Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

NHS; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Ipswich is seeking committed mental health practitioners. This role involves delivering specialist mental health assessments and interventions, collaborating within a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should have relevant professional registration in mental health nursing or social work. Benefits include NHS pension, comprehensive training, career progression, and generous leave. The role is full-time and requires working a flexible schedule, including nights.

Benefits

NHS pension

Comprehensive in house & external training programmes

Career progression

27 days annual leave

Staff physio service

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Must have ongoing professional development towards degree level.
• Experience in delivering clinical interventions required.
• Must demonstrate effective risk assessment and management.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments for patients.
• Provide evidence-based brief interventions and support.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.

Skills

Competent assessment skills

Effective analytical and decision-making skills

Care planning skills

Education

Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse

Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker

Job description

Job summary

The NSFT East Suffolk Mental Health Liaison Service, based in Ipswich Hospital, are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners, who are looking to expand their skills and knowledge base, within the acute hospital setting.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment providing specialist mental health assessment, risk management, and short-term intervention to patients presenting with a range of mental health needs.

The Mental Health Liaison Service offers a single point of access for referrals from Ipswich Hospital and provides a range of mental health specialities within one multidisciplinary team. Our team operates 24/7 and plays a vital role in supporting the acute hospital, ensuring timely, person-centred care for individuals experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

We respond to a diverse range of referrals, covering both liaison psychiatry and emergency assessment functions for all ages.

Main duties of the job

A flexible 'can do' attitude, with a willingness to build links with general hospital colleagues is essential to ensure that a proactive interface is created between mental health and medicine. You will have the relevant post qualification experience, including acute mental health and crisis management and be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the differing needs of people within the general hospital.

Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments of patients referred from A&E, medical/surgical wards.

• Assess and manage risk of harm to self or others, including suicide and self-neglect
• Provide evidence-based brief interventions, advice, and signposting to appropriate services
• Offer support and education to acute hospital colleagues in managing mental health presentations
• Maintain high-quality clinical documentation
• Support timely discharge planning, including mental health input to complex cases
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to shared clinical decision-making

About us

Benefits included with this role are:-

• NHS pension
• a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
• career progression
• starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
• staff physio service
• NHS discounts and many more.

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Details Date posted

18 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year gross per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

246-ESU7581699-A

Job locations

Woodlands

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be key in the efficient delivery of the liaison service; in improving response and management of referrals; in improving knowledge and understanding of mental health issues within the acute hospital; in helping the team meet their key performance indicators and be proactive in helping explore and develop partnerships and pathways to improve patient prognosis and outcometeam is a 24/7 service. Therefore you will be required to work Long Days, including nights. We will provide a full induction. We have a genuine commitment to training and development with shared opportunities across the two Trusts. We are proud of our culture of honesty, team involvement and ownership to both patient care and job satisfaction.

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be key in the efficient delivery of the liaison service; in improving response and management of referrals; in improving knowledge and understanding of mental health issues within the acute hospital; in helping the team meet their key performance indicators and be proactive in helping explore and develop partnerships and pathways to improve patient prognosis and outcome team is a 24/7 service. Therefore you will be required to work Long Days, including nights. We will provide a full induction. We have a genuine commitment to training and development with shared opportunities across the two Trusts. We are proud of our culture of honesty, team involvement and ownership to both patient care and job satisfaction.

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
• Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)
• Ongoing professional development working towards degree level ( if professional registration is following a diploma level course)

Desirable

• Recognised Leadership/Management training
• Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience Essential

• Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
• Able to demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
• Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions

Desirable

• Experience in supporting service development

Skills Essential

• Competent assessment skills
• Effective analytical and decision-making skills
• Care planning skills

Knowledge Essential

• The ability to use clinical assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and collaboratively

Desirable

• Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
• Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)
• Ongoing professional development working towards degree level ( if professional registration is following a diploma level course)

Desirable

• Recognised Leadership/Management training
• Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience Essential

• Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
• Able to demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
• Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions

Desirable

• Experience in supporting service development

Skills Essential

• Competent assessment skills
• Effective analytical and decision-making skills
• Care planning skills

Knowledge Essential

• The ability to use clinical assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and collaboratively

Desirable

• Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Woodlands

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Woodlands

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)