Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 6 Mental Health Liaison Practitioner - Bath

The closing date is 07 August 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has come up, to work in the diverse and busy Mental Health Liaison team, alongside experienced band 6 practitioners, working with both adults of working age and older adults.

We support service users, who may be in an acute mental health crisis, have self-harmed or who may present with suicidal ideation, presenting with a delirium or cognitive impairment, with substance or alcohol misuse.

We are looking for a candidate, who would enjoy the challenges and diversity of assessing service users, in different clinical environments such as the emergency department, maternity, general medical wards and maternity in a large acute general hospital, alongside staff from a range of different specialities.

The mental health liaison team operates from 8am to midnight across 7-day service 365 days a year. We are a band 6 nurse led team, with two Consultant Psychiatrists and a Band 7 senior practitioner, that provides a comprehensive assessment service to patients/service users, carers and clinical colleagues based within the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of this role are:

1. Liaison and Consultation

Be responsible for the full assessment of care needs of patients presenting with a range of undifferentiated mental health and psychological problems. As a result of this assessment, you will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, without direct supervision.

2. Clinical Practice

Utilise a range of clinical skills appropriate to the individual patient's needs and the clinical setting in which they are being cared for, including interpretation of physical health investigations and treatment pathways.

3. Education

Actively participate in the identification of own learning and education needs and demonstrate achievement against personal development plans (PDPs).

Participate in the mentoring and education of a range of students placed with the team.

Act as a mentor and preceptor, when appropriate.

Participate in the planning, development and delivery of multi-professional education programmes and training sessions for a range of clinical and managerial staff.

Provide clinical supervision to colleagues and students, as required.

4. Clinical governance

Promote and encourage user and carer feedback regarding the service.

Participate in and undertake appraisal and clinical supervision.

About us

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.

Details

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

342-BNS057-0725

Job locations

Balmoral Ward, Hillview Lodge

Combe Park, Royal United Hospital

Bath

BA1 3NG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Team is made up of Specialist Practitioners, who are skilled in assessing the mental health needs of people being treated for physical health problems and symptoms.

As a team we offer a supportive and inclusive work culture, ongoing training and professional development, access to staff wellbeing services, flexible working hours if required.

If you are passionate about making a real difference in peoples lives, join our team and help bridge the gap between physical and mental healthcare.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

Offering comprehensive psychosocial and safety assessments assessments to individuals from age 18 years to older adults 65+ years though this is not definitive as will be specific to the patients individual needs, with a range of undifferentiated mental health and psychological problems, and psychiatric illnesses, including dementia.

Utilising physical health knowledge in order to support formulation and treatment.

Providing a mental health consultation liaison and advice service.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Team is made up of Specialist Practitioners, who are skilled in assessing the mental health needs of people being treated for physical health problems and symptoms.

As a team we offer a supportive and inclusive work culture, ongoing training and professional development, access to staff wellbeing services, flexible working hours if required.

If you are passionate about making a real difference in peoples lives, join our team and help bridge the gap between physical and mental healthcare.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

Offering comprehensive psychosocial and safety assessments assessments to individuals from age 18 years to older adults 65+ years though this is not definitive as will be specific to the patients individual needs, with a range of undifferentiated mental health and psychological problems, and psychiatric illnesses, including dementia.

Utilising physical health knowledge in order to support formulation and treatment.

Providing a mental health consultation liaison and advice service.

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.

Person Specification

Essential/Desirable

Essential

  • Diploma level/degree in relevant healthcare/social care profession, eg CPN, RMN, OT, Social Worker
  • Have experience in working therapeutically with individuals following self-harm
  • Knowledge of key areas of liaison, psychosocial assessment and the psychological effects of physical illness
  • Effective communication and empathy, forming rapport when interacting with service users, families and other healthcare professionals when undertaking assessments with distressed individuals in crisis
  • The ability to evaluate the severity of a persons mental health condition, assess potential harm to themselves or others, identify protective factors and make informed decisions and interventions risk assessment and collaboration with other professionals

Desirable

  • Knowledge of various therapeutic approaches in the care and treatment of individuals with drug and alcohol problems
  • Of working in a mental health liaison team or general hospital setting
  • Teaching and Assessing qualification
  • Knowledge/experience of those experiencing social factors, homelessness, financial difficulties and adverse life events
  • Knowledge of working with Police, Probation, Perinatal mental health
Person Specification

Essential/Desirable

Essential

  • Diploma level/degree in relevant healthcare/social care profession, eg CPN, RMN, OT, Social Worker
  • Have experience in working therapeutically with individuals following self-harm
  • Knowledge of key areas of liaison, psychosocial assessment and the psychological effects of physical illness
  • Effective communication and empathy, forming rapport when interacting with service users, families and other healthcare professionals when undertaking assessments with distressed individuals in crisis
  • The ability to evaluate the severity of a persons mental health condition, assess potential harm to themselves or others, identify protective factors and make informed decisions and interventions risk assessment and collaboration with other professionals

Desirable

  • Knowledge of various therapeutic approaches in the care and treatment of individuals with drug and alcohol problems
  • Of working in a mental health liaison team or general hospital setting
  • Teaching and Assessing qualification
  • Knowledge/experience of those experiencing social factors, homelessness, financial difficulties and adverse life events
  • Knowledge of working with Police, Probation, Perinatal mental health

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.

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.

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Balmoral Ward, Hillview Lodge

Combe Park, Royal United Hospital

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Balmoral Ward, Hillview Lodge

Combe Park, Royal United Hospital

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

Caroline Roach

c.roach1@nhs.net

01225362720

Details

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

342-BNS057-0725

Job locations

Balmoral Ward, Hillview Lodge

Combe Park, Royal United Hospital

Bath

BA1 3NG


Supporting documents

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