Mersey Care wins Merseyside contract for Liaison and Diversion and Reconnect services

Mersey Care has been awarded the contract to provide Liaison and Diversion and Reconnect services in Merseyside for the next five years, continuing to provide mental health services for those who enter the criminal justice system.

The Trust’s Liaison and Diversion and Reconnect team will continue to offer a host of services, including identification, screening, assessment and referrals for people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities once they become part of the criminal justice pathway.

“Mersey Care will not only maintain our established high standards of service delivery but also drive significant improvements in the outcomes for this client group,” explained Lynn Hughes, the Trust’s Deputy Divisional Director for Urgent Care.

“We plan to build on our existing strengths while better aligning to the national specification to meet the evolving needs of vulnerable people in contact with the criminal justice pathway.” 

The service received over 19,000 referrals in custody in the year from February 2024 and the new model will focus on key enhancements to the service, including: 

• Implementing a more integrated care pathway, improving co-ordination between Liaison and Diversion, Reconnect and other Mersey Care services 
• Enhancing our digital capabilities, transitioning to a unified record keeping system to improve information sharing and service user care 
• Strengthening our partnerships with police, courts and community organisations to ensure a more cohesive approach to supporting service users. 

The award of the new contract, which begins this month (April 2025), to Mersey Care maintains continuity of care within the service and established relationships with key stakeholders, allowing the Trust to enhance services rather than build a completely new model and ensuring a smooth transition for vulnerable people and our partners.