Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Warrington; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated mental health practitioner to join their dynamic team. This role involves delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to service users in crisis, ensuring their needs are met through comprehensive assessments and tailored care plans. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, providing leadership and support to colleagues while maintaining high standards of care. If you're passionate about mental health and eager to make a difference in the lives of individuals, this opportunity offers a fulfilling career path in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years post-registration experience in mental health.
• Experience managing cases and supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, evidence-based care for service users.
• Coordinate care and conduct assessments under the care programme approach.
• Supervise care for service users with complex needs.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Leadership and management skills

Ability to work autonomously

Flexibility

Knowledge of mental health legislation

Education

Appropriate professional qualification (e.g., RMN, AHP, Social Worker)

Post-registration study or CPD

Working towards master's level education

Job description

Main area: Core 24 Emergency & Crisis Liaison - Mental Health Services Grade Band 6 Contract: Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (shift work including nights required) Job ref 350-MHC7190294

Site: Warrington A and E, Warrington Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 per annum Salary period: Yearly Closing: 28/05/2025 23:59 Interview date: 10/06/2025

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination, and to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We support disadvantaged groups and particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ people who are under-represented in our workforce. We also welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel, recognizing the skills and experience they bring. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

Job overview

Warrington and Halton Core 24 provides specialist mental health assessments for service users in crisis presenting to the Emergency Department or referred from hospital wards. The service formulates treatment and risk management plans based on assessments, with triage and diversion from the service.

The service operates on a shift system, including long and short days and nights, providing 24/7 coverage. It has recently undergone organizational changes to enhance flexibility across the Urgent Care footprint, supporting additional Core 24 services in Mersey Care including Royal Liverpool, Warrington, Whiston, and Southport.

We seek an experienced mental health practitioner with extensive experience, including organic services.

Main duties of the job

To deliver high-quality, evidence-based care within the division for service users and their carers, in inpatient and community settings.

To work in a socially inclusive manner aligned with the recovery model.

To act as a named nurse/care coordinator, undertaking assessment, planning, evaluation, and review of care within a recovery-focused model.

To participate as an active multidisciplinary team member.

To provide advice, expertise, and leadership within the team.

To supervise care for service users with complex and high-risk needs.

To work autonomously, making clinically appropriate decisions based on information received and team knowledge.

To be qualified to mentor students.

Working for our organization

Mersey Care is a major provider of physical and mental health services in the North West, serving over 1.4 million people and offering specialized inpatient and community services, including high secure mental health facilities.

Our commitment is to ‘perfect care’—safe, effective, timely, equitable, and efficient. We support staff development and work with service users, families, and carers to improve services. We are transforming organizationally and in service delivery to enhance quality and reduce costs.

Flexible working requests will be considered.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Coordinate care, conduct assessments, planning, implementation, and evaluation under the care programme approach and supervision.

Develop care plans tailored to assessed needs, ensuring delivery by qualified staff.

Liaise with family, carers, and significant others during assessments and planning.

Undertake and supervise risk assessments and develop risk management plans, incorporating team, family, and carer input.

Follow safeguarding procedures and participate in relevant meetings.

Direct unqualified staff to ensure high standards of care.

Contribute to setting standards based on evidence and research.

Monitor and evaluate service users systematically.

Communicate effectively within the multidisciplinary team and with external agencies.

Use communication skills to share sensitive information and check understanding.

Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.

Administer medication safely, following policies and regulations.

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

Person specification

Qualifications

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

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years post-registration experience in mental health
• Leadership and management skills
• Experience managing cases and caseloads
• Supervising staff experience
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively
• Experience working with agencies, service users, and carers
• Experience with audit, research, and clinical governance
• Experience in change management and policy development
• Experience with incident reporting systems (e.g., DATIX)
• Involvement in serious untoward incident reviews
• Experience working with diverse mental health populations in various settings

Knowledge / Skills

• Effective communication skills
• Responsiveness and flexibility
• Leadership in setting standards and conducting audits
• Ability to lead change and build relationships
• Knowledge of mental health legislation and CPA ECC guidelines
• Mentorship, supervision, and educational skills
• Knowledge of professional conduct and responsibilities
• Professional attitude and leadership qualities
• Excellent listening, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Flexibility in working hours

Values

• Accountability
• Support
• High standards
• Responsiveness to service users
• Engaging leadership
• Transparency and honesty
• Discretion
• Change orientation