Mental Health Practitioner

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.