for an extensive range of mental health, emotional and social need, completing ongoing specialist assessments as required, and identifying and referring on to appropriate interventions to meet assessed need. The screening and assessment will inform the charging decision thus diverting some young people from the criminal justice system or ensuring that their needs are met within it.
To provide assertive approaches to improve access for young people referred to YJLD and their families for assessment and interventions for mental health problems, neuro-developmental issues, conduct disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities or other vulnerabilities.
To provide Early Intervention time limited packages of mental health care including individual and family psychological based therapies.
To improve interagency preventative working with vulnerable young people.
CNWL’s Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service has grown and developed steadily with new and exciting services in police custody and courts. We have formed a partnership with other providers to implement the DOH Operating Model for an all age and all vulnerabilities model of delivery.
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service is being developed to provide mental health assessments, identify care pathways, and where indicated diversion to individuals within the police custody suites, courts and probation services.
Common failures
- Non-declaration of criminal convictions or Police involvement;
I.E investigations even if no further action, warnings, cautions (No matter how old)
- County court judgements
- Less than 3-year Residency
- Defaults - No debt management plans in place.
- Convictions which resulted in imprisonment or suspended sentence

ALL family members, partners, co-residents and parents’ partners must be provided
Address history must run 5 years straight.
- To ensure all young people referred to YJLD are offered timely screening and specialist assessment for mental health problems, neuro-developmental issues, conduct disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities or other vulnerabilities.
- To provide risk assessment and appropriate risk management for young people referred to YJLD with mental health problems, neuro-developmental issues, conduct disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities or other vulnerabilities.
- To ensure access to appropriate services to support children and young people referred through the YJLD scheme. In a holistic way, acting as a care coordinator/lead practitioner, to identify needs and facilitate complex care plans, referring to health and social care agencies as required.
- The YJLD practitioner will take a proactive role in ensuring young people engage with services they have been referred to, and that regular follow ups with these services are undertaken to check the progress and engagement of the young person.
- To liaise with Police, Crown Prosecution Service and other Court stakeholders as appropriate with regard to children and young people’s level of engagement and consent and in line with the protocol agreed between Youth Justice Services, Police and Crown Prosecution Service.