Mental Health Liaison Team Manager

NSFT; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Clinical Team Leader for the Mental Health Liaison Team at Ipswich Hospital. The role oversees specialist mental health assessment, risk management and short-term intervention for diverse needs in the acute hospital.

Leading a 24/7 rota, you will work with the existing leadership team to ensure high-quality service delivery, staff development and strong cross‑disciplinary collaboration with hospital colleagues.

Qualifications

• Nursing degree or HCPC registration is required.
• ILM management qualification or equivalent.
• Ongoing professional development toward degree level is expected.
• Higher degree or postgraduate certificate in clinical/therapeutic practice is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership to the Mental Health Liaison Team.
• Lead on risk management and clinical governance within the acute hospital.
• Review team performance, activity data and KPIs and report to care group.
• Support recruitment, HR processes and staff development within the team.
• Foster strong working relationships with Ipswich Hospital colleagues for integrated care.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Education

Nursing degree or HCPC registered

ILM management qualification

Degree-level study encouraged

Postgraduate clinical/therapeutic qualification

Job description

Main area Mental Health Liaison Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (5 days, 9-5pm) Job ref 246-ESU8344504

Site The Woodlands Ipswich Hospital Town Ipswich Salary £49,387 - £56,515 PA/ Pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 27/10/2026 23:59

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

Please note due to the nature of our roles and patient demographic, you will be required to undertake physical intervention training and remain trained, as required by your role.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced mental health professional to take on a Clinical Team Leader post within our established multi‑disciplinary Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) based at Ipswich Hospital.

The NSFT East Suffolk Mental Health Liaison Service is an age‑inclusive service, responding to referrals for people of all ages within the acute hospital.

This is a key leadership role within a fast‑paced environment, providing oversight of specialist mental health assessment, risk management and short‑term intervention for individuals presenting with a wide range of mental health needs. The service offers a single point of access for referrals from Ipswich Hospital, operating 24/7 and playing a vital role in supporting the acute hospital to deliver timely, person‑centred care.

You will work closely with the existing leadership team to ensure high‑quality service delivery, effective operational management, and strong collaborative relationships with acute hospital colleagues.

Main duties of the job

As Clinical Team Leader, you will:

• Provide day‑to‑day operational leadership to the Mental Health Liaison Team, ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care.
• Support and guide staff in managing complex mental and physical health presentations within the acute hospital.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues across Ipswich Hospital to ensure a proactive and seamless interface between mental health and physical healthcare.
• Lead on reviewing team performance, activity data and KPIs, reporting into the wider care group and contributing to service development.
• Oversee and support high‑quality clinical documentation, safeguarding processes, and adherence to Trust policies.
• Provide leadership presence across the service, supporting staff with decision‑making, risk management and escalation.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and promote shared clinical decision‑making.
• Support timely discharge planning and ensure mental health input into complex cases.
• Offer guidance and education to acute hospital colleagues to enhance understanding and management of mental health presentations.
• Participate in recruitment, HR processes, supervision, and staff development.
• Promote a positive, flexible, “can‑do” culture within the team.
• This role requires confidence in managing competing demands, prioritising effectively, and supporting staff in a high‑pressure environment.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are seeking a highly motivated, forward‑thinking leader who thrives in a stimulating, fast‑paced and well‑supported environment. You will play a central role in:

• Ensuring efficient delivery of the liaison service across a 24/7 rota.
• Improving response times and management of referrals.
• Enhancing knowledge and understanding of mental health within the acute hospital.
• Supporting the team to meet key performance indicators.
• Developing and strengthening partnerships and pathways to improve patient outcomes.
• Leading service improvements and contributing to ongoing transformation work.
• Supporting staff wellbeing, professional development and reflective practice.
• Upholding a culture of honesty, involvement and shared ownership of patient care and job satisfaction.

The service operates 24/7, and leadership presence across the rota is required. A full induction will be provided, and we are committed to ongoing training and development, with shared opportunities across NSFT and ESNEFT.

**Full UK driving licence is required for this post**

Person specification

Qualifications

• Nursing degree or equivalent, Dip SW or Dip OT or equivalent, or HCPC registered
• ILM certificate in management or equivalent
• Ongoing professional development working towards degree level
• Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice - Post basic teaching qualification

Experience

• Able to demonstrate experience at a senior clinical level including staff management/supervision experience.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of providing leadership in an acute care environment including service development

Other

• Ability to travel

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIESApart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post may be 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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.