Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Liverpool seeks dedicated mental health professionals for a 24/7 service. The role involves providing high-quality care, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting service users in crisis. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience in mental health, demonstrating leadership and effective communication skills. Flexible working requests are welcomed.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years post-registration experience in mental health.
• Evidence of post-registration study or CPD.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care.
• Engage with family, carers, and significant others during assessments.
• Monitor and evaluate service users systematically.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Flexibility

Organizational Skills

Education

Relevant professional qualification or degree-level experience

Working towards master's level education

Job description

This advertisement is for 3 x 37.5 hours per week posts and 1 x 22.5 hours per week post - These posts require shift work (Long days and nights are required).

Core 24 Liverpool is a specialist liaison service supporting rapid mental health assessments for patients presenting to the Emergency Department in crisis or referred from acute hospital wards. It involves formulation of treatment and risk management plans based on needs, with appropriate triage and diversion from the service.

The service operates on a shift system, including long days and nights, providing a 24/7 service year-round. Recent organizational changes have increased flexibility across the Urgent Care footprint, supporting additional Core 24 services in Mersey Cares including Southport, Warrington, Aintree, and Whiston.

Main duties of the job

1. Provide high-quality, evidence-based care within the Division for service users and their carers in inpatient and community settings.
2. Work in a socially inclusive manner aligned with the recovery model.
3. Function as a named nurse/care coordinator, undertaking assessment, planning, evaluation, and review of care within a recovery-focused model.
4. Participate actively as part of the multidisciplinary team.
5. Offer advice, expertise, and leadership within the team.
6. Supervise care for service users with complex and high-risk needs.
7. Work autonomously, making clinically appropriate decisions based on information and team knowledge.
8. Qualify to act as a mentor for students.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical and mental health services in the North West, serving over 1.4 million people across the region, with services also covering North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services supporting physical health, mental health, learning disabilities, addiction, and brain injury. Mersey Care is one of only three UK trusts with high secure mental health facilities.

Our core commitment is to 'perfect care'—safe, effective, positive, timely, equitable, and efficient. We support staff development and work collaboratively with service users, families, and carers to improve future services. We are currently implementing organizational and service transformation initiatives to enhance service quality and reduce costs.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Job responsibilities

1. Coordinate care by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care under the care programme approach and supervision.
2. Ensure care plans meet individual needs and that staff deliver care as planned.
3. Engage with family, carers, and significant others during assessments and care planning.
4. Undertake and supervise risk assessments, formulating risk management plans with input from the team and family.
5. Follow safeguarding procedures and participate in relevant meetings.
6. Direct unqualified staff to ensure high standards of care.
7. Contribute to setting care standards based on evidence and research.
8. Monitor and evaluate service users systematically.
9. Communicate effectively with the multidisciplinary team, sharing relevant information.
10. Use verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate sensitive information and check understanding.
11. Provide accurate updates during reviews and meetings, including external reviews.
12. Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
13. Administer medication safely, adhering to policies and regulations where appropriate.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification or degree-level experience (e.g., RMN, AHP, Social Worker).
• Evidence of post-registration study or CPD, such as Mentorship in Practice.
• Working towards master's level education.

Experience

• At least 2 years post-registration experience in mental health.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Experience managing cases and caseloads.
• Supervisory experience.
• Ability to work independently across organizational boundaries and with other agencies.
• Experience working in partnership with agencies, service users, and carers.
• Experience with audit, research, and clinical governance.
• Experience in change management and policy development.
• Experience using incident reporting systems like DATIX.
• Involvement in Serious Untoward Incident reviews.
• Experience working with diverse mental health populations in various healthcare settings.

Knowledge / Skills

• Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Flexibility and responsiveness to change.
• Leadership in setting standards and conducting audits.
• Ability to lead change management processes.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of relevant mental health legislation and guidelines.
• Ability to provide mentorship, supervision, and education.
• Professional attitude and high standards.

Values

• Accountability, Support, High professional standards, Responsiveness, Engaging leadership, Transparency, Discretion, Change orientation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to a DBS check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 (Exceptions Order). A disclosure submission will be required to check for any previous convictions.

Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 per annum pro rata.