Clinical Nurse Specialist - Liaison Psychiatry

• Provide expert specialist nursing assessment, advice and support to patients presenting with complex mental health needs within the acute hospital setting.
• Undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial, mental health and risk assessments, developing and coordinating appropriate care plans.
• Act as an autonomous practitioner, providing specialist advice and guidance to patients, carers, ward teams and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Lead on the assessment and management of patients presenting with self-harm, suicidal ideation, behavioural disturbance, cognitive impairment and other acute mental health presentations.
• Work collaboratively with acute, community, social care and mental health services to ensure seamless, patient-centred care and effective discharge planning.
• Provide leadership, supervision and support to nursing staff and contribute to the professional development of the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Deliver education and training to acute hospital staff, promoting mental health awareness and best practice across the Trust.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and service development initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and service delivery.
• Promote patient, carer and public involvement in service evaluation and development.
• Support the delivery of a safe, responsive and high-quality Liaison Psychiatry service in line with Trust and national standards.

Essential

• Extensive post registration experience - min 5 years, and at least 2 years mental health nursing at Band 6 or above
• Extensive knowledge of the various approaches to mental health assessment
• Experience of working autonomously and therapeutically in residential/community settings
• Knowledge of key areas of liaison psychiatry practice, including the psychological effects of physical illness
• Knowledge of the clinical and demographic risk factors associated with self-harm and suicide
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Mental Health Act and their use in the general hospital
• Knowledge of working therapeutically with individuals following self-harm

Desirable

• Experience of participation in audit, quality improvement or service development initiatives.
• Experience and knowledge of advanced practice/ protocols
• Experience of working in Acute Mental Health care settings

Essential

• Skills in assessing, planning implementing and evaluating mental health nursing interventions
• Ability to interact therapeutically with distressed and/or disturbed individuals and/or those in crisis
• Skills in interacting effectively with colleagues from a range of specialties and departments
• Evidence of effective organisational and time management skills
• Effective verbal & written communication skills
• Knowledge of the teaching process, skills in teaching to a range of levels of staff