Job summary
We are seeking to recruit an experienced and motivated individual to join our well established Hounslow Liaison Psychiatry Service. The role of the senior practitioner comprises a diverse range of clinical work alongside a strong leadership and managerial element. Critical thinking and motivation for innovation and development are essential, as you will be involved in service user care and experience, team development and service improvement.
HLPS is a 'Core 24' liaison psychiatry service providing care to patients in West Middlesex University Hospital, covering the emergency department (ED) and all inpatient wards. Our top aim is to provide and encourage integrated psychiatric and medical care for patients, through advocating for patients; ensuring that mental disorder is not a barrier to receiving high quality care in the hospital, and that care is delivered in the least restrictive manner possible. Our team has been accredited since 2018 with the Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network (PLAN).
We are commissioned to see all patients aged 16 and above. There is no separate CAMHS, older adults or dementia service although HLPS does have practitioners with specialist expertise in CAMHS and older adult psychiatry.
We are a busy team, but there is not one team member who doesn't muck in. We work together with good levels of communication to respond to the care needs of the patients, but we also have staff and team well being high on our agenda
Main duties of the job
You will represent psychiatric services within the general hospital environment, and provide specialist support to referring clinicians and clinical teams in the acute trust, assisting them in decision making in difficult and complex cases.
You will undertake biopsychosocial assessments and make clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of complex presenting problems.
You will promote carer/family involvement where required and will liaise with colleagues from other areas of health and social care to coordinate and facilitate safe discharge plans.
You will offer formal and informal training to your peers and acute trust colleagues to enhance patient care. You will provide clinical and managerial supervision for junior colleagues and peers.
You will be encouraged to share your views and ideas to improve service delivery.
You will take responsibility for projects associated with the provision of the Liaison Psychiatric Service. This will include planning, implementing, reviewing and revising these projects as necessary, especially in relation to the service development.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Professional Qualification as RMN/RN (Mental Health) or Registered Occupational Therapist or Registered Social Worker with professional registration (HCPC)
- Mentorship In Practice (Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice) or equivalent teaching qualification
- Assisted Year In Practice (ASYE) if social work qualified
Desirable
- Educated to degree or diploma level nursing
- Other courses/training relevant to Liaison Psychiatry e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focused Therapy etc
- RGN qualified
- Other qualification in practice teaching or supervision of staff.
- Evidence of recent professional development
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable substantive post qualifying experience in psychiatry, with evidence of relevant experience at Band 6
- Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
- Experience of mentoring students through placements
- Experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems
- Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of teaching/ training in a formal or informal setting
Desirable
- Clinical experience of working in Liaison Psychiatry Service(s)
- Experience of implementing and monitoring standards of care
- Other relevant post registration experience
- Audit and research skills
- Experience of managing outpatient clinics for mental health
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders
- Assessment and treatment of self-harm
- Risk assessment/management and crisis intervention skills
- Use of psychosocial assessment methods
- Knowledge of counselling skills / cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
- Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative
- Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005)
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983), and National Policy
- Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
- Ability to work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team
- Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options
- Management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- Clear understanding of the process of supervision
Desirable
- Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
- Computer literate
- Skills in CBT or family work
- Report writing skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to manage own time effectively through robust prioritising of own and others workloads
- Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
- Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence
- Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self- awareness
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Team/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- Be aware of the limitations in own competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- Act as a positive role model, dynamic, motivated caring and supportive
- Ability to work closely and form excellent working relationships with a wide range of people
Other
Essential
- Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
- Commitment to Equal Opportunities
- Ability to be reflective and accept constructive criticism to further develop oneself
- Be able to work flexibly if required
- Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health
- Willing to use peer and group supervision creatively
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Professional Qualification as RMN/RN (Mental Health) or Registered Occupational Therapist or Registered Social Worker with professional registration (HCPC)
- Mentorship In Practice (Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice) or equivalent teaching qualification
- Assisted Year In Practice (ASYE) if social work qualified
Desirable
- Educated to degree or diploma level nursing
- Other courses/training relevant to Liaison Psychiatry e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focused Therapy etc
- RGN qualified
- Other qualification in practice teaching or supervision of staff.
- Evidence of recent professional development
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable substantive post qualifying experience in psychiatry, with evidence of relevant experience at Band 6
- Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
- Experience of mentoring students through placements
- Experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems
- Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of teaching/ training in a formal or informal setting
Desirable
- Clinical experience of working in Liaison Psychiatry Service(s)
- Experience of implementing and monitoring standards of care
- Other relevant post registration experience
- Audit and research skills
- Experience of managing outpatient clinics for mental health
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders
- Assessment and treatment of self-harm
- Risk assessment/management and crisis intervention skills
- Use of psychosocial assessment methods
- Knowledge of counselling skills / cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
- Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative
- Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005)
- Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983), and National Policy
- Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
- Ability to work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team
- Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options
- Management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- Clear understanding of the process of supervision
Desirable
- Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
- Computer literate
- Skills in CBT or family work
- Report writing skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to manage own time effectively through robust prioritising of own and others workloads
- Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
- Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence
- Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self- awareness
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Team/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- Be aware of the limitations in own competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- Act as a positive role model, dynamic, motivated caring and supportive
- Ability to work closely and form excellent working relationships with a wide range of people
Other
Essential
- Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
- Commitment to Equal Opportunities
- Ability to be reflective and accept constructive criticism to further develop oneself
- Be able to work flexibly if required
- Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health
- Willing to use peer and group supervision creatively
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
