Job Description

Main area

Mental Health Practitioner - First Response Services - Liaison

Grade

Band 6

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref

373-SMH2438

Site

Arrowe Park Hospital

Town

Birkenhead

Salary

38,682 - 46,580 per annum

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

15/08/2025 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Mental Health Practitioner to be part of our First Response Services based within our Liaison Psychiatry and Street Triage Services, Wirral.



The Liaison Psychiatry Service deliver comprehensive mental health assessments, brief intervention, care planning and signposting support for patients who present to the A&E Department or who have been admitted to hospital.



We welcome professionals from a mental health nursing, social work, LD or OT background to apply.



The successful applicant will be expected to work across Urgent Care Mental Health First Response Services, which will include Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams, Liaison Services, Street Triage Services, Liaison and Diversion Services and the Crisis Line.

Main duties of the job

Post holders will enhance the Liaison Psychiatry Service providing prompt response for assessments, assisting treatment delivery within the ED 4-hour targets and NHS England response times. The liaison role is also to support the education and training of acute care staff around mental health issues, Deprivation of Liberty safeguards, Mental Capacity Act & the Mental Health Act.



We are looking for dynamic, motivated individuals with an excellent track record in engaging people in distress, high quality risk assessment skills, and a compassionate approach to working with patients and their families/carers.



Experience of working with patients with complex mental health difficulties is essential. All successful applicants will receive robust supervision and be supported in their own professional development.



Please contact our team if you are interested and/or would like an informal discussion about the role.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.



We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool.



Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.



As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.



All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.



Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see 'documents to download' section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.



At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.



CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust's Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.



Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust's Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust's Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.



An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.



If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the 'essential' criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer 'YES' to the question: 'Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?'



Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.



The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.



Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of 16 per year applies.



New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.



Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.



Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person specification

#

Qualifications

Essential criteria

A registered professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities, Social Work or Occupational Therapy including registration with the relevant regulatory body

Desirable criteria

Evidence of further professional development Recognised qualification in psychotherapeutic interventions i.e post graduate certificate in cbt #

Knowledge & Expertise

Essential criteria

Up to date knowledge of national and local guidance relevant to Liaison Psychiatry Services i.e., PLAN, Crisis Care Concordat, National Suicide prevention Strategy, Parity of Esteem agenda, relevant NICE guidelines A working knowledge of the Mental health Act, mental Capacity Act and Duty of Candour Knowledge of sensitivity to equal opportunities Sound knowledge of current professional staff development needs Knowledge of the relationship between physical and mental health and of physical pathology Information technology skills

Desirable criteria

An understanding of Liaison Psychiatry KPIs Sound knowledge of other agencies, Trust, PCT's within the community and outside the boundaries of our own Trust Best Interest Assessor or an understanding of best interest #

Experience

Essential criteria

Post qualification practice experience in mental health Extensive experience working in a variety of mental health settings and crisis/liaison work Experience of multidisciplinary working
Applicant requirements


You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.



Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Liz Clement

Job title

Team Manager

Email address

liz.clement@nhs.net

Additional information

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or telephone 01244 393100