Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner for the Leighton Hospital site. The role focuses on prompt assessments and supporting treatment delivery within ED 4-hour targets and NHS England response times.

The post involves contributing to staff education on mental health issues, safeguarding frameworks, and the Mental Health Act. The service operates 24/7 with a rotational pattern of days and nights and welcomes applicants from mental

Qualifications

• Registered professional qualification in MHN/LD/Social Work/OT with regulatory registration.
• Experience in liaison psychiatry or equivalent.
• Experience of working in acute care settings is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide prompt assessments and support treatment delivery within the ED 4-hour target framework.
• Contribute to education and training of acute care staff around mental health issues and related acts.
• Support 24/7 service delivery in a rotational pattern of days and nights.

Education

Registered professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing

Registered professional qualification in Learning Disabilities

Registered professional qualification in Social Work

Registered professional qualification in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner

The closing date is 20 November 2026

The Liaison Psychiatry Service based at Leighton Hospital has a Band 6 Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner vacancy; we are looking for dynamic, motivated individuals with an excellent track record in engaging people in distress.

Please note that the Liaison Psychiatry Service is 24/7 and all applicants will be expected to work on a rotational pattern of days and nights.

You will have high quality risk assessment skills, and a compassionate approach to working with patients and their families/carers who present to the A&E Department or who have been admitted to hospital.

We welcome professionals from a mental health nursing, social work, LD or OT background to apply.

The Liaison Psychiatry team is part of the Urgent Care Mental Health First Response Services, which includes Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams, Liaison Services, Street Triage Services and the Crisis Line.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will enhance the Liaison Psychiatry Service, providing prompt response for assessments and assisting treatment delivery within the ED 4-hour targets and NHS England response times. The Liaison team also support the education and training of acute care staff around mental health issues, Deprivation of Liberty safeguards, Mental Capacity Act & the Mental Health Act.

Experience of working with patients with complex mental health difficulties is essential. All successful applicants will receive robust supervision and be supported in their own professional development.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [e-mail] or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A registered professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities, Social Work or Occupational Therapy including registration with the relevant regulatory body
• Evidence of further professional development
• Recognised qualification in psychotherapeutic interventions i.e post graduate certificate in cbt

Knowledge and Expertise

• Up to date knowledge of national and local guidance relevant to Liaison Psychiatry Services i.e., PLAN, Crisis Care Concordat, National Suicide prevention Strategy, Parity of Esteem agenda, relevant NICE guidelines
• A working knowledges of the Mental health Act, mental Capacity Act and Duty of Candour
• Knowledge of sensitivity to equal opportunities
• Sound knowledge of current professional staff development needs
• Knowledge of the relationship between physical and mental health and of physical pathology
• Information technology skills
• An understanding of Liaison Psychiatry KPIs
• Sound knowledge of other agencies, Trust, PCT's within the community and outside the boundaries of our own Trust
• Best Interest Assessor or an understanding of best interests

Experience

• Extensive experience working in a variety of mental health settings and crisis/liaison work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working

Trust Values

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust