Job Description

The Mental Health Liaison Team provides a comprehensive service to patients/service users, carers and clinical colleagues based within the Great Western Hospital.

This involves:

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



Providing a mental health consultation liaison and advice service.

Delivering a range of nursing and psychosocial 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.



Utilise a range of clinical skills appropriate to the individual patient's needs and the clinical setting in which they are being cared for.



Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments with patients presenting following an episode of self-harm.



Prompt referral on to secondary mental health services, social services and voluntary groups, as appropriate.



Flexible, needs-based follow-up of individuals who require assessment following an earlier attendance after an episode of self-harm.



Concise, effective liaison and feedback to clinical staff within the general hospital regarding advice on appropriate management strategies for individuals referred.



Utilise a range of follow-up options and sources of help and support for patients, as appropriate.



Effective liaison and communication with patients, relatives, carers, primary health care and secondary mental health services.



Role model clinical excellence and high standards of nursing practice to other staff.



Demonstrate and apply a sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for people with mental health problems. In particular, demonstrate a sound understanding of the application of the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act and their use within a non-mental health setting.



We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.



We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.



Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.



AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.



At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.



Person Specification

Mental Health Liaison Nurse

Band 6

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

Registered Nurse (mental health)(preferred) or Social Worker or Occupational Therapy. Must have current professional registration.



Diploma in Professional Studies (Nursing) - or equivalent experience.



Evidence of professional updating and development in the nursing care of patients in an acute or community setting.



Knowledge of the various approaches to mental health assessment.



Knowledge of key areas of liaison psychiatric nursing practice, including the psychological effects of physical illness.



Knowledge of nursing patients in an acute phase of mental illness/distress.



Knowledge of risk assessment and management, particularly in relation to suicide and suicide prevention.



Knowledge of the clinical and demographic risk factors associated with suicide and self-harm.



Knowledge of Common Law and issues relating the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.



Experience of assessing, planning and evaluating mental health nursing interventions.



Skills in interacting therapeutically with distressed and/or disturbed individuals.



Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.



Experience of carrying out risk assessment and management, particularly in relation to suicide and suicide prevention.



Experience of sharing skills and knowledge with others through formal and informal learning opportunities.



Excellent communication skills - both face to face and written.



Experience of working therapeutically in residential and/or community settings.



Experience of delivering psychiatric interventions to individuals who are acutely unwell.



Experience of working therapeutically with individuals following self-harm.



Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care.



Ability to respond positively to constructive criticism.



Demonstrable ability to communicate clearly and sensitively in situations that may be hostile and/or contentious.



Ability to remain resilient in challenging situations.



A questioning attitude.



A concept of own nursing philosophy.



Enthusiasm.



Flexibility.



Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.



A problem-solving approach to professional practice.

Desirable:

Teaching & Assessing qualification (or equivalent).



Knowledge of the various therapeutic approaches in the care and treatment of patients with drug and alcohol problems.



Knowledge of basic research methodology.



Skills in basic research process.



Skills in audit and quality assurance programmes.



Skills in report writing.



Skills in chairing meetings.



Skills in motivating and managing change in others.



Experience delivering mental health care in non-traditional settings.



Experience of working in a mental health liaison setting.