Senior Mental Health Practitioner

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
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Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to come and work as a mental health liaison practitioner in the large modern state of the art Southmead hospital as part of the Bristol Foundation Trust.

The BFT Mental Health Liaison Team currently provides mental health assessment, advice, care and treatment to patients within the general hospital and emergency department who have a mental health element to their attendance/admission. The team currently operates a 7 day, including nights, age-inclusive and needs led service.

We would like to recruit an enthusiastic and dynamic Band 7 practitioner to join our team of medical, nursing, and social work staff. We are looking for experienced mental health practitioners with the skills, confidence and flexibility to assess complex individuals and make appropriate plans for their support and care in collaboration with hospital staff.

You will have excellent assessment and communication skills, an ability to formulate clinical decisions and act on them promptly in a demanding, challenging but supportive environment. This is an ideal development opportunity for an experienced practitioner to gain skills in a new and vibrant environment.

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• Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments and therapeutic interventions of patients, you will prioritise seeing patients in the Emergency Department. However, you will be available to support the wards as and when required with regard to nursing support, education and risk management.
• Make autonomous decisions based on an analysis of complex presenting problems whilst utilising sound clinical judgements regarding the most appropriate treatment, discharge and follow up options taking into account the risk and assessment and management plan.
• Provide a Mental Health consultation/Liaison and advice service.
• Assist and support General Hospital Colleagues in making decisions regarding treatment and care in complex situations.
• Work autonomously and or in close collaboration with colleagues internally and externally to ensure the delivery of high-quality evidence based practice.
• Engage and negotiate with acutely distressed individuals sometimes in potentially challenging situations.
• Work in accordance with Trust Guidelines and Policies and adhere to NMC or equivalent professional regulatory codes and requirements.
• Represent Mental Health Services within the General Hospital, promoting a supportive culture in relation to Mental Health.
• Role model clinical excellence and high standards of practice to other staff.
• Provide education to all areas within the trust to enhance skills, knowledge and confidence in mental health.

Working for our organisation

Bristol Foundation Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

Bristol Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

The Mental Health Liaison Service is a specialist multidisciplinary team providing mental health assessment, intervention and support across the Bristol Foundation Trust Group acute hospital sites, including City and Weston site and Southmead site. The service works closely with acute hospital colleagues and partner agencies to ensure patients receive timely, high-quality mental healthcare alongside their physical health needs.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

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The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.