Job summary
Are you a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist passionate about improving mental health care for older adults?
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Mental Health Liaison Practitioner to join our multi-disciplinary team supporting older people across acute hospital and care home settings in Bradford and Airedale.
The Older People's Mental Health Liaison Service operates from Airedale General Hospital and Lynfield Mount Hospital, with support provided to patients in ward areas at Bradford Royal Infirmary, St Luke's Hospital, Westbourne Green, Westwood Park, and Airedale General.
You'll be responsible for liaising with professionals, assessing, planning, and delivering interventions for older people with mental health needs in general hospital settings or transitioning between DAU and care homes. You'll advise ward teams and care home staff, identify needs, and signpost service users for further assessment where needed.
You'll work constructively as part of a flexible team, linking with the Consultant Psychiatrist for Acute Liaison, Older People's CMHTs, Care Home Liaison, and inpatient wards. You'll promote clinical excellence and contribute to training development within the acute hospital setting, in line with Trust objectives and team policies.
Main duties of the job
- Accept and assess referrals for the liaison service, coordinating care and referring to other professionals as needed.
- Provide expert input within acute hospital and care home settings for older people with mental health needs.
- Work collaboratively with clients and carers, encouraging active participation in care planning.
- Contribute to resource planning, monitoring, and control, ensuring agreed standards of care are met.
- Apply the Mental Health Act (1983) in line with Directorate policies.
- Promote equality of opportunity and fair access for all service users and carers.
- Lead on clinical governance, research, audit, and best practice within the service.
- Develop effective communication networks across disciplines and agencies to ensure continuity of care.
- Ensure care delivery aligns with professional guidance and current legislation.
- Assess complex issues within an interdisciplinary framework
- To act as a resource clinician offering support and clinical advice, ensuring implementation of all Trust policies and procedures
Closing Date: 4th October 2025
Shortlisting Date: 5th October 2025
Interview Date: TBC
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whilst reporting to the Acute Liaison Psychiatry Service team leader, post holders will be capable of making clinical decisions affecting the mental health care of clients based on their own assessments.
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whilst reporting to the Acute Liaison Psychiatry Service team leader, post holders will be capable of making clinical decisions affecting the mental health care of clients based on their own assessments.
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse NMC in Mental Health, Social Work registered to Social work England or Qualified Occupational Therapist with Membership of HCPC
Desirable
- Relevant teaching qualification
Training and Experience
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Understand the needs of older people with mental health problems and knowledge of assessing complex issues within an interdisciplinary framework.
- Minimum of two years experience of working in a clinical environment where a significant portion of clinical time is spent assessing / treating patients with dementia
Desirable
- Experience of working in General or Mental Hospital settings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse NMC in Mental Health, Social Work registered to Social work England or Qualified Occupational Therapist with Membership of HCPC
Desirable
- Relevant teaching qualification
Training and Experience
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Understand the needs of older people with mental health problems and knowledge of assessing complex issues within an interdisciplinary framework.
- Minimum of two years experience of working in a clinical environment where a significant portion of clinical time is spent assessing / treating patients with dementia
Desirable
- Experience of working in General or Mental Hospital settings
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).
