Liaison and diversion services: embedding the role of learning disability nurses
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0039 |
| Date | 13 June 2016 |
| Published date | 13 June 2016 |
| Pages | 56-65 |
| Author | Vanessa Louise Shaw |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour |
Liaison and diversion services:
embedding the role of learning
disability nurses
Vanessa Louise Shaw
Vanessa Louise Shaw is a
Learning Disability Practitioner
at the Specialist Services,
Lancashire Criminal Justice
Liaison and Diversion Team,
Lancashire Care NHS Trust,
Burnley, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to improve the health and criminal justice outcomes for people who
come into contact with the criminal justice system. People with learning disabilities (LD) are particularly
vulnerable to health and social inequalities within the criminal justice system.
Design/methodology/approach –Using examples from practice, this paper discusses some of the
challenges and achievements experienced by a LD nurse employed within a liaison and diversion service
within the North-West of England.
Findings –Whilst the specific functions of liaison and diversion practitioners are detailed by National Health
Service (NHS) England (2014), complexities in communication, multi-disciplinary working and role recognition
affect the embedment of the role in practice.
Research limitations/implications –The implications for practice are identified and recommendations for
further research made. These seek to evaluate the impact of liaison and diversion services from the
perspectives of LD nurses within liaison and diversion services, people with LD, their families and the wider
multi-disciplinary team.
Originality/value –NHS England (2015) are in the process of evaluating of liaison and diversion services.
This paper adds to the evaluation by discussing the experiences of a LD nurse within a liaison and diversion
service through the inclusion of activity data and illustrative examples.
Keywords Communication, Learning disability, Liaison, Offenders, Diversion, Education and training
Paper type General review
Introduction
The National LD Professional Senate (2015) states that current service delivery for people with
learning disabilities (LD) must be:
[…] based on strong community support services, planned around people in the environment that
they are in, focussing on person-centred care, and looking at each individual’s needs. This approach
should be applied to all, including people with very complex support needs. Services must
be committed to achieving the outcomes of “rights, inclusion, independence and choice”[…] [with]
two critical priorities for action: Reducing Restrictive Practices and Reducing Health Disparities
(National LD Professional Senate, 2015, p. 4).
Evidence of the health and social inequalities experienced by people with LD, when compared to
the general population, is now well-established (Emerson and Baines, 2011). This is especially
true for people with LD within the criminal justice system, who are vulnerable to experiencing
health and social inequalities (Michael, 2008; Loucks, 2007). The reasons suggested for this can
be broadly discussed as comprising factors relating to LD and issues relating to service
Received 30 September 2015
Revised 30 October 2015
Accepted 9 November 2015
PAGE56
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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VOL. 7 NO. 2 2016, pp.56-65, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0039
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