Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Mental Health Professional to a part time substantive position, within the Older Adult Banes Acute and RUH Mental Health Liaison team.
The Older Adult Liaison team work over a 5-day week from Monday to Friday with a pattern of 9am to 5pm, offering assessments for people predominantly over 65 years of age suffering a range of mental illness.
You will be joining an established and experienced team of professionals who provide mental health assessments and care within the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
There will be an expectation at times, to support your Adults of Working colleagues with assessments, reviews and triages working with 18 to 65 years with possible presentations of self-harm or overdose in the Emergency department and wards. This will be based on clinical needs and demands and to share knowledge and skill across the team.
You should be forward thinking, pro-active and be able to thrive working in the fast paced and unpredictable general hospital environment.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual, who is keen to learn, or already has, excellent frontline assessment skills.
We are looking for a team player and someone who is able to show sensitivity and tact as an essential requirement, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Main duties of the job
Be responsible for high quality front-line psychosocial assessments/ risk assessments for those presenting with mental health needs in the Emergency Department and general medical wards in RUH in Bath.
Provide a comprehensive consultation-liaison service to clinical teams, assisting them to formulate appropriate plans of care and make decisions in cases where patients may be exhibiting complex needs and/or challenging behaviours.
Able to demonstrate extensive experience of working autonomously with adults with complex mental health issues.
Act as an advocate for those who, due to dementia, delirium, or disordered thinking may be less able at that time to articulate their needs.
Carry out comprehensive risk assessments with service users who may have self harmed, lack capacity and or ability to maintain their own safety.
Be familiar With Safeguarding Principles and processes
Effective liaison and communication with patients, relatives, carers, primary health care and secondary mental health services.
Concise, effective liaison with a range of professionals/ clinical staff, including Dementia Coordinators, Therapy Staff, Discharge Liaison Nurses. Intensive teams and CHMT's regarding advice on safe discharge pathways.
Demonstrate a sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for people with mental health problems, in understanding the application of the Mental Health Act (1983) and The Mental Capacity Act, and their use within the acute hospital setting.
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. 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 an assessment service to older adults usually aged over 65 years old and at times adults of working age, although 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, delirium, depression as examples.
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.
Representing mental health services within the Acute 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.
This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with trust policy, all newly qualified social workers will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of advertised role banding. All NQSWs are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within 2 years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which case it may be agreed to extend this for a further 2 years.
On successful completion of the ASYE, for which you will be given full support of an experienced Social Worker as well as Divisional Social Work Lead, and peer support from other ASYE candidates, you will then be eligible to progress to a Band 6 position.
If you have been appointed to an advertised Band 6 role this will be an automatic progression, following confirmation of your successful completion. If you have been appointed to a Band 5 you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Offering an assessment service to older adults usually aged over 65 years old and at times adults of working age, although 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, delirium, depression as examples.
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.
Representing mental health services within the Acute 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.
This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with trust policy, all newly qualified social workers will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of advertised role banding. All NQSWs are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within 2 years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which case it may be agreed to extend this for a further 2 years.
On successful completion of the ASYE, for which you will be given full support of an experienced Social Worker as well as Divisional Social Work Lead, and peer support from other ASYE candidates, you will then be eligible to progress to a Band 6 position.
If you have been appointed to an advertised Band 6 role this will be an automatic progression, following confirmation of your successful completion. If you have been appointed to a Band 5 you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Diploma level/Degree in relevant health and social care profession, RMN, OT, Social Worker
- Effective communication, empathy, forming rapport when interacting with service users, families, carers and other healthcare professionals when assessing individuals in acute distress/ crisis.
- Knowledge of MHA, MCA and Dols, safeguarding with Older Adults and Adults of Working Age
- Knowledge of key areas of Liaison psychosocial assessment and the psychological effects of physical illness.
- Have experience of and understanding of both functional and organic mental illness including anxiety, depression, dementia, delirium, Parkinson's disease associated with cognitive decline.
- The ability to assess the severity of a persons mental health condition, assess risk to themselves or others, identify protective factors and make informed decisions, liaising with other professionals/agencies to plan safe discharges.
Desirable
- Understanding of and experience of using Personal Wellbeing Plan (PWP)
- Teaching & Assessing experience
- Experience of working with Older Adults/Adults of Working Age and of working in an acute general hospital setting
- Knowledge of therapeutic approaches in care and treatment of individuals with both functional and organic illnesses
- Evidence of continuing professional development CPD
- Knowledge/experience and understanding of underlying physical health causes in older adults
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Diploma level/Degree in relevant health and social care profession, RMN, OT, Social Worker
- Effective communication, empathy, forming rapport when interacting with service users, families, carers and other healthcare professionals when assessing individuals in acute distress/ crisis.
- Knowledge of MHA, MCA and Dols, safeguarding with Older Adults and Adults of Working Age
- Knowledge of key areas of Liaison psychosocial assessment and the psychological effects of physical illness.
- Have experience of and understanding of both functional and organic mental illness including anxiety, depression, dementia, delirium, Parkinson's disease associated with cognitive decline.
- The ability to assess the severity of a persons mental health condition, assess risk to themselves or others, identify protective factors and make informed decisions, liaising with other professionals/agencies to plan safe discharges.
Desirable
- Understanding of and experience of using Personal Wellbeing Plan (PWP)
- Teaching & Assessing experience
- Experience of working with Older Adults/Adults of Working Age and of working in an acute general hospital setting
- Knowledge of therapeutic approaches in care and treatment of individuals with both functional and organic illnesses
- Evidence of continuing professional development CPD
- Knowledge/experience and understanding of underlying physical health causes in older adults
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).
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