Psychiatric Liaison Nurse

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Become part of our team.

We care for you as much as you care for others.

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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Main area Psychiatric Liaison Nurse Grade NHS Af C: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (A&E Shift Pattern - LD 07 - 21:30 / N - 21:00 - 07:30 - 24/7. (This will also be the shift pattern for Mental Health A&E) Medical Ward shift pattern 9-5 or 8-6 - 7 days a week.

MHEC - 8 - 20:30 / 20 - 8:30 - 24/7) Job ref 333-J-HA-0748

Site Northwick Park Town Harrow Salary £45,953 - £54,254 per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T) Salary period Yearly Closing 26/08/2026 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

We are seeking several dynamic and skilled psychiatric liaison nurses to join our multidisciplinary teams at Northwick Park Hospital.

These posts represent an excellent opportunity to work in a rapidly developing mental health team, to develop clinical and interpersonal skills and to make a meaningful contribution to clinical care.

The liaison psychiatry team provide psychiatry input to the inpatient wards and emergency department for all patients from age 18 upwards, including older adults.

We work closely with both inpatient medical/surgical specialties and mental health services.

The cases we encounter reflect the whole spectrum of psychiatric conditions, from common and severe mental disorders, people with drug and alcohol use disorders, to somatoform disorders, organic behavioural disorders and people who have harmed themselves.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in an assessment driven team with specialists in several disciplines.

Supervision is provided on a monthly basis.

Training opportunities are available.

The successful candidate will be able to take on leadership roles within the service to develop in their chosen areas.

Clinicians who have been in post developing their skills over a year or more have recently progressed into higher bands in multiple specialities including primary care, older adult, perinatal, CAMHS and senior management positions.

The role will enhance your current skills allowing you to work towards your career goals.

Main duties of the job

You will be a key player of the multidisciplinary team, offering specialist psychiatric advice in the acute hospital setting across medical wards and / or A&E, you will also be expected to work in the Mental health A&E (MHED) once built.

Successful candidates will be expected to use their clinical skills in the assessment and management of patients who are going through the MHEC for short periods of ongoing assessment.

The successful candidate will work across A&E, Mental Health A&E, NWP Medical wards and MHEC.

You will be well supported by an established team which includes three consultant liaison psychiatrists, a clinical team manager, team leaders, psychiatric liaison nurses, an alcohol specialist nurse and an older adult specialist nurse, providing a 24/7 on‑site psychiatry service in London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust.

The posts are available to start as soon as possible.

You must have excellent clinical skills, be able to demonstrate an ability to complete comprehensive mental state examinations, thoroughly assess risk, formulate safe and effective risk management plans and document this clearly and concisely.

You must have a warm and friendly disposition and have very good communication and interpersonal skills.

You must also be confident and motivated, flexible and be able to show initiative in an environment which can be demanding and stressful.

• Working for our organisation
• 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The liaison psychiatry team at Northwick Park operates a 24‑hour service and successful applicants will be expected to work on rotating shift patterns (day and nights shifts) for A&E or 37.5 hours a week for medical wards doing either 9‑5 or 8‑6 shifts Mon - Sun.

This role will also include covering in the Mental Health A&E once built and open.

• Provide assessment of health needs of all patients over the age 18, including those who self-harm, have learning disabilities, have substance misuse issues, have perinatal mental health issues or have mental health difficulties commonly associated with old age, including dementia.
• To provide clinical assessment and skilled management of patients in the Mental Health Emergency Centre to facilitate short periods of ongoing assessment and discharge planning
• Provide support and information for significant others involved in patient care, or referral to appropriate agencies.
• Work alongside members of the Trust’s Psychological team and attend meetings and ward rounds. Feedback information regarding patients as required.
• Liaise with other disciplines working within the community to offer input, education and support regarding patient care.

Give information/support to those who call the service regarding mental health issues and documenting as required.

• Maintain confidential up to date records and provide letters, reports, statistical and audit information as required, always adhering to NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) guidelines.
• To be the first line of contact for section 136 (MHA 1983) patients.

Arranging for the Approved Mental Health Practitioner and section 12 approved doctor to attend A&E.

Assessing patient with the duty doctor as part of the section 136 assessment process.

• To provide practical advice, support, guidance and information to newly rostered SHOs.
• To provide support and advice to patients, GPs and others regarding prescribed medication, treatment, and referrals to other agencies.
• The post holder will be able to work flexible and work unsocial hours as necessary to provide assessment and support for service users.
• To provide psychiatric liaison service to service users admitted to medical wards
• To provide support and guidance to new members of the team, as well as students.
• To provide clinical assessment and review of patients transferred to the MHEC.
• To manage the day to day running of the MHEC on certain shifts including medication administration, review of complex cases and liaising with outside services to facilitate safe discharge plans.

Person specification

• Training/Qualifications
• RMN on live register.
• Educated to diploma level or equivalent in Psychiatric Nursing, Psychotherapy, Counselling or a related discipline
• Experience of supporting students and Ability to teach and assess learners.
• Evidence of an active interest in further professional development.
• Other courses relevant to liaison psychiatry
• Qualified as RGN
• Post Graduate Degree
• Previous Experience
• 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.
• Experience of Risk assessment/management.
• Knowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills/ biopsychosocial assessment
• Ability to interpret research and apply to practice.
• Other relevant post registration experience.
• Experience interpreting research and applying it to practice.
• Care and management of persons with HIV/AIDS in relation to psychiatry
• Experience in management of Substance Misuse
• Experience in Quality Improvement projects and methodology
• Knowledge & Skills
• A comprehensive understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983)
• A comprehensive understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and its principles
• Specialist knowledge of mental health problems and their relationship to physical disorders
• 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 work in a stressful environment and prioritise workload and work as part of a team
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (written and oral).
• Ability to reflect on and evaluate one’s own practice.
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person
• Efficient with all commonly used Microsoft Applications. Experience using different clinical systems
• Qualification in Education and willingness and ability to facilitate teaching sessions
• 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.

• 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

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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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