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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Liaison Nurse

The closing date is 12 November 2025

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Job summary

The Mental Health Clinical Assessment Unit (MHCAU) is a service created in response to the Covid-19 crisis and ongoing emergency department pressures for the local population of Croydon. The unit is staffed primarily by staff from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and the SLaM psychiatric liaison team.

The service comprises a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and lived experience staff. The service has been established to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) at Croydon University Hospital and to support the provision of capacity for a potential surge in emergency medical cases resulting from Covid-19. This is achieved by providing a diversionary assessment space for patients with mental health problems who would otherwise have been seen in the ED but have no concurrent acute physical health concern.

This area will provide collaborative and timely care to patients requiring mental health care and treatment, in line with the National Emergency Care Access Standards.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will be clinically confident in assessing mental health service users presenting in emergencies, carrying out short term interventions and making independent decisions. You will thrive in a fast paced environment, often working under pressure. You will possess excellent assessment, communication skills and interpersonal skills. You will work well with others and enjoy multidisciplinary work whilst maintaining the highest standard in the quality of care.

About us

Some of our benefits are highlighted here:

  • Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
  • Work life balance,flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
  • Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
  • Car lease,our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
  • Accommodation,our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
  • NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

  • Counselling services
  • Wellbeing events
  • Long service awards
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Season ticket loan
  • Childcare vouchers
  • Staff restaurants

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year per annum inc. of HCA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-7534725-SA

Job locations

Croydon University Hospital

530 London Road

Croydon

CR7 7YE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Education and Qualification

-Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse-Mentorship qualification

Experience and Knowledge

-Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge, anddevelop these by using evidence-based practice.

- Significant relevant clinical experience

-Evidence of continuing professional development

- Experience in providing psycho-social assessments

- Experience in supervising junior staff

Skills and Abilities

-Able to provide quality care that is responsive to the service users needs, without close supervision

-Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations

Job description

Job responsibilities

Education and Qualification

-Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse-Mentorship qualification

Experience and Knowledge

-Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge, anddevelop these by using evidence-based practice.

- Significant relevant clinical experience

-Evidence of continuing professional development

- Experience in providing psycho-social assessments

- Experience in supervising junior staff

Skills and Abilities

-Able to provide quality care that is responsive to the service users needs, without close supervision

-Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Adult Nurse / Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disabilities
  • Mentorship Qualification or equivalent teaching in practice qualification

Desirable

  • Master's degree

Experince & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of research based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
  • Experience of carrying out psycho-social assessments
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Experience of taking responsibility for a ward/clinical unit

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
  • Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
  • Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics: promotes equality and diversity

Desirable

  • Innovative, creative and a willingness to try new ideas

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical)
  • Flexibility to work shift patterns across 24hrs, 7days a week and across all clinical areas as required
Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Adult Nurse / Mental Health Nurse / Learning Disabilities
  • Mentorship Qualification or equivalent teaching in practice qualification

Desirable

  • Master's degree

Experince & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of research based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
  • Experience of carrying out psycho-social assessments
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Experience of taking responsibility for a ward/clinical unit

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
  • Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
  • Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics: promotes equality and diversity

Desirable

  • Innovative, creative and a willingness to try new ideas

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical)
  • Flexibility to work shift patterns across 24hrs, 7days a week and across all clinical areas as required

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Croydon University Hospital

530 London Road

Croydon

CR7 7YE


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Croydon University Hospital

530 London Road

Croydon

CR7 7YE


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Team Leader

Jola Adejumo

jola.adejumo@slam.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year per annum inc. of HCA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NUR-7534725-SA

Job locations

Croydon University Hospital

530 London Road

Croydon

CR7 7YE


Supporting documents

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