Job summary
Are you a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist passionate about improving mental health care for older adults?

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Mental Health Liaison Practitioner to join our multi-disciplinary team supporting older people across acute hospital and care home settings in Bradford and Airedale.

The Older People's Mental Health Liaison Service operates from Airedale General Hospital and Daisy House Farm, with support provided to patients in ward areas at Bradford Royal Infirmary, St Luke's Hospital, Westbourne Green, Westwood Park, and Airedale General.

You'll be responsible for liaising with professionals, assessing, planning, and delivering interventions for older people with mental health needs in general hospital settings or transitioning between DAU and care homes. You'll advise ward teams and care home staff, identify needs, and signpost service users for further assessment where needed.

You'll work constructively as part of a flexible team, linking with the Consultant Psychiatrist for Acute Liaison, Older People's CMHTs, Care Home Liaison, and inpatient wards. You'll promote clinical excellence and contribute to training development within the acute hospital setting, in line with Trust objectives and team policies.

Closing Date: 21st November 2026
Shortlisting Date: 23rd November 2026
Interview Date: w/c 30th November 2026

Main duties of the job

• Accept and assess referrals for the liaison service, coordinating care and referring to other professionals as needed.
• Provide expert input within acute hospital for older people with mental health needs.
• Work collaboratively with clients and carers, encouraging active participation in care planning.
• Contribute to resource planning, monitoring, and control, ensuring agreed standards of care are met.
• Apply the Mental Health Act (1983) in line with Directorate policies.
• Promote equality of opportunity and fair access for all service users and carers.
• Lead on clinical governance, research, audit, and best practice within the service.
• Develop effective communication networks across disciplines and agencies to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure care delivery aligns with professional guidance and current legislation.
• Assess complex issues within an interdisciplinary framework
• To act as a resource clinician offering support and clinical advice, ensuring implementation of all Trust policies and procedures
• Whilst reporting to the Acute Liaison Psychiatry Service team leader, post holders will be capable of making clinical decisions affecting the mental health care of clients based on their own assessments.

About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values:

We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including:

• Increase mileage rates for > 4500
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
• A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
• Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Details
Date posted: 04 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 453-26-8361327
Job locations: AGH & LMH, Bradford & Airedale, BD18 3LD, United Kingdom

Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse NMC in Mental Health, Social Work registered to Social work England or Qualified Occupational Therapist with Membership of HCPC

Desirable

• Relevant teaching qualification

Training and Experience
Essential

• Evidence of continued professional development
• Understand the needs of older people with mental health problems and knowledge of assessing complex issues within an interdisciplinary framework.
• Minimum of two years experience of working in a clinical environment where a significant portion of clinical time is spent assessing / treating patients with dementia

Desirable

• Experience of working in General or Mental Hospital settings

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.

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice is available on the Trust website.