Mental health liaison practitioner

Main area Urgent Care Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

Employer Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Dept of Psychiatry, Pilgrim Hospital Town Boston Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 10/06/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

We are looking for Mental Health Practitioners with experience with the patient groups to which the service will be delivered. It is expected that your primary role will be to carry out comprehensive Bio-Psychosocial Assessments in line with NICE Guidelines and Evidence Based Treatment Pathways for persons presenting to the Acute hospital.

You will be contributing to the Multi-disciplinary Team approach to ensure the best outcome possible for our patients. You will need to demonstrate high functioning in risk management, communication skills and exceptional personal qualities to deliver high quality care and assessment to patients. Developing effective partnership working with the acute hospital trust and wider key stakeholders.

Suitably qualified, experienced (at least 2 years) and registered Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers are encouraged to apply. Hours of Work: Core 24 service over a 7day period.

Main duties of the job

This post will provide operational support as part of our Mental Health Liaison Service (MHLS) working in partnership with United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and aims to provide emergency and urgent mental health support to people in A&E and General Wards. It will also review and signpost those who have been admitted concerning CAMHS and drug & alcohol related mental health needs.

Furthermore, we require those who can demonstrate strong values to create and foster a culture that supports and enables the development of the Liaison service.

We need individuals who are dynamic, passionate and committed to achieving quality outcomes that will ensure above all else the needs of the patient are paramount in everything we do.

We will make a commitment of ensuring you are provided with high quality supervision, mentoring and access to national conferences and training to support your development, knowledge and skills to succeed in delivering high quality care.

Working for our organisation

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services and a number of learning disability, autism and social care services in the county of Lincolnshire.

We offer options for flexible working and provide a wide range of training and promotion opportunities in all professions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a high standard of clinical care ensuring safe and effective assessment, treatment and comprehensive discharge planning using highly developed clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment tools.

To delegate aspects of the patient treatment plan to other members of the team, whilst maintaining overall responsibility for patients care, where appropriate.

To manage case-load and service delivery in accordance with and in order to contribute towards the attainment of Service/Trust productivity requirements (Key Performance Indicators).

Work with individuals to assess their mental health, recognise mental illness and identify their related needs and circumstances; and enable them to understand, manage and where appropriate change their behaviour.

Plan, implement, review and improve interventions to meet people’s identified needs and manage their inherent risk with comprehensive Clinical Risk Formulation.

To assess carers’ and families needs and develop, implement and review programmes of support for carers and families.

Protect people from abuse, neglect and harm.

To work collaboratively and promote effective working relationships with members of the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring effective and appropriate clinical decision-making, with other professionals and agencies.

To maintain accurate and timely clinical records and to co-ordinate and monitor those of the team.

To adhere to N.M.C. or other professional codes of conduct and ethics, plus associated legislation.

To develop clinical practice having due regard tor the NICE Guidelines for Liaison Psychiatry 2016.

To demonstrate empowering leadership skills within the Mental Health Liaison Team and seek opportunities in local and national areas to promote and develop the profession.

To participate in Clinical Governance activities, including: induction, supervision, personal development review, health and safety, risk management and audit.

Person specification

Qualifications

• RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapist. Professional Registration (NMC) or degree or equivalent to profession
• Evidence of specialised continued professional training in clinical practice
• Educated to degree or diploma level

Experience

• Relevant experience of working with people with mental health needs, especially dementia and older adults.
• Or substantial experience of working with individuals in crisis
• Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions based upon an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options
• Sound knowledge of clinical/risk assessment and understanding of Information Governance principles
• An understanding of the impact physical ill health can have upon mental health
• Ability to work independently and collectively
• Mentorship qualification or training
• ENB998 / FliPS or equivalent
• Experience of working within a Hospital Liaison environment
• Working knowledge of Assessment tools
• Working with people who have suicidal ideation
• Working within a multi-disciplinary approach to healthcare
• Experience of teaching in a formal or informal setting

Skills

• Excellent assessment and risk management skills
• Sound knowledge of the national agenda for mental health 5 year forward view
• Demonstrating supportive and sensitive communication to patients, carers and staff, whilst demonstrating an understanding of the nature and effects of some information Highly motivated & able to engage with service users & carers to improve outcomes.
• Highly developed clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to engage with patients experiencing High Expressed Emotion
• Experience of working with patients who have self harming behaviours
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and MCA (2005)
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Moderate IT skills including use of multiple clinical systems
• Knowledge of current agenda and guidance towards Mental Health Liaison

As an ethical recruiter we will not pursue applications from red list countries as defined by the World Health Organisation. In order to pursue and apply for this role you must have UK NHS experience.

We reserve the right to withdraw or close a vacancy at any time. We will give priority to employees who are at risk.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Debbie Judge Job title Clinical Lead Mental health Liaison Practitioner Email address Debbie.judge1@nhs.net Telephone number 01205 445153