An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 MHCAS Clinician to join the newly developed Mental Health Crisis and Assessment Service (MHCAS) at Lakeside Mental Health Unit.
As a key member of this innovative service, you will provide rapid assessment, intervention, and risk management for patients presenting in mental health crisis. You will make autonomous clinical decisions regarding admission and discharge, deliver high-quality evidence-based care, and provide specialist advice and liaison support to colleagues across the unit.
The role also includes supervision of junior staff, shift coordination, and active involvement in service development, audit, and teaching. You will act as a role model for best practice, supporting staff and students while ensuring safe, compassionate, and patient‑centred care.
We are seeking motivated, skilled clinicians who can combine clinical expertise with leadership and a commitment to improving outcomes for people in crisis.
Main duties of the job
- Have theoretical knowledge of mental health liaison emergency and ward based work deploying a wide range of theoretical approaches and utilise a wide variety of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are required to be seen.
- Be accountable and take direct responsibility for carrying out comprehensive assessments including risk assessments unsupervised. Develop, implement, evaluate and document specialist care.
- Undertake PMVA techniques to prevent and manage escalation in terms of patient harm to self and others.
- Work closely with the WLT wide Crisis services and maintain good working practices with all other Crisis and Home Treatment Teams (CAHTT) as a means of ensuring least restrictive practice and outcomes.
- Make autonomous decisions regarding the discharge and admission of patients based on an analysis of complex presenting problems, and judgement about available options within agreed protocols. Direct and guide Resident Doctors on rotation with the service (including locums).
- Provide a consultation‑liaison and assessment service to clinicians and clinical teams within the general hospital. This will include giving specialist advice on a range of care, treatment and patient management issues.
- Identify and be responsive to the diverse cultural social and spiritual needs of all.
Person Specification
Specific Requirement
- Availability to work a shift rota covering 7 days a week 365 days a year
- Full UK driving licence
Qualifications
- Registered Professional (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or OT).
- Evidence of post registration further development.
- Degree in Health Care related subject.
- Qualification in psychosocial interventions in mental health.
Experience
- Post qualification experience to include appropriate experience within an acute mental health care setting and / or significant experience within community, crisis care, or liaison psychiatry
- Experience of working with other professions within a multi‑disciplinary team
- Experience of working independently.
- To understand and have experience of risk management
- Experience of receiving supervision
- Advanced Assessment Skills training.
- Experience of Psychiatric Liaison services.
- Experience of Crisis Team services.
- Experience of supervising staff.
- Experience of mentoring students.
Knowledge
- A high level of both written and spoken English language.
- Knowledge of relevant mental health law.
- Knowledge of adult and children safeguarding requirements.
- IT literate - specifically in the MS office suite of programmes.
- Ability to type quickly and accurately.
- Ability to communicate in a second language.
- Knowledge of RiO / Systmone / Cerner (Electronic Patient Record systems).
- Accredited training in customer service.
- Excellent communication skills including common courtesy and listening skills
Qualities
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Flexible & Positive attitude to work.
- Ability to be empathetic
- Keen to learn new skills and to share learning with others.
- Ability to manage potentially distressing situations and events.
- Evidence of self‑development
- Evidence of assisting others to develop
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£45,953 to £54,254 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
