Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

Job overview

Band 6 All Age Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

• hours a week on a rota basis 7 days per week 24 hour cover

You will have experience of working with service users who present with complex mental health needs.

You should be able to demonstrate evidence of Leadership and care that facilitates a positive culture of patient engagement, a commitment to enhancing the service user and carer experience and of on-going professional development.

You must have the ability to positively influence and adapt to a rapidly developing service that is able to meet the needs of mental health services in Lancashire

Patients may present with a wide range of mental health and psychological problems, including following an episode of self-harm, psychiatric emergency and as a consequence of physical illness.  You will be expected to work with individuals experiencing psychosomatic disorders and a variety of psychological and adjustment issues resulting from physical illness.  You will be required to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems, while utilising effective clinical judgments about the most appropriate treatment, discharge and follow-up options.  You will use higher-level communication skills, both written and oral and have an ability to engage with challenging and/or acutely distressed individuals, sometimes in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations.

Main duties of the job

The mental health liaison team provides a comprehensive service to patients/service users over 16yrs, carers and clinical colleagues based within the Acute Hospital Trust.  This involves:

Offering an assessment service to patients presenting with a range of mental health and psychological problems.

Providing a mental health consultation-liaison and advice service

Delivering a range of interventions to individual patients and their families, as appropriate

Assisting and supporting general hospital colleagues in making decisions about treatment and care in complex situations

Providing formal and informal education and clinical supervision to registered and unregistered staff

Representing mental health services within the general hospital

Providing a communication structure between the general hospital, secondary mental health services, primary care and non-statutory services, as a means of ensuring the highest possible standards of patient care

In line with the MHUAC SOP, following triage and transfer to MHUAC by the band 7 practitioner, complete a holistic assessment of the patient.

Following assessment, discuss and agree with the band 7 practitioner, the most appropriate pathway, signposting and were an inpatient stay is potentially required refer to the Enhanced Gatekeeping MDT.

Co-ordinate 136 MHA presentations in the A&E Department

If you would like to discuss this post further or want to arrange an informal visit please contact us using the details provided

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.