New provider for Liaison and Diversion Services in West Mercia page thumbnail

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to be the new provider of Liaison and Diversion Services in West Mercia from 1 April 2022.

Liaison and Diversion Practitioners work within police custody suites, magistrate courts and the community to assess vulnerable individuals with complex needs who are brought into the Criminal Justice System having been accused of criminal activity.

Individuals may be referred to the service when they present with a range of vulnerabilities, such as: mental illness, alcohol and substance use, homelessness, acquired brain injury, learning disabilities, physical health issues, speech and language communication difficulties.

MPFT is a specialist provider of criminal justice services including Liaison and Diversion Services in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire and will be extending provision across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  Colleagues have expertise in prison and community services.

Jane Pulfer, Service Lead for the Liaison and Diversion Service said, “We are really excited to be expanding our service and to welcome colleagues from Herefordshire and Worcestershire to our team.  We recognise that a person’s past experiences and health needs can be contributing factors in them getting involved with the Criminal Justice System.  With our support to identify and address health needs, individuals can make positive changes which reduce the risk of them reoffending”.

The new service will retain the expertise of existing staff and further recruitment is underway.  The team are looking forward to further developing the service and in particular to rolling out Silvercloud, a package of online, digital resources to support mental wellbeing.  There are also plans for additional investment in online assessment technology which will increase capacity and efficiency.