Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Liaison Team Practitioner

The closing date is 05 April 2026

Job summary

We are seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to work in our Liaison Service.

his 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.

Our team consists of working with adults of all age, the focus of this role will be working within our Older Persons Mental Health team, however cross working to cover working age adults may be required based on service need and delivery. 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.

The team is made up of a full MDT and includes Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Peer Support Workers and Healthcare Support Workers. It is a rich learning environment, with daily MDT meetings, reflective practice, round table discussions as well as more formal teaching sessions.

Main duties of the job

Mental 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 us

Hampshire 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 excellence

Date posted

23 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Please note for part time hours the salary will be pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

348-PSE-10798

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hospital

South Block, Southwick Hill

Cosham

Hampshire

PO6 3LY

Job description

Job responsibilities

Further 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 responsibilities

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

Essential

Professional Registration for either: RMN, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.

Experience

Essential

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.
In depth post qualification experience in Mental Health, Experience with mental health assessment and risk assessment , Knowledge and application of safeguarding for both Children and Adults
Completing patient centred care plans
Communication with carers and families
IT skills
Highly developed communication skills
Ability to communicate effectively with people who have difficulty understanding
Evidence of effective interpersonal skills (active listening, building empathy)
Ability to organise self and others to achieve tasks
Ability to work autonomously
Provide clinical supervision
Experience of mentorship in practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

Able to attend and participate in all statutory training events to continue professional development.
Demonstrate evidence of team working
Able to contribute to team discussion and be respectful of others views
Honest and trustworthy
Aware of personal and professional boundaries
Respect for service users
An understanding of the importance of service user involvement in their own care and care plan.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Professional Registration for either: RMN, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.

Experience

Essential

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.
In depth post qualification experience in Mental Health, Experience with mental health assessment and risk assessment , Knowledge and application of safeguarding for both Children and Adults
Completing patient centred care plans
Communication with carers and families
IT skills
Highly developed communication skills
Ability to communicate effectively with people who have difficulty understanding
Evidence of effective interpersonal skills (active listening, building empathy)
Ability to organise self and others to achieve tasks
Ability to work autonomously
Provide clinical supervision
Experience of mentorship in practice

Additional Criteria

Essential

Able to attend and participate in all statutory training events to continue professional development.
Demonstrate evidence of team working
Able to contribute to team discussion and be respectful of others views
Honest and trustworthy
Aware of personal and professional boundaries
Respect for service users
An understanding of the importance of service user involvement in their own care and care plan.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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 Check

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

South Block, Southwick Hill

Cosham

Hampshire

PO6 3LY

Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

South Block, Southwick Hill

Cosham

Hampshire

PO6 3LY

Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)