Mental Health Liaison Team Practitioner

Job summaryWe are seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to work in our Liaison service. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to expand their existing knowledge and skill set working in a Mental Health Liaison Team within a general hospital.The team operates over a 24 hour period 7 days a week so weekend and out of hours working is essential.You will be an experienced Mental Health Professional who is able to work autonomously with patients with either an acute mental health concern or worsening of a pre-existing condition, you will be able to conduct full, holistic biopsychosocial mental health assessments, undertake robust risk assessments and management plans and develop collaborative recovery focused care plans with patients and their carers. Working alongside our acute physical health colleagues at Queen Alexandra Hospital, you'll be an important figure in advocating for patients and promoting parity of esteem within the acute setting.The team is made up of a full MDT and includes mental health nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, peer support workers and health care support workers. It is a rich learning environment, with daily MDT meetings, reflective practice, round table discussions as well as more formal teaching sessions.As a team we provide education to our physical health colleagues and there are opportunities for staff to be involved in this important part of our role.Main duties of the jobMental Health Liaison is the sub specialty of Psychiatry involving assessment and management of mental health needs related to physical problems and for people presenting with primary mental health problems to the acute hospital.This service aims to provide acute hospital staff with specialist advice on the management of psychological and psychiatric problems. The team prioritises on risk, location and complexity of referrals and coordinates resources appropriately.The primary function of this role is to be a core member of the Psychiatric Liaison Team and develop the skills to take responsibility for the provision of on-going assessments, care planning, treatment and support of people who may come into contact with the acute general hospital,Be accountable and responsible for own practice.To develop, implement and evaluate evidence based programmes of care; set standards of care and liaise with other agencies.Participate in the multi-disciplinary assessment of individuals with mental health problems within the acute hospital setting.Ensure timely contact, risk assessment and management plan and record keeping is completed for service users with an appropriate overall management plan.To adhere to professional confidentiality standards.To be aware of the potential for vulnerability to abuse amongst the people who use this service, and use of the local policy to inform appropriate personnel in line with safeguarding vulnerable adults and children policies.About usHampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellenceDetailsDate posted16 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 6Salary
39,959 to 48,117 a year
Please note for part time hours the salary will be pro rata
ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time,

Flexible working

Reference number348-PSE-12517Job locationsQueen Alexandra HospitalSouth Block, Southwick HillCoshamHampshirePO6 3LYUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFurther information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesFurther information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialRegistered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social WorkerAt present, the Trust is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Experience
EssentialExperience of working in a mental health setting relevant to the post appliedCommitment to life long learningAbility to communicate effectively with people who have difficulty understandingGood facilitation skillsEvidence of effective interpersonal skills (active listening, building empathy)Ability to organise self and others to achieve tasksAbility to recognise and respond to behaviour that challenges.Theoretical knowledge of Mental Health legislationDemonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with other agenciesWillingness to demonstrate the potential for 'change management' approaches which extend existing practicesDemonstrate an understanding of, and a commitment to the principles of recovery, choice and personalisationCommitment to attend staff training and participate in own development through supervision and performance developmentAble to prioritise workload and manage own capacity according to demandAble to demonstrate the ability to communicate both in writing and orally, highly complex matters clearly and concisely, using appropriate methods to a wide spectrum of people including staff and users where empathy, persuasion and reassurance are required
Person Specification

Qualifications
EssentialRegistered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social WorkerAt present, the Trust is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Experience
EssentialExperience of working in a mental health setting relevant to the post appliedCommitment to life long learningAbility to communicate effectively with people who have difficulty understandingGood facilitation skillsEvidence of effective interpersonal skills (active listening, building empathy)Ability to organise self and others to achieve tasksAbility to recognise and respond to behaviour that challenges.Theoretical knowledge of Mental Health legislationDemonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with other agenciesWillingness to demonstrate the potential for 'change management' approaches which extend existing practicesDemonstrate an understanding of, and a commitment to the principles of recovery, choice and personalisationCommitment to attend staff training and participate in own development through supervision and performance developmentAble to prioritise workload and manage own capacity according to demandAble to demonstrate the ability to communicate both in writing and orally, highly complex matters clearly and concisely, using appropriate methods to a wide spectrum of people including staff and users where empathy, persuasion and reassurance are requiredDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is 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.UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is 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.UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameHampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustAddressQueen Alexandra HospitalSouth Block, Southwick HillCoshamHampshirePO6 3LYUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameHampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustAddressQueen Alexandra HospitalSouth Block, Southwick HillCoshamHampshirePO6 3LYUnited KingdomEmployer's website