Liaison and Diversion Service

  • All age all vulnerability service embedded at the heart of the criminal justice system (CJS). Screening, assessment, and referral onwards to mainstream and voluntary/third sector services for those who come into contact with the CJS.

  • Base: Swanswell Point, however the service works across Criminal Justice areas within the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
  • Directorate: Mental Health
  • Client Age: All age
  • Referral Criteria: Professional and self-referral for persons who are in contact with criminal justice services. Referrals accepted from criminal justice staff, police, court probation, police/court healthcare staff, other liaison and diversion services and self-referral.
  • Address: Swanswell Point, Stoney Stanton Road, CV1 4FS
  • Reception hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
  • Clinic hours: Main service hours: Monday to Friday - 8:30am to 4:30pm Police custody: 7 days a week - 7:30am to 8pm

About us

The Liaison and Diversion Service aims to improve overall health and social outcomes with an aim of reducing re-offending by identifying vulnerabilities and unmet needs to help to ensure the right support can be put in place at the earliest opportunity.

The service works within criminal justice areas as well as NHS health bases across Coventry and Warwickshire:


Police Custody Service

Professionally registered liaison and diversion practitioners provide an embedded service to Coventry, Nuneaton and Leamington police custodies 7 days a week 7:30am to 8pm. Practitioners provide initial assessment, identification of needs, liaison and referral on.


Voluntary attendees

Many people will be diverted away from arrest and police custody and instead will have contact with police via a voluntary interview in the community. Liaison and diversion aims to reflect the service and support provided to persons subject to arrest for those who have contact with criminal justice agencies in the community. Local policing partners from Coventry and Warwickshire can refer using the screening referral form below prior to the planned interview date, so assessment and support can be provided in preparation for the interview. Alternatively police officers can also liaise with liaison and diversion practitioners in custody areas for advice and information regarding referrals or contact our main office via telephone to discuss.


Court

Professionally registered liaison and diversion practitioners provide an embedded service across Magistrates and Crown courts within the Coventry and Warwickshire area 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Practitioners will proactively identify as well as accept referrals from court professionals to support liaison and completion of court reports with the persons consent, these are delivered to the judiciary and other court professionals such as probation, to aid informed and holistic decision making with regards to sentencing and support.


Outreach

2 teams covering the Coventry and Warwickshire area (including North/South/Rugby). Registered practitioners and experienced support staff accept referrals from all areas of the Liaison and Diversion Service (custody, court, voluntary interviews) as well as provide support for persons self referring to the service and referrals from other liaison and diversion teams across the country for those persons returning to the locality. The team aims to support vulnerabilities identified at first contact by providing ongoing assessment, referral on and support to attend first appointments in the community. Operating 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Please use form below to make a referral or contact the team via telephone.

 

The service also has embedded peer workers with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Our peer workers use their own experiences to provide a visible model of recovery and are invaluable in supporting engagement and helping to break patterns and the cycle of re-offending.

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.

Telephone number

024 76961214 (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: NHS 111 and select the mental health option.


Professionals referral form

Coventry and Warwickshire Liaison and Diversion Referral Form