Mental Health Liaison Assessor

NHS Jobs; Watford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs in the United Kingdom seeks a Team Leader/Mental Health Liaison Team post holder to support development and implementation of MHLT, delivering a high-quality service for people in acute mental illness and their carers at a District General Hospital.

The role includes rapid assessments in acute crises, supervision within the staff group, 24/7 service availability, and maintaining team systems, including outcomes and audits, under the Team Leader.

Responsibilities

• Maintain effective inter-team and inter-agency communication.
• Provide liaison on referrals and early identification of mental health issues for patients in A&E or inpatient services.
• Maintain joint working with Crisis teams, Sector ACMHs, Older Peoples Community and other community teams.
• Ensure information on client care is communicated to appropriate persons and highlight workload concerns to the Team Leader.
• Communicate with relatives, visitors, voluntary organisations and the public to encourage participation in care delivery.
• Respond sensitively to the needs of relatives and carers in emotive settings.
• Liaise with other professionals regarding client care, participate in care planning and case conferences.
• Advise others on the role of MHLT and deliver basic mental health training to non-mental health staff.
• Maintain positive working relationships with team members and other professionals.
• Ensure client files are maintained in both manual and electronic systems.
• Document interventions and lia liaons promptly in line with HPFT policy and codes.

Job description

Job Summary

The post holder will support the Team Leader in the development and implementation of MHLT providing a high-quality service to meet the needs of people in acute phases of mental illness, and their carers. To ensure the continued efficient and effective running of the team, providing leadership and supervision within the staff group as appropriate The post holder will undertake rapid assessments of people with mental health problems in acute crisis and where appropriate as an alternative to in-patient admission. Also to provide routine and urgent Mental Health Services in the District General Hospital The service will be available 24 hours, 7 days a week. The post holder will be responsible for helping to maintain team systems and processes for effective team and service provision, including outcome measures and audit under the direction of the Team Leader All staff should comply with the Trusts Open Culture, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, and Equality and Diversity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To support the Team Leader\MHLT Manager in maintaining effective inter- team and inter-agency communication
• To provide effective liaison/communication relating to referral and expedition and to support the early identification of mental health issues for patients using the hospital A&E or inpatient services
• Maintain effective joint working with Crisis teams, Sector ACMHs, Older Peoples Community, and other community based teams according to local circumstances
• Ensure that all relevant information regarding client care is communicated to the appropriate persons team, bringing to the Team Leaders attention issues of concern regarding practice or workload
• Ensure effective communications with relatives, visitors, voluntary organisations and the general public, thus encouraging participation in Care delivery.
• To respond sensitively, to the needs of relatives and carers, often in a highly emotive setting
• To liaise with other professionals in relation to client care, actively participating in care planning and review meetings, and attending case conferences as appropriate.
• To advise others as to the role and practices of the MHLT and deliver basic Mental Health training to non mental health professionals
• To maintain positive working relationships and clear communications with team members and other professionals
• Ensure clients files are maintained in both manual (where practiced) and electronic. This includes both the general hospital and mental health trusts systems.
• Documentation of interventions, liaisons etc should be recorded as soon as possible after the event, but in line with both HPFT policy and professional codes.

Analytical and Judgemental

• To assess clients meeting defined referral criteria for mental health liaison service and local Operational Policies
• Carry out Risk Assessment and Management activities
• To plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care for clients in crisis with acute mental health problems in the community, and to coordinate activities with other professionals and agencies.