Liaison Psychiatry Nurse

The Liaison Psychiatry Team at St Mary's Hospital provides a consultation and liaison service for all patients over the age of 18 years who are referred from A&E, inpatient wards and outpatient clinics within the hospital. The role involves psychosocial assessment, management and review of adult and older adult patients as part of your day-to-day clinical activity, The work will involve the comprehensive psychosocial assessment of mental health needs in a diverse patient population (including risk assessment and the development of risk management plans).

You will be expected to have the skills to deal with a very broad range of mental health needs as well as undertaking initial mental health assessments with those whose primary problem may be substance misuse.

You will be required to make clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of the complex presenting problems and judgements based on available treatment options. The options will include the admission and discharge of patients.

Once you have completed the initial extended induction, you will have the authority to discharge from a mental health perspective from the Accident & Emergency Department, the inpatient wards at St Mary's Hospital, as well as work within other new initiatives within the team such as the Mental Health Emergency Assessment Centre (MHEAC).

About us

o Develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within the Liaison Psychiatry Team, CNWL and the Acute Trust. As far as possible act to ensure the continuing safety of all acute hospital colleagues in their interactions with patients displaying difficult, demanding or potentially violent behaviours.

Interact clearly, sensitively and with empathy to relatives and carers in all situations, especially highly charged situations, which may have come as a surprise or shock to them.

o Offer clear information and support to telephone callers, (both colleagues and the general public) seeking psychiatric input or support via the hospital switchboard, and liaison psychiatry department office.

o Use best practice in case recording; especially with regard to data protection. Process data lawfully.

o Network with other psychiatric liaison nurse services, to identify and disseminate evidence-based practice.