Senior Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

NHS; Scarborough; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Senior Mental Health Liaison Practitioner at Scarborough General Hospital. Join a multidisciplinary team to support adults with mental health needs in a dynamic acute hospital environment. The role involves assessments, support, and collaboration with various professionals. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in mental health care, demonstrating effective communication and autonomy in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• 18 months post-qualifying experience required.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Responsibilities

• Liaising with hospital staff for patient mental health management.
• Responding to referrals for mental state assessments.
• Facilitating safe discharge plans.

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Autonomy

Education

RNMH

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

Job description

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

The closing date is 01 June 2025

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Hospital Liaison Clinician to work with the Scarborough Acute Hospital Liaison Service (AHLS) based at Scarborough General Hospital (SGH) for a full-time, permanent position.

The AHLS Team works within A&E and hospital wards, supporting adults with various mental health symptoms and safety needs. Referred individuals may also have complex physical health and social needs. A special interest in alcohol and substance misuse is desirable.

As a Band 6, you will be part of a dynamic, welcoming, and professional multidisciplinary team (MDT) that provides support, assessments, and guidance to SGH. We offer training and supervision to ensure you have the necessary knowledge and skills to assess and support service users with complex mental health needs effectively and safely.

We seek a passionate, dedicated, and motivated clinician eager to work within a busy acute hospital A&E department and on hospital wards. You should be able to work flexibly and autonomously, with effective communication skills, liaising in a fast-paced environment with a wide range of professional colleagues, including VCSE partners.

You will receive regular, high-quality management and clinical supervision and appraisal, along with access to development and training opportunities aligned with the team and service delivery model.

Main duties of the job

This Band 6 role is open to registered professionals including: mental health nurses, dual-qualified nurses, OT's, and social workers.

• Liaising with hospital staff to support the management of mental health and well-being of patients admitted for physical health care but requiring mental health support.
• Responding to referrals for mental state assessments for individuals presenting with acute mental health issues in A&E or on wards, with clear response times and targets.
• Being professionally accountable for providing specialist advice and support to facilitate mental health care for patients in the hospital.
• Presenting patient and carer views to clinical teams to promote collaborative working.
• Liaising with professionals and agencies to develop and implement safe and effective mental health care plans.
• Facilitating safe and effective discharge plans to reduce hospital stay lengths and readmissions.
• Promoting the principles of the Recovery Model and Trauma-Informed Care.
• Enhancing staff knowledge and skills in mental ill health through specialist advice and training.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust serving County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York, and Selby.

From education and prevention to crisis and specialist care, our talented teams work in partnership with patients, communities, and partners to promote safety, understanding, and care.

We support the recovery journey of those in need. Everyone in our Trust has a voice in how they are supported and treated, ensuring they feel understood. Our patients, families, and carers collaborate with us for better mental health.

We are committed to innovative approaches that improve regional wellbeing, connecting with communities to deliver the right mental health care where it is needed most.

Our goal is to ensure everyone in our region has access to the mental health care they need to lead their best lives.

Job responsibilities

Please review the attached Job Description and ensure you meet the criteria outlined in the Person Specification before applying. Demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria throughout your application.

We encourage interested candidates to contact us for more information about the team or to arrange a visit.

The AHLS Team operates 24/7 with shift patterns. Experience in Liaison Psychiatry is desirable but not essential; some community experience is beneficial.

18 months post-qualifying experience, including sign-off of the appropriate preceptorship or competency framework, is essential.

Applicants must have their current line manager's agreement to be released on a secondment basis prior to applying.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RNMH, current NMC registration, or registration with an appropriate health and social care body
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• 18 months post-qualifying experience with preceptorship or competency sign-off
• Student assessor/mentor as per registered profession
• Clinical supervisor within the specified timescale
• Student mentor (or to be achieved within the specified timescale)
• Literacy, numeracy, and ITQ Level 2 (or equivalent)
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area (e.g., older people's nursing, physical health conditions)
• Non-medical prescriber

Experience

• Significant recent experience in assessing and caring for adults and older people with mental health issues
• Experience working with individuals with dementia
• Managing own caseload
• Collaborative work with service users and families/carers
• Supporting and mentoring students in practice
• Working within multidisciplinary teams
• Participation in quality improvement activities
• Experience providing care across various settings (acute hospitals, mental health units, care homes)
• Leadership or management experience
• Providing clinical supervision

Knowledge

• Post-graduate level knowledge of evidence-based practice in mental health and co-morbidities related to acute and chronic conditions
• Understanding of the Trust's Quality Improvement System

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A Disclosure check will be required to identify any criminal convictions.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust