Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen 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 present with suicidal ideation, delirium, or cognitive impairment, as well as those 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 services in a large acute general hospital, alongside staff from a range of different specialties.
The Mental Health Liaison team operates from 8 a.m. to midnight across a seven-day service, 365 days a year. We are a Band 6 nurse-led team, with two Consultant Psychiatrists and a Band 7 senior practitioner, providing 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
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.
Note: This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with AWP Trust policy, all newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of advertised role banding. All NQSWs are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within two years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances, in which case it may be extended for a further two years.If you have been appointed to an advertised Band 6 role, this will be an automatic progression following confirmation of your successful ASYE completion. If you have been appointed to a Band 5 post, you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy upon successful ASYE completion.
Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.
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 supporting and creating 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Offering comprehensive psychosocial and safety assessments to individuals aged 18 years and older, including older adults (65+), though this is not definitive and will be specific to the patients individual needs. This includes a range of undifferentiated mental health and psychological problems and psychiatric illnesses, including dementia.
- Utilising physical health knowledge 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 to ensure the highest possible standards of patient care.
Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Offering comprehensive psychosocial and safety assessments to individuals aged 18 years and older, including older adults (65+), though this is not definitive and will be specific to the patients individual needs. This includes a range of undifferentiated mental health and psychological problems and psychiatric illnesses, including dementia.
- Utilising physical health knowledge 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 to ensure the highest possible standards of patient care.
Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable
Essential
- Diploma-level or degree in a relevant healthcare or social care profession, e.g., CPN, RMN, OT, Social Worker.
- Have experience 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 person's mental health condition, assess potential harm to themselves or others, identify protective factors, and make informed decisions and interventions, including 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.
- Experience of working in a mental health liaison team or a general hospital setting.
- Teaching and assessing qualification.
- Knowledge and/or experience of working with individuals experiencing social factors such as homelessness, financial difficulties, and adverse life events.
- Knowledge of working with Police, Probation, and Perinatal mental health.
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable
Essential
- Diploma-level or degree in a relevant healthcare or social care profession, e.g., CPN, RMN, OT, Social Worker.
- Have experience 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 person's mental health condition, assess potential harm to themselves or others, identify protective factors, and make informed decisions and interventions, including 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.
- Experience of working in a mental health liaison team or a general hospital setting.
- Teaching and assessing qualification.
- Knowledge and/or experience of working with individuals experiencing social factors such as homelessness, financial difficulties, and adverse life events.
- Knowledge of working with Police, Probation, and 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.
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).
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