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Liaison Psychiatry Senior Clinical Practitioner

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
This job is closed to applications

Location
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Profession
Nurse practitioner
Grade
Band 7
Deadline
06 Jul 2025
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
20 Jun 2025

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for dynamic, forward thinking leaders to join our Liaison Psychiatry Services as we transition to the national Core 24 model to meet KMPT transformation priorities. Liaison psychiatry is a crucial component of the 24/7 Urgent Care Model, providing a fantastic chance for motivated individuals interested in working in an acute hospital setting. This role offers the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in both physical healthcare and crisis intervention.

We have a number of Band 7 Liaison Psychiatry Senior Clinical Practitioner roles within our six liaison psychiatry teams which cover the county of Kent. You will be based at one of our sites in Dartford, Medway, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, or Margate

We are seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic mental health professionals committed to promoting patient-focused care and treatment for adults of all ages in an acute hospital environment. Successful candidates will possess excellent leadership skills and will work across the acute general hospital, providing mental health triage, assessments and brief interventions to patients in the emergency departments and inpatient wards. Additionally, they will offer support, advice, and training to junior colleagues within the team and acute hospital colleagues.

The successful candidates will receive comprehensive induction, regular supervision and reflective practice. The role requires working a flexible shift pattern over a 24/7 schedule.

Main duties of the job

Clinical: To provide a biopsychosocial assessment of patients who attend the hospital with a known or suspected mental health problem, including those with dementia or delirium. Share expertise of mental health crises in over 65s. Work in close partnership with the Acute Hospital Trust, and Kent and Medway Partnership Trust teams in order to promote good working relationships and effective clinical care. Ability to assess where social need is greater than mental or physical health need and work with colleagues to coordinate appropriate plans of care for patients. Demonstrate risk management, and safeguarding issues, practicing safely and in accordance with individual patient need. To be able to formulate a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, integrated plan of care and communicate to relevant parties in a timely fashion. Involve carers at every step when appropriate.

Assess and anticipate individual needs of patient in crisis, taking appropriate action and communicating to relevant agencies/parties as required. Report all incidents as per the Trust incident reporting guidelines and policy.

The post holder will have the ability to work autonomously when carrying out assessments and planning care and collecting data.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To assess patients who attend the hospital with a known or suspected mental health problem, including those with dementia or delirium. Share expertise of mental health crises in over 65s.
  • Work in close partnership with the Acute Hospital Trust, and Kent and Medway Partnership Trust teams in order to promote good working relationships and effective clinical care.
  • Ability to assess where social need is greater than mental or physical health need and work with colleagues to coordinate appropriate plans of care for patients.
  • Demonstrate risk management, and safeguarding issues, practicing safely and in accordance with individual patient need.
  • To be able to formulate a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, integrated plan of care and communicate to relevant parties in a timely fashion. Involve carers at every step when appropriate.
  • Assess and anticipate individual needs of patient in crisis, taking appropriate action and communicating to relevant agencies/parties as required. Report all incidents as per the Trust incident reporting guidelines and policy.
  • The post holder will have the ability to work autonomously when carrying out assessments and planning care and collecting data.
  • To work within the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust Hospital Liaison Psychiatry Service to deliver a hospital focused service for people with co morbid illness
  • To develop links with and work collaboratively with Acute colleagues, and with those in the Hospital Psychiatry Liaison Service to enhance the interface between the specialist service and general hospital service.
  • To provide a specialist assessment and intervention service for adults (18yrs +) with co morbid illness and hold a small complex clinical caseload.
  • To act as an educational and consultative resource for colleagues working within the general hospital, primary care and the hospital liaison psychiatry service.
  • To maintain excellent standards of practice and regularly evaluate these.
  • To support service manager and matrons in leading the change process in line with LPS accreditation and delivery of Core 24 LPS services
  • Develop appropriate clinical audit
  • Report any incidents in accordance with Trust Policy.
  • Act within policies, procedures and legislation that promote equality, diversity and rights.
  • Role model the trust values in your daily working practice, to your team and clients
  • Utilise resources in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
  • To take a lead in an identified & specific clinical area – this may include Neurodiversity, Triage role, substance misuse, dual diagnosis, Dementia/Delirium, Complex emotional dysregulation disorders, High intensity users, Self-harming behaviours, medically unexplained symptoms - this is not an exhaustive list and is in addition to your generic role.
  • To lead on the clinical development of band 6 LPS staff.
  • To develop close working, trusted relationships with acute hospital colleagues
  • To complete clinical inductions for all newly appointed band 6 clinicians
  • To support LPS clinicians to access opportunities for work with days, and to encourage reciprocation, across a wide variety of services, to enhance understanding of other services roles, pathways and service provisions
  • To lead on service improvements for service users and carers, with increased involvement and completion of PREM & CRE

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

  • Communicate effectively with the liaison psychiatry team and with general hospital colleagues
  • To maintain accurate and relevant records and reports in accordance with Trust policy and professional requirements.
  • To provide assessment, progress and reports on interventions undertaken.
  • Liaise with other professionals and agencies that may be involved with a particular case

Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.