Mental Health Liaison Practitioner in Ipswich

Main area Mental Health Service Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (MHLT is a 24/7 service. Shifts are ELDs 07:30-20:30, LLD 13:00-01:00, Nights 19:30-08:00) Job ref 246-ESU8092606

Site Woodlands Town Ipswich Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

Please note due to the nature of our roles and patient demographic, you will be required to undertake physical intervention training and remain trained, as required by your role.

Job overview

The NSFT East Suffolk Mental Health Liaison Service, based in Ipswich Hospital, are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners, who are looking to expand their skills and knowledge base, within the acute hospital setting.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment providing specialist mental health assessment, risk management, and short-term intervention to patients presenting with a range of mental health needs.

The Mental Health Liaison Service offers a single point of access for referrals from Ipswich Hospital and provides a range of mental health specialities within one multidisciplinary team. Our team operates 24/7 and plays a vital role in supporting the acute hospital, ensuring timely, person-centred care for individuals experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

We respond to a diverse range of referrals, covering both liaison psychiatry and emergency assessment functions for all ages.

Main duties of the job

A flexible ‘can do’ attitude, with a willingness to build links with general hospital colleagues is essential to ensure that a proactive interface is created between mental health and medicine. You will have the relevant post qualification experience, including acute mental health and crisis management and be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the differing needs of people within the general hospital.

Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments of patients referred from A&E, medical/surgical wards.

• Assess and manage risk of harm to self or others, including suicide and self-neglect
• Provide evidence-based brief interventions, advice, and signposting to appropriate services
• Offer support and education to acute hospital colleagues in managing mental health presentations
• Maintain high-quality clinical documentation
• Support timely discharge planning, including mental health input to complex cases
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to shared clinical decision-making

Working for our organisation

Benefits included with this role are:-

• a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
• career progression
• starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
• NHS discounts and many more.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be key in the efficient delivery of the liaison service; in improving response and management of referrals; in improving knowledge and understanding of mental health issues within the acute hospital; in helping the team meet their key performance indicators and be proactive in helping explore and develop partnerships and pathways to improve patient prognosis and outcome team is a 24/7 service. Therefore you will be required to work Long Days, including nights. We will provide a full induction. We have a genuine commitment to training and development with shared opportunities across the two Trusts. We are proud of our culture of honesty, team involvement and ownership to both patient care and job satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse, Occupational Therapist OR Social Worker with the relevant professional registration
• Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor training (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (AHP & Social Worker Registrants)
• Ongoing professional development working towards degree level ( if professional registration is following a diploma level course)
• Recognised Leadership/Management training
• Higher degree or post graduate certificate in area of clinical / therapeutic practice

Experience

• Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous experience
• Able to demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience
• Experience in the delivery of clinical interventions
• Experience in supporting service development

Skills

• Effective analytical and decision-making skills
• Care planning and Risk assessment knowledge and skills

Knowledge

• The ability to use clinical assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and collaboratively
• Knowledge of medication and the monitoring of its effects

Please be aware that, due to the high number of applications for certain roles, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post may be 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.

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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