Liaison Psychiatry Nurse in City of Westminster

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There’s a place for you at CNWL.
We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.
Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.
With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

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Fraud alert: Please be cautious if you are asked for a fee at any stage in the recruitment process. CNWL does not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers. Always check with the recruitment contact or team if you are asked.

Site The Lighthouse Town London Salary £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T) Salary period Yearly Closing 10/11/2026 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

The work will involve the comprehensive psychosocial assessment of mental health needs in a diverse patient population (including risk assessment and the development of risk management plans).

You will be expected to have the skills to deal with a very broad range of mental health needs as well as undertaking initial mental health assessments with those whose primary problem may be substance misuse.

You will be required to make clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of the complex presenting problems and judgements based on available treatment options. The options will include the admission and discharge of patients.

Main duties of the job

• Be responsible for the completion of autonomous psychosocial assessments and reviews of the mental health needs of patients presenting with a wide variety of clinical conditions.
• Provide a comprehensive consultation liaison service to St Mary’s Hospital ward teams and individual clinicians to advise in the development of psychological care plans, and to advise in cases where patients are exhibiting complex psychosocial needs and/or challenging behaviours.
• Be required to teach acute hospital staff in both formal and informal settings.
• Be responsible for providing a broad range of treatments and clinical interventions as appropriate to the needs of each individual patient.

The Liaison Psychiatry Team at St Mary’s Hospital provides a consultation and liaison service for all patients over the age of 18 years who are referred from A&E, inpatient wards and outpatient clinics within St Marys Hospital. It is a dynamic role. You will work with a highly skilled workforce of experienced mental health practitioners that include Consultant Psychiatrists, SpRs, trainee doctors. Liaison Psychiatry Nurse Specialists and alcohol nurse specialists. You will develop high competency levels to enable you to competently fulfil your role confidently.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Working as an autonomous practitioner, you will promote the health and well‑being of patients and maintain a safe, caring and therapeutic environment.
• Provide a specialist assessment (usually working alone) of a patient’s mental/psychological state, (this will include assessment of deliberate self-harm) and initial risk assessment. Arrange referral or follow up as necessary.
• Provide support and information for significant others involved in patient care, or referral to appropriate agencies.
• Utilise a wide variety of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are required to be seen.
• Provide specialist advice and support with decision‑making on a range of care, treatment and patient management issues.
• Be available for consultation regarding patient care, and offer information and support, in particular advice on nursing management, ensuring patients with severe and enduring mental illness on wards at St Mary’s Hospital are receiving care that is of a high quality and specific to their needs.
• Work alongside all members of the Liaison Psychiatry Team, and attend and contribute to meetings and ward rounds, presenting complex cases for discussion within the team.
• Liaise with other disciplines (statutory services) working within the community, offer input, education and support regarding patient care.
• Give information/support to telephone callers to switchboard regarding mental health issues, documenting as required.
• Demonstrate a high standard of record keeping and documentation with adherence to CNWL NHS Foundation Trust policy, and understanding of professional guidelines and application of confidentiality, always adhering to NMC guidelines.
• Work with colleagues to develop and promote the service’s philosophy, operational policy and strategic objectives, taking responsibility for specific areas of policy and strategy delivery, as negotiated with team leader.
• Work with colleagues to develop clinical expertise and high standards of nursing practice, as defined by the Nursing & Midwifery Code of professional conduct (2012).
• Provide expert advice regarding the pharmacological management of mental health patients to acute hospital clinicians.
• Deliver care that is evidence based, reflecting current best practices and research. Demonstrate clinical excellence and high standards of nursing practice to other staff
• Participate in structured clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for those suffering from mental illness. In particular, advice regarding the use of the Mental Health Act (2007) in acute hospital settings.

Person specification

Previous Experience

• Significant experience as a qualified nurse in any combination of the following; Liaison Psychiatric Nurse, acute psychiatric setting, working within a CMHT, Older adults, Home treatment teams.
• Ability to interpret research and apply to practice.
• Knowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills/psychosocial interventions/brief solution focused therapy.
• Other relevant post registration experience
• Audit and Research

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both written and oral. Computer skills.
• A comprehensive understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983), the Mental Health Code of Practice and the CPA process.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Mental capacity Act
• Specialist knowledge of mental health problems and their relationship to physical disorders.
• Able to assess health needs of all patients over the age 18 years + over in the hospital, including those who self-harm, learning disabilities, have substance misuse issues or have mental health difficulties commonly associated with old age, including dementia.
• A comprehensive understanding of the risk assessment process (including deliberate self harm).
• Able to build constructive relationships using warmth and empathy.
• Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.
• Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to carry out mental health assessments.
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and prioritise workload.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• European Computer Driving License.
• C&G 7.730 Teaching Cert (Adults).

Training/Qualifications

• RMN on live register
• Evidence of an active interest in further professional development.
• Educated to diploma level or equivalent in Psychiatric Nursing, Psychotherapy, Counselling or a related discipline.
• Practice assessor, ENB 998 or equivalent
• Educated to degree level.
• Other courses relevant to liaison psychiatry.
• RGN

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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