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Telephone number: 024 7696 1214 (Please note this telephone is not a crisis point of contact and is not operational out of office hours and at times throughout the day). If you are in a crisis telephone: 03002000011 – option 1.

Referral criteria: Professional

 

About Liaison and Diversion

Liaison and Diversion services identify people who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders. The service can then support people through the early stages of criminal system pathway, refer them for appropriate health or social care or enable them to be diverted away from the criminal justice system into a more appropriate setting, if required. Liaison and Diversion services aim to improve overall health outcomes for people and to support people in the reduction of re-offending. It also aims to identify vulnerabilities in people earlier on which reduces the likelihood that people will reach a crisis-point and helps to ensure the right support can be put in place from the start.

Coventry and Warwickshire Liaison and Diversion service operates right across the area as follows:

Custody: Mental Health trained practitioners cover Coventry, Leamington and Nuneaton custodies, 7 days a week, 07:30 to 8pm. Providing initial assessment, identification of needs, Liaison and referral on.

Court: A practitioner covers both Coventry and Leamington Magistrates court: 08:30 to 4:30 Monday to Saturday. They will complete court reports with the persons consent, which are delivered to the judiciary, who can then make an informed decisions with regards to sentencing and support.

Outreach: A practitioner and 2 support workers for each area, cover Coventry, Leamington and Nuneaton. The teams provide ongoing assessment referral on and support to attend first appointments in the community following release from custody/court. Operating 08:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday.

The team also aim to raise awareness and understanding of vulnerabilities for those working within the criminal justice system through formal, informal training and networking days.

The main areas the Liaison and Diversion service covers are: identification, screening, assessment, referral to other services and support to attend first appointments. 

Identification: Criminal justice agencies working at the Police and Courts stages of the pathway are trained to recognise possible signs of vulnerability in people when they first meet them. They then alert their local Liaison and Diversion service about the person.

Screening: Once someone is identified as having a potential vulnerability, the Liaison and Diversion practitioner can go through screening questions to identify the need, level of risk and urgency presented. It also helps determine whether further assessment is required.

Assessment:  Using approved screening and assessment tools an Liaison and Diversion practitioner will undertake a more detailed assessment of the person’s vulnerability. This provides more information on a person’s needs and also whether they should be referred on for treatment or further support.

Referral:  The Liaison and Diversion practitioner may refer someone to appropriate mainstream health and social care services or other relevant interventions and support services that can help. A person is also supported to attend their first appointment. Liaison and Diversion  services will also provide a route to treatment for people whose offending behaviour is linked to their illness or vulnerability.