Job summary
The Acute Referral Centre (ARC) operates 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. It is the Trusts central point of contact for crisis referrals. All referrals are triaged in ARC to ensure robust gatekeeping. This in addition to key functions being undertaken within the centre including the overall booking process of acute beds, the Central Health Based Place of Safety (HBPoS), The Mental Health Urgent Treatment Center (MHUTC) and the NHS 111 Option 2 hub.

ARC works closely with the borough-based Home Treatment Teams, Assessment and Liaison services, community treatment teams, acute trusts, and the Police. The centre provides telephone advice and support for people in crisis whilst co-ordinating both admissions to and discharges from hospital.

Advanced Practitioners working within the Acute Referral Centre undertake triage assessments and when required face to face rapid assessments alongside London Ambulance and the Metropolitan Police. They can balance the clinical demands and supervisory responsibilities within the Acute Referral Centre. They form part of a team that manages beds and are expected to follow through the referral to a safe conclusion which means liaising with wards, community services and Home Treatment.

They are active members of the bed management coordination function for the Trust and as such get involved with the entire booking process for in-patient admissions.

Main duties of the job
The service acts as a key hub in the Urgent and Emergency Care pathway.

Consult and take a lead in the decision making of complex and/or high-risk cases demonstrating safe clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment diagnostic skills and effective interventions including making certain that the patient gets the right response at the right time.

Demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process. Work with the multi-professional team to meet the needs of the service users and provide clinical professional supervision and leadership to the clinical team working within the referral center.

Provide management support as delegated by the Clinical Services lead, including supervision, team training and service development initiatives. Organising the roster always ensuing safe staffing. Deputise for the Clinical Service Lead in their absence.

Conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments of adults (including those over 65 with appropriate mobility and capacity) as part of day-to-day clinical duties.

Work within professional scope and agreed protocols, supporting complex clinical decisions, risk assessment, care planning, and onward referrals or admissions.

This is a shift-based role of long days and nights to maintain safe 24/7 coverage. Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication, and de-escalation skills, working effectively in a high-pressure environment

The role is office based with expectation to work from the office site.

About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatientcare for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It is important to us that you are valued and appreciated and that is why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.

Job responsibilities

• Provide specialist screening and triage at the point of referral, ensuring timely assessment of individuals presenting with moderate to severe mental health needs and crisis presentations.
• Undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial and risk assessments, interpreting information holistically to formulate clinical recommendations and determine the most appropriate intervention, referral pathway, or discharge plan.
• Develop and review crisis and contingency plans in partnership with service users and carers, incorporating risk assessment, positive risk-taking, and recovery-focused approaches.
• Exercise autonomous clinical decision-making regarding discharge, onward referral, signposting, and escalation to appropriate primary, secondary, and specialist services.
• Act as a senior clinician within the team, providing expert advice, clinical leadership, senior review, and support for complex, high-risk, or challenging cases, including face-to-face assessments when required across all boroughs.
• Ensure all assessments and interventions are delivered in accordance with Trust policies, professional standards, safeguarding requirements, and relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act.
• Support effective patient flow across the acute care pathway by making timely decisions regarding treatment, Home Treatment Team referrals, admission avoidance, and onward care.
• Assist the team in prioritising workload and resources on a shift-by-shift basis, responding flexibly to urgent and emergency presentations.
• Assess and escalate physical health concerns and long-term conditions, facilitating referral to appropriate health services in line with local and national guidance.
• Maintain up-to-date clinical, pharmacological, and professional knowledge, applying evidence-based practice and critical appraisal skills to clinical decision-making.
• Liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including CMHTs, GPs, acute hospitals, social services, police, ambulance services, and voluntary sector organisations, to ensure coordinated care and effective risk management.
• Coordinate patient pathways and flow through emergency and urgent care settings, promoting timely access to appropriate services.
• Demonstrate advanced decision-making, problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills within a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
• Participate in the supervision, teaching, training, and development of staff within the Acute Referral Centre (ARC).
• Maintain confidentiality and information governance standards, ensuring information is shared appropriately on a need-to-know basis.
• Demonstrate high levels of professionalism, emotional intelligence, leadership, self-awareness, empathy, and compassionate communication in all interactions.

Person Specification
Education
Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Evidence of other advanced education related to Psychiatric Liaison
• Mentorship ENB 998 or equivalent

Desirable

• Evidence of continued professional development
• Formal training in risk assessment and management

Experience
Essential

• Significant post qualifying experience in mental health services with a sound knowledge of the full range of mental health services, both inpatient and community based.
• A sound understanding and experience of how to assess and manage crisis within acute mental illness
• HTT, Liaison Psychiatry, and/or Trusted Assessor experience
• SLTP/ PSTS training

Desirable

• Experience of working with specific diagnosis of Personality Disorder
• Experience of working with service users with harmful substance misuse and alcohol issues

Knowledge
Essential

• Working knowledge of all relevant legislation associated with acute mental health care, including MHA 2007, MCA, Human Rights Act, Common Law, etc
• Sound knowledge of risk assessments and tools in mental health and acute care
• Ability to build and maintain high standards of professional links and communication with a variety of persons and services

Desirable

• Awareness of trauma-informed care, culturally competent practice and antiracism frameworks
• Understanding of ED/Place of Safety/Mental Health Urgent Treatment Center system flow and national Urgent and Emergency Care policy.

Abilities
Essential

• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care to meet the needs of service users, appropriate to the setting of the Emergency Department
• An ability to analyse and interpret key documents and identify the implications for local policy and practice
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the epidemiology, presentation and immediate management of deliberate self-harm
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the physical and psychological effects of alcohol and drugs

Desirable

• Experience of conducting audits/service evaluations and show evidence of service development
• Advanced negotiation skills to reach compromises that inspire confidence and respect

Skills
Essential

• Demonstrate skills in autonomous, senior decision making regarding discharge, sign posting and admission of service users following a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of risk
• Experience of assessing and risk managing violent self harm
• Experience at working at band 6 level or above within psychiatric liaison services

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to gain easily, the trust and respect of service users, their relatives and staff across disciplines and services

Other Requirements
Essential

• Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary
• Ability to manage and prioritise clinical demands, supervision and support and Emergency Department pathways
• Ability to work across a 24 hour service

Desirable

• Managing rotas and performance

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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