Senior Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

Pennine Care Nhs Foundation Trust; Stockport; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a registered mental health professional to join the Liaison Mental Health service at a hospital site in Greater Manchester. The role involves assessing referrals from the Emergency Department and medical wards, managing risk, and signposting to mental health services.

You will contribute to developing the team’s gateway and assessment functions and provide clinical support to police and ambulance staff.

Qualifications

• Professional registration in health or social care with up-to-date accreditation.
• Experience in assessing and supporting mental health care within hospital settings.
• Ability to work across divisions and agencies (police, ambulance, local authority).

Responsibilities

• As part of a MDT, assess and manage referrals from ED and wards.
• Risk assess, signpost and refer patients to appropriate mental health services.
• Develop interface with other mental health teams and liaise with police/ambulance staff.
• Support team development and provide supervision/ CPD opportunities.
• Ensure safe discharge and maintain accurate records in systems.

Skills

Risk assessment

Care planning

Communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

BSc Occupational Therapy or equivalent

CPD accreditation (RN/RMN, Dip SW, or equivalent)

Job description

Job overview

An exciting 12 month secondment opportunity to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide an effective and efficient response to referrals from the Emergency Department and
Medical wards in the Acute trust.
To assess, risk manage and appropriately refer on and signpost all
patients referred who need assessment and/or follow up from mental
health services in line with the core 24 model.
As part of the team to ensure the development of an effective interface
between the team and other mental health services, and contribute to the development of the team’s gateway and assessment role.
To provide information and clinical support to police and ambulance staff
in order to help them make appropriate decisions.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide an effective and efficient response to referrals from the Emergency Department and Medical wards in the Acute trust.
To assess, risk manage and appropriately refer on and signpost all patients referred who need assessment and/or follow up from mental health services.
As part of the team to ensure the development of an effective interfaces between the team and other mental health services, and contribute to the development of the team’s gateway and assessment role.
To provide information and clinical support to police and ambulance staff in order to help them make appropriate decisions.
The role at times will involve working between the boroughs when service provision requires it

Working for our organisation

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

If you are a registered mental health professional with experience in assessing and supporting individuals of any age, either children and young people, working age or older adults and would like to be part of a growing and developing service we would like to hear from you. You will be able to undertake comprehensive mental health assessments and risk assessments, develop effective risk management plans, provide brief interventions and appropriately signpost and make onward referrals for individuals who come through the range of services within the general hospital. The role is extremely varied and provides a unique opportunity to develop skills across different service areas. The focus of the team is supporting people to receive high quality care in a holistic and person centered way. There is an emphasis on working with non-mental health colleagues within the hospital, sharing knowledge and skills and advocating for the mental health and wellbeing of service users.

As part of this dynamic and progressive multidisciplinary team you will also be involved in effective interfacing between teams, other mental health services and agencies such as the Police, NWAS and the local authority. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the development of an expanding service offer supported by additional investment.

As part of the Liaison Mental Health service you can expect professional support and development in this exciting and challenging area of work. You will be joining a friendly and supportive team at Tameside General Hospital and will receive regular management and clinical supervision and have opportunities to engage in CPD. As a valued member of the liaison team you will be fully involved in all service developments and given opportunities to support quality improvement.

The service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so posts will be worked on a shift basis with 24 hour working required including bank holidays, weekends and some rotational night duties.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
To assess the patient’s mental health needs and aid access to the appropriate service.
To help manage any presenting risks and liaise with any family and agencies as needed.
To ensure safe discharge of patients back to the GP where appropriate.
To participate in the prioritisation of referrals to the team and management of the workload.
To provide effective, evidence based assessments and short-term interventions (if appropriate) for people requiring a mental health service.
To be responsible for own record keeping standards and in-putting to information systems.
To participate in the service development of the team, and take part in team business and practice meetings.
To contribute to learning outcomes for student placements within the team.
To ensure adherence to operational policies and participate in audits to monitor quality of care.
To support recording of performance information and to look for opportunities to support the role; which will give impetus to fund it past its current term.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Professional registration in health or social care with up to date accreditation / CPD-RMN, Dip SW, BSc Occupational Therapy or equivalent.

Desirable criteria

• Educated to degree level.
• Accredited skills based training.
• Training related to management skills, teaching, staff development and supervison

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of national legislation and guidance.
• Knowledge of evidence based/contemporary mental health practice.
• Ability to identify and co-ordinate effective risk assessment and management.
• Sound knowledge of working with the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Legislation and DOLS.

Desirable criteria

• Awareness of a range of evidence based interventions.
• Awareness of issues of liaison with Emergency Department / Medical wards.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Substantial post registration experience working in acute mental health services.
• Experience in working with children/young people

Desirable criteria

• Working in a Crisis/A&E Liaison Team.
• Providing Supervision
• Leading/co-ordinating multi-disciplinary teamwork.
• Service development/ managing change

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Skills in Assessment/Care-management and Planning
• Experience/skills working in partnership with a broad range of colleagues, service users, and carers
• Skills in a range of evidence based practice.
• Demonstration of sound professional judgement & communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to manage effectively under pressure.
• Ability to supervise staff, set standards, monitor performance and promote staff development
• Excellent organisational, problem solving/prioritisation skills
• Awareness of and commitment to, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

Desirable criteria

• Leadership skills/abilities
• Ability to use IT systems across PCFT

Work Related Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Flexible working across division if necessary.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure
• Be able to work a range of shifts over a 24 hour, 7 day period on a rotational basis

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.

If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.

Please note:

• We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
• We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.