Job summary
Patients may present with a wide range of mental health and psychological problems, including following an episode of self-injury, psychiatric emergency and as a consequence of physical illness. You will be expected to work with individuals experiencing psychosomatic disorders and a variety of psychological and adjustment issues resulting from physical illness. You will use higher- level communication skills, both written and oral and have an ability to engage with challenging and/or acutely distressed individuals, sometimes in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations.

Main duties of the job
The Mental Health Liaison team provides a comprehensive service to patients/service users, carers and clinical colleagues based within our acute trust at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

This involves:

• To assist in the provision of quality evidence-based practice, within a busy A& E department and Acute wards. Providing advice; support and care, liaising with other agencies under the guidance of the Mental Health Liaison Nurses for Service Users and their families who present often in a distressed state with complex mental health needs and social difficulties.
• Completion of physical health tools to improve the physical health of service users with mental illness.
• Provide 1:1 support to service users waiting psychiatric admission in A&E

About us
LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on the role. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you show how you meet each of the criteria of the person specification providing illustrative examples where possible; as this is what you will be shortlisted against.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Mental Health) - current NMC Registration or equivalent professional health care qualification
• Evidence of professional updating and development in the care of patients in an acute or community setting.
• Diploma in Professional Studies (Nursing) - or equivalent.

Desirable

• Teaching & Assessing qualification (or equivalent).
• CBT/PSI qualification

Experience
Essential

• Post-registration mental health experience.
• Involvement in innovative practice and multi-cultural environments

Skills
Essential

• Skills in assessing, planning and evaluating mental health interventions.
• Skills in interacting therapeutically with distressed and/or disturbed individuals.
• Skills in individual interventions.

Knowledge
Essential

• Extensive knowledge of the various approaches to mental health assessment.
• Knowledge of key areas of liaison psychiatric practice, including the psychological effects of physical illness.
• Knowledge of psychiatric interventions with patients in an acute phase of mental illness/distress.

Skills
Essential

• Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care.
• Ability to respond positively to constructive criticism.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.