Band 6 Mental Health Liaison Practitioner Older Adults

Avon And Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Nhs Trust; Bath; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading mental health care provider in the UK is seeking a Mental Health Liaison Practitioner to offer assessments and interventions for adults at the Royal United Hospital. The ideal candidate will have experience working with cognitive impairment and complex health needs, with responsibilities including developing care programs and consultation with clinical teams. This part-time position will focus on fostering a supportive culture in mental health care.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive work culture

Continuous professional development

Qualifications

• Experience working with older adults presenting with cognitive impairment or complex physical health needs.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health assessment and short-term intervention for adults.
• Develop and implement programmes of care.
• Offer consultation-liaison support to clinical teams.

Skills

Mental health assessment

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Registered practitioner (RMN, OT or Social Worker)

Job description

Overview

Mental Health Liaison practitioners are accountable for the provision of a responsive, needs-led mental health assessment and short‑term intervention service to adults presenting to the Royal United Hospital with mental health problems. Promotion of a positive attitude and a supportive culture is key in relation to psychiatric illness across the general hospital.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health assessment and short‑term intervention for adults presenting to RUH.
• Develop and implement programmes of care, including risk management, documentation and audit.
• Offer comprehensive consultation‑liaison support to clinical teams, assisting in formulation of plans of care for complex or challenging patients.
• Maintain a caseload of patients, delivering a broad range of treatments and interventions tailored to individual needs.
• Initiate and participate in teaching and educational programmes for nursing, medical and other staff, including pre‑ and post‑registration nursing students.
• Provide specialist psychosocial assessments for patients following episodes of self‑harm, with high‑level risk assessment and timely referral to secondary mental health, social and voluntary services.
• Deliver flexible, needs‑based follow‑up for patients after self‑harm episodes or other acute presentations.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, carers and primary/secondary health services, providing liaison and feedback to clinical staff.
• Promote a positive attitude and supportive culture across hospital, modelling clinical excellence and high standards of nursing practice.
• In the absence of the team leader, take overall responsibility for the service, ensuring compliance with local and professional standards.
• Supervise, monitor and appraise the performance of registered and unregistered staff within scope of responsibility.
• Facilitate and participate in clinical projects, meetings, liaison and negotiation with other staff.
• Engage in quality assurance initiatives and clinical governance, focusing on patient/user‑focused services and user/carer feedback.
• Provide clinical supervision to colleagues and students when required.

Qualifications & Experience

Applicants should be registered practitioners (RMN, OT or Social Worker) with an interest and experience in working with older adults presenting with cognitive impairment or delirium, and complex physical health needs. Newly qualified social workers are welcome to apply; successful candidates will commence at Band 5 and may progress to Band 6 following completion of their ASYE.

Legal & Ethical Understanding

Demonstrate a sound understanding of the application of the Mental Health Act 1983, The Mental Capacity Act and their use within the non‑mental health (acute hospital) setting.

Communication

Demonstrate the ability to receive and give complex clinical information clearly and effectively, communicate sensitively in hostile or contentious situations, negotiate and problem‑solve, and exhibit high interpersonal, self‑awareness and empathy skills.

Management & Clinical Governance

After negotiation, take responsibility for agreed clinical and managerial projects associated with the mental health liaison service. Maintain service quality, adherence to trust health and safety policy, and facilitate appraisal and supervision.

Working Hours and Location

Part‑time role covering Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Flexible arrangements may be considered to support work/life balance. The team works alongside service users experiencing medically unexplained symptoms, functional disorders and severe and enduring mental illnesses while being treated for physical health conditions at RUH. No weekend working.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are a Disability Confident Employer offering guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, people with lived‑experience of mental health conditions and people living with disabilities.

About the Employer

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community‑based mental health care to approximately 1.8 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire and parts of Dorset. We promote a person‑centred approach, encouraging applicants from all backgrounds and valuing diverse experiences, perspectives and knowledge.