Band 6 Mental Health Liaison Nurse - Salisbury

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated mental health liaison team at a leading hospital, where you will support patients across various mental health pathways. This role offers a unique opportunity to conduct psychosocial assessments, mentor students, and collaborate with medical staff. Embrace the challenges of complex cases and contribute to innovative solutions in a supportive environment. As a newly qualified social worker, you will start at Band 5 and have the chance to progress to Band 6 upon successful completion of your ASYE. This is a perfect role for those passionate about making a difference in mental health care.

Qualifications

• Newly qualified social workers will be recruited at Band 5 level.
• Successful completion of ASYE is required for progression.

Responsibilities

• Conduct full psychosocial assessments for referred patients.
• Liaise with medical staff, families, and carers.
• Provide educational support to hospital staff.

Skills

Assessment of risk

Clinical formulation skills

Discharge planning knowledge

Coordination and organizational skills

Effective communication skills

Education

Social Work Degree

Job description

Job overview

The established mental health liaison team at Salisbury Hospital is made up of a team manager, senior practitioner, band 6 nurses, and our consultant psychiatrist.

As an ageless mental health liaison team (18+), we support the hospital and their patients across the lifespan, giving practitioners the chance to broaden their knowledge in all areas of mental health, including acute, later life, organic, and specialized pathways such as perinatal, eating disorder, somatoform, and medically unexplained symptoms. We see patients at all points of their journey—from first contact needing primary care input to the most complex and challenging presentations.

This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with AWP trust policy, all newly qualified social workers (NQSW) will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of the advertised role banding. All NQSWs are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within 2 years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances, in which case it may be extended for a further 2 years.

If appointed to an advertised Band 6 role, this will be an automatic progression following successful ASYE completion. If appointed to a Band 5 post, you will be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy upon successful ASYE completion.

Main duties of the job

Our liaison team receives referrals mainly from A&E and wards (roughly 50% split), providing a mix of quick assessments and longer inpatient engagements, fostering rapport and continuity.

We are a supportive team that embraces complexity and views challenges as opportunities for creative solutions. Risk management is integral to our role, approached with shared enthusiasm and support. We advocate for our patients and colleagues as needed. Join us for a role where continuous learning and variety are guaranteed!

Conduct full psychosocial assessments for referred patients.

Liaise with medical and nursing staff, families, and carers.

Refer patients to other services as necessary.

Provide educational support to hospital staff.

Mentor students.

Skills required include:

• Assessment of risk
• Clinical formulation skills
• Discharge planning knowledge
• Coordination and organizational skills
• Effective communication skills