Job overview
We are looking for a Consultant Psychiatrist who will work within an old age Mental Health Liaison Team to join the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Liaison teams delivering assessment and treatment to Older Adult Patients based on the Acute Hospital Inpatient wards and AED.
The mental health liaison team based at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals is a well-established multidisciplinary service looking after patients with severe and enduring mental illness and complex needs. The Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) operates within the A&E department and Medical Assessment Wards and provides a rapid assessment service for individuals aged 16 and above with the Older Person’s Service accepting new referrals from age 70+years. With expertise working at the interface between physical and mental illness, including psychological reactions to physical illness, they are crucial to reducing adverse outcomes associated with hospital admissions, increased costs and lengths of stays.
Your workload will comprise attending daily team meetings, assessing and providing expert advice for, and in relation to, patients on the wards; delivering training and supervision to the team and the wider hospital staff group, as well as participating in service delivery activities.
You will be expected to take a lead in ongoing developments in the community mental health team and support the Trust’s strategic aims of delivering “Perfect Care”.
Main duties of the job
Mental Health Liaison is an integral part of the 24/7 Urgent Care Model and the Trust is seeking for an enthusiastic Old Age Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist covering Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Liaison Teams. The post holder will carry no responsibility for psychiatric inpatients.
The post-holder will include assessment of urgent referrals from the inpatient wards.
Demonstrate an understanding of the interface between physical illness and mental illness; undertake diagnosis and formulation of management plans in complex cases; advise medical teams on appropriate integrated care and assess and manage risk relating to psychiatric conditions in general hospital settings.
Provide advice on prescribing to medical teams on psychotropic medication; provide expertise, and fulfil a statutory role, in managing medico-legal issues in the general hospital, including application of mental health and mental capacity legislation; understand the medical issues in assessing patients with medically unexplained symptoms and understand the medical issues in mental health patients associated with long-term conditions.
Collaboration with medical colleagues to ensure availability for emergency liaison assessments through the daytime (9am to 5pm) and also to provide cross-cover during periods of leave.
Assessment and management of patients under the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act. Taking Part in Old Age oncall rota.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details and requirements of the role.
Person specification
Transport
Essential
- Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.
- Non Drivers due to disability will be supported via access to work scheme
Eligibility
Essential
- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
- Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
- Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment
Desirable
- Experience of working in old age psychiatry
- CCT in Old Age and General Adult Psychiatry/Medical Psychotherapy
- Clinical skills in Gerontology
- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
Qualifications
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
Desirable
- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
- MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent
- Any additional clinical qualifications eg. Diploma of Geriatric Medicine
Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Participated in continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation.
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
- Has actively participated in clinical audit.
Desirable
- Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
- Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
- Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
- Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
- Has led clinical audits leading to service change.
Clinical skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Minimum 4 years post registration training, 2 of which should be in in psychiatry.
- Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
- Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
- Knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Acts.
- Ability to work constructively in and to lead a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of carrying out clinical responsibilities within the older people’s mental health setting and experience of managing physical illnesses in the elderly
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Consultant Psychiatrist – Old Age Mental Health Liaison Team with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust in Prescot, North West, England. It is listed as a Consultant Medical doctor Psychiatry role. The advertised salary is £113,565 - £150,569 per annum, plus 7.5% R&R premia and 1% on call supplement. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Jun 2026.
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