Liaison Mental Health Nurse / Occupational Therapist

We are looking for a highly motivated clinician to join our therapy team on a permanent basis (22.5 hours per week). You will work autonomously in assessing and carrying out a range of psychological interventions for people referred to the outpatient service who are presenting with Persistent Physical Symptoms or Long-Term Conditions. We have strong links with Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust and Primary Care, and you would be given the opportunity to develop and maintain links and interfaces with identified services.
There is a strong focus on personal development and the team actively supports individual development plans. You will also have the opportunity to be actively involved in service development initiatives., To undertake biopsychosocial assessments for people referred to the service
To develop formulations based on the biopsychosocial assessment and develop evidence-based treatment plans
To carry out psychosocial interventions
To be able to evaluate treatment plans and make any relevant changes based on individual need
To meet with and be part of the MDT
To be able to manage an autonomous caseload of patients ensuring that they are seen on a regular basis
To undertake the screening and triaging of referrals received in the service
To work with and develop links with other specialities based at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust and Primary Care
To provide clinical supervision where needed
To be part of service development and to take a lead on service development initiatives, This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual wishing to develop skills in psychosocial interventions and therapy approaches. Experience in Liaison Psychiatry is desirable but not essential as we would be happy to train a suitable candidate.
+ The post holder communicates and interacts, daily, with service users, their carers/relatives & significant others. They will carry out biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of patients within our service. This includes providing and receiving highly complex and sensitive information.
+ Due to the nature of conditions encountered in the service for example long term conditions and persistent physical symptoms that are not medically explained, the post holder needs to use skills of persuasion, motivation, unconditional positive regard, empathy, and reassurance to overcome barriers to understanding and engagement.
+ The post holder will ensure that practice is based on effective clinical evidence/information and maintains an up to date knowledge of evidenced based practice and research developments
+ Post holder takes a leading role in the clinical work they carry out seeking advice and support from the wider MDT, if and when this is required.
+ They will provides and discuss highly complex information with service users, where there are significant barriers to acceptance and understanding, using highly developed skills of motivation, education, empathy and reassurance.
+ They will use highly developed communication skills to engage service users in a psychological treatment approaches, where they may hold different beliefs regarding the causes of their difficulties
+ The post holder will make judgement and analysis regarding treatment interventions when the service user's difficulties are highly complex, and they may have received differing specialist opinions, and where there are no obvious treatment options
+ They will explore and negotiate care packages with service users collaboratively and be able to provide a range of evidenced based therapeutic interventions
+ The post holder will evaluate clinical practice and improve quality of clinical interventions, for example designing new strategies or enhancing existing approaches to meet service user needs.
+ The post holder is required to actively contribute to the Liaison Psychiatry Outpatient Services development plan. This will be done by displaying initiative and contributing to a positive atmosphere within the team. It is expected that the post holder will take an active role in service development by either leading on service initiatives or being part of working groups.
+ The post holder will contribute to service meetings where they will discuss contemporary issues and share good practice. It is expected that the post holder will attend team business and case discussion meetings and ensure representation at Clinical Governance.
+ The post holder will ensure that the team develops and maintains close links with Leeds Teaching Hospital, GP's, and other agencies, keeping them informed about the role and function of the team/ service and positively promoting the Liaison Psychiatry Outpatient Service.
The post holder will communicate with:

• Service users


• Carers and relatives


• Other members of the Outpatient team


• Advising and joint working with other staff within Liaison Psychiatry, e.g., NICPM


• Members of the primary care team


• Range of Health Professionals working in the general professionals


• Social and voluntary services.


• Education and Training Establishments

+ The post holder will undertake the Triage Worker role on a weekly basis or more in the absence of colleagues. The post holder will make autonomous decisions about suitability for the service and allocate to appropriate pathways.
+ The post holder will attend and contribute to service line and trust wide meetings when asked to do so.
+ The post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of skill and expertise in effective decision making whilst exposed to challenging and complex situations
+ The post holder will be able to manage and organize their own caseload and clinical activity.
+ To be responsible for arranging and fully participating in clinical/ management supervision and appraisal reviews
+ To be able to arrange and chair meetings if appropriate

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.
There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.
We also have an incredible bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.
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., LYPFT is committed to upholding its' statutory responsibilities in relation to safeguarding adults and children. Please refer to job description for further information.
Patient Safety is a priority at LYPFT with a focus on system-based improvement and creating opportunities for learning. We will ensure compassionate engagement with all those involved in an incident and all incidents are met with a proportionate response.
LYPFT is a member of the Disability Confident scheme and is committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
As part of the Trust's commitment to its Gold Standard Armed Forces Covenant status, members of the Armed Forces Community are entitled to a guaranteed interview subject to meeting the role criteria.
We welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health needs.
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 candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.
In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.
In submitting an application form, you authorise Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed to the post.
In submitting an application for a role please ensure that you only declare qualifications that are relevant to the role itself. We reserve the right to check all declared qualifications on an application form, whether they are directly relevant to the role or not.
If you have not received any further communication from us within four weeks you are asked to assume that your application has been unsuccessful. If you should have any queries regarding progress with your application form please contact us.
Please note: The Trust does not offer reimbursement of interview expenses.