Psychiatric Liaison Practitioner

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

Job summary

Join a leading mental health team in Somerset as a liaison clinician, transforming lives within Acute Trusts. You'll conduct comprehensive assessments, provide expert guidance, and engage in collaborative care to support patients in crisis. With a focus on professional growth and a range of benefits, this role offers a fulfilling career in a beautiful region.

Benefits

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• Current registration with relevant professional body.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Experience in psychiatric liaison services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough mental health assessments and provide targeted interventions.
• Engage in cross-system collaboration to provide integrated care.
• Deliver training programs to enhance mental health awareness.

Skills

Communication

Risk Management

Collaboration

Innovation

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Social Work Qualification

Occupational Therapy Qualification

Tools

Computer-based care records

Job description

Are you passionate about making a difference in mental health care? Join our dedicated team and play a crucial role in transforming lives within Acute Trusts across Somerset.

Your Role:

1. Comprehensive Assessments and Interventions: Conduct thorough mental health assessments and provide targeted interventions for patients presenting with suspected or actual mental health issues.
2. Expert Guidance: Empower acute care staff with specialist mental health advice, enabling them to manage a wide range of mental health challenges effectively.
3. Service Focus: Prioritise assessment, admission avoidance, and discharge planning in A&E. Facilitate early and effective discharge for adults from inpatient wards within the general hospital.
4. Continuous Professional Growth: Maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills, and expertise at an advanced level.

Main duties of the job

As a liaison clinician, you'll bridge the gap between mental and physical health within the acute hospital setting. Respond promptly to crisis referrals in the emergency department and from inpatient wards, performing critical tasks such as:

1. Biopsychosocial Assessments: Place patients and their loved ones at the heart of all evaluations and interventions.
2. Risk Management: Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and develop effective risk management plans.
3. Collaborative Working: Engage in cross-system collaboration to provide integrated care.
4. Education and Advocacy: Reduce stigma and enhance mental health awareness by delivering regular training programs within the acute care setting.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of this role will include:

• Effective communication in a variety of forms, both verbal and written
• Strong working relationships within the team, across the acute setting and wider system.
• Planning and organisation of day to day work and recognising areas for improvement and change.
• Being responsible for patient care and treatment for work delegated to you, ensuring this is clearly documented.
• As a band 6, you will be responsible for ensuring you receive regular supervision and facilitate this for junior members of the team.

The attached job description will outline these roles and responsibilities in further detail.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current registration with relevant professional body
• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Social Work or Occupational Therapy Qualification
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Psychological therapies training

Experience

• *Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis, recognising when to seek additional supervision
• *Experience of working within psychiatric liaison services
• *Experience of working within both older adult and adult acute settings
• *Evidence of high levels of motivation in the provision of care.

Additional Criteria

• Significant post-registration experience in community mental health services, Home Treatment or Psychiatric Liaison Team.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of mental health assessment, care planning, development, and evaluation skills in conjunction with clients and carers.
• Sound knowledge of Mental Health Act Legislation.
• Be conversant with Trust policies and procedures.
• Proficiency with computer-based care records.
• Proven ability to generate ideas and innovate change.
• Good knowledge of resources and working practices across health and social care.
• Ability to be innovative in practice.
• Working knowledge of psychosocial interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and a Disclosure check will be required.

£37,338 to £44,962 a year; shift work required for 24/7 service