Senior Mental Health Liaison Practitioner

Job Summary
The mental health liaison service offers a comprehensive range of mental health specialties within one multi-disciplinary team so that all patients with a suspected or actual mental health problem within the general hospital can be assessed, treated, signposted or referred appropriately regardless of age, presenting complaint, time of presentation or severity of condition. The service puts an emphasis on the facilitation of early but effective discharge from the acute hospital site. The service operates 7 days a week and posts will be on a rotational shift basis. Mental Health Liaison is delivered from a Specialist Mental Health Trust with teams located within the Acute Hospital setting.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work as part of the multi-disciplinary Mental Health Liaison team to deliver an effective and efficient response to referrals from the acute trust, providing clinical assessments and interventions focusing on relapse prevention, early discharge, and improved quality of life for patients referred.
2. Be expected to undertake mental health assessments for people attending the Emergency Department, offering highly developed clinical and risk assessments and management plans.
3. Provide a service to the wards within the general hospital, assessing individuals with a range of complex physical and mental health needs, including both functional and organic illnesses of later life in addition to younger people.
4. Provide support and training to acute hospital staff regarding recognizing mental health conditions and appropriate management and onward referral pathways.
5. Provide information and clinical support to police and ambulance staff to help them make appropriate pathway decisions.
6. Provide support and care for individuals brought to an identified Place of Safety under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and coordinate the assessment process.

About Us
We are proud to provide high-quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, and Tameside and Glossop. Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage, and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance.
• Access to Continued Professional Development.
• Involvement in improvement and research activities.
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service.
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure, and travel.

Job Responsibilities

1. Clinical Assessment and Treatment
   To provide in-reach into the Emergency Department and general hospital wards and competently undertake comprehensive mental health and risk assessments to identify the needs of individuals referred. To have an understanding of physical health conditions and the impact they can have on mental health.
2. To work in close liaison with staff within the Acute Trust and Health & Social Care Services in upholding and implementing clinical standards for the care of people with mental health needs within the Acute Trust.
3. To be able to engage and establish an empathic rapport with individuals with a wide spectrum of mental health conditions in difficult settings.
4. To possess the knowledge of the different components of mental health assessments for a range of conditions including robust risk assessments and management of risk following assessment.
5. To ensure the timely and comprehensive completion of specialist mental health assessments for individuals within the general hospital to support discharge planning and funding of ongoing care.
6. To have up-to-date knowledge of, and practice in a wide range of psychosocial and psychological interventions and be able to apply these to a varied patient group.
7. To ensure appropriate patient and carer involvement in care.
8. To support best interest meetings as required.
9. To have up-to-date knowledge of a range of clinical pathways within the mental health and acute trust setting.
10. To be able to competently make clinical decisions, particularly in relation to referring patients on to other services, admitting for treatment, and discharging individuals.
11. To possess a sound knowledge of issues surrounding the management of violence and aggression and to be able to diffuse potentially difficult and volatile situations.
12. Be able to effectively support non-mental health colleagues from a range of disciplines.

1. Communication and Record Keeping
   To have a high level of competency in relation to communication skills including the ability to negotiate and provide professional and assertive challenge in a difficult environment.
2. To be able to promote and develop communication, interpersonal, and self-awareness skills in non-mental health settings.
3. Create and maintain effective systems of written and verbal communication including competent use of electronic patient records.
4. Maintain own standards of record keeping and inputting to information systems.
5. To be able to prepare comprehensive documentation following assessment and treatment.
6. To be able to complete detailed and accurate comprehensive specialist reports.
7. Work in collaboration with patients and carers to resolve any concerns/complaints in relation to their care.
8. Contribute to data collection and inputting to support service evaluation and reporting, working within established and developing outcome frameworks.
9. The post holder must work to the requirements of data protection laws as applicable to the UK, which includes the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

1. Supporting Discharge / Signposting
   To have a comprehensive knowledge of the Statutory and Voluntary services in the local area to be able to refer/signpost individuals to appropriate discharge support.
2. To have an understanding of social care issues that may impact on mental health and an ability to address these issues through appropriate signposting.
3. Support discharge planning from the acute hospital wards, promoting therapeutic risk-taking and the personalisation agenda for individuals and their carers.
4. Where required refer individuals for ongoing secondary care mental health services input ensuring the involvement and agreement of individuals and their carers.
5. Take a lead role in facilitating transfer to mental health inpatient services when required.

1. Leadership / Professional
   To have the ability to manage own caseload and work autonomously.
2. To have the ability to recognize and work within your own limitations and raise any concerns to senior staff.
3. To be able to prioritize workload, completing the necessary tasks within the available time.
4. To participate in service planning, evaluation, and development.
5. To comply with Trust Uniform Policy including the principle of bare below the elbows.
6. In the absence of the clinical lead, act as shift coordinator and take responsibility for referral triaging and management, planning and allocating the workload on a day-to-day basis.
7. To deal appropriately with clinical incidents, complaints, etc from patients, relatives, and members of the public, via line manager, in accordance with Trust policy.
8. To participate in the rota planning for the Service and ensure that the Team Manager is informed of any gaps in service provision.
9. Adhere to relevant professional codes of conduct.

1. Multidisciplinary Working
   Work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team across organisations providing a team approach to service delivery.
2. To be able to manage conflict and consider other professionals' perspectives in the best interests of individuals referred to the service.
3. To participate in professionals' meetings in relation to complex cases.
4. To act as a conduit between the mental health trust and acute hospital in relation to patient care.

1. Policies and Procedures
   To participate and contribute to the development of clinical policies, procedures, and guidelines for the Mental Health Liaison service.
2. To ensure that Trust policies and where required acute trust policies are adhered to.
3. To observe and practice within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act.

1. Training and Personal Development
   To utilize resources and incorporate research into evidence-based practice where applicable.
2. To participate in Trust-wide initiatives to improve practice.
3. Have the ability to use a range of clinical and managerial supervision and to provide supervision to junior members of staff.
4. Lead on providing support and training to acute hospital staff across a range of topics in relation to mental health.
5. To maintain an up-to-date professional portfolio and personal development plan.
6. To participate in the induction process of staff.
7. To participate in team and service meetings and teaching sessions.
8. Contribute to ongoing audit and service development.
9. To provide mentorship, education, and training to learners from a range of professional backgrounds.

This job description is not exhaustive but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

General Duties of all Post Holders
To undertake any other reasonable duty, which is appropriate to the band, when requested by Senior Staff. To be familiar with and comply with all Trust and departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines. To be aware of and work towards the Trust's strategic goals.

Standards of Business Conduct
The post holder will be required to comply with the organisations' standing order and standing financial instructions and at all times, deal honestly with the organisation with colleagues and all those who have dealings with the organisation including patients, relatives, and suppliers. The post holder must ensure that their behaviour and interests inside and outside work do not conflict with their Trust position, duties, and/or responsibilities. The post holder must comply with and support the development of the performance standards within the service/department to ensure the service is responsive to and meets the needs of its customers. The post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working relationships with all patients, service users, staff, contractors, and where appropriate, members of the public. The Trust aims to maintain the goodwill and confidence of its own staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors, and the general public. To assist in achieving this objective it is essential that at all times, the post holder carries out their duties in a courteous, sympathetic, and professional manner. All post holders who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional practice/conduct. It is the post holder's responsibilities to ensure they are both familiar with and adhere to these requirements and maintain their professional membership to the relevant body.

Equality and Diversity and Equal Opportunities
The post holder must carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies, avoiding unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, service users, members of the public, and all other stakeholders. The post holder must promote awareness of and respect for equality and diversity in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. The post holder is responsible for treating all staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors, and the general public with dignity and respect at all times.

Safeguarding
Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure. All staff have a responsibility to promote the welfare of any child, young person, or vulnerable adult they come into contact with and in cases where there are safeguarding concerns, to act upon them and protect the individual from harm. All staff should refer any safeguarding issues to their manager and escalate accordingly in line with the Trust Child and Adult Safeguarding Policies. All staff should familiarize themselves with the NICE Guidelines when to suspect child maltreatment 2009.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential
  • Professional registration in health or social care with up-to-date accreditation / CPD - RMN, Dip SW, BSc Occupational Therapy, or equivalent.
  • Short course(s) and experience to post-graduate diploma level.

• Desirable
  • Educated to degree level.
  • Accredited skills-based training.
  • Training related to management skills, teaching, staff development, and supervision.
  • Non-medical prescriber.
  • AMHP.

Experience

• Essential
  • Proven experience across a range of acute mental health services in any specialism (CYP, Adults, Older adults).
  • Demonstrate a working experience of a range of assessment tools for a range of mental health conditions.
  • Previous experience of working effectively with other disciplines.

• Desirable
  • Experience of working within liaison services.
  • Experience of working across multiple age ranges (CYP, Adults, Older adults).
  • Experience of delivering training/teaching to other professionals.
  • Experience of service development/managing change.
  • Experience in identifying and managing delirium.
  • Experience of supporting individuals who misuse alcohol or drugs.

Knowledge

• Essential
  • Sound knowledge of evidence-based contemporary mental health practice.
  • Sound knowledge base of holistic risk assessment and management.
  • Good understanding of the impact of physical and mental health co-morbidities.
  • Sound working knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Legislation.