Clinical Nurse Specialist

Liaison Psychiatry is the sub specialty of Psychiatry involving assessment and management of mental health needs related to physical problems. Clinical presentations span a wide spectrum from organic psychosis, severe depression or somatoform disorder to adjustment reactions, delirium, dementia and abnormal health behaviour.

The primary function of this role is to undertake triage of patients presenting to the ED by completing a brief assessment of issues and risk and formulating, communicating and documenting an appropriate management plan or signposting away from the department to suitable other community based crisis services. Full mental health assessments will also be a key aspect of this role.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7-day service.

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be working within the highly complex and busy environment of the ED. Assessments may need to take place in a variety of places within the department. There is access to dedicated assessment space; however, it is anticipated assessments and signposting from the ED will take place in non-dedicated space. The post holder will support additional functions such as triage in ambulance and within the HALO corridor if necessary. The post holder will be required to use IT equipment in different locations and to be able to adopt agile working requirements.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

This service aims to provide acute hospital staff with specialist advice on the management of psychological problems. The team prioritises risk, location, and complexity of referrals and coordinates resources appropriately. Autonomous working, diagnostic skills, formulation, and comprehensive risk assessment are important to make a safe management and discharge plan.

There will be an expectation that the postholder will work autonomously in undertaking holistic and comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments incorporating assessment of mental state, and the post holder will have highly developed risk assessment skills to manage complex presentations and challenging behaviours.

To champion a culture across the service and within UHP based on principles of recovery, choice, and personalised care, providing a role model to the rest of the team.

To work alongside and collaboratively with the Alternative to the ED.

The postholder will be able to demonstrate sound understanding of the ethical and legal issues in caring for all adults attending the hospital. This will include advice and guidance around the use of the Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act, and Liberty Protection Safeguards (2005) (currently known as DOLS).

To review patients detained under section of the MHA that are admitted within the ED footprint.

To be proactive in responding to patient requests to self-discharge and, where possible, supporting UHP and the patient in this process.

To monitor and provide proactive education of acute care staff.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Masters Level qualification in relevant field or significant experience of working in this area and clear transferable skills.
• Registered Mental health professional with current HCPC/NMC status.
• Clear evidence of CPD relevant to crisis mental health work.
• Willingness to undertake masters level qualification.
• DASH trained.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of Liaison psychiatry services and CORE 24 models.
• Detailed knowledge of current NHS drivers and system pressures.
• Detailed knowledge of the Evidence based treatment pathway and how it relates to the ED.
• Extensive knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act.
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance processes and risk management processes.
• Detailed knowledge of issues relating to people with functional mental health problems.
• Knowledge of causes of confusion/delirium.
• Detailed knowledge of PLAN Psychiatry liaison accreditation network.

Additional requirements

• Ability to work shifts and to be flexible.
• High levels of professional and personal resilience.

Experience

• Extensive experience within a Liaison setting or other community facing urgent care service.
• Extensive experience of autonomous working.
• Extensive experience of working within complex health and social care environments.
• Experience of carrying out investigations or willingness to undertake organisational training.

Specific skills

• Ability to carry out triage mental health assessments and detailed mental health assessments.
• Ability to formulate risk and to provide onward care plans/signposting to individuals.
• Ability to carry out a range of different assessments.
• Ability to use the triangle of care to recognise and assess for delirium.
• Ability to carry out a range of different assessments including those relating to cognitive impairment.
• Ability to write concisely and clearly on electronic systems.
• Ability to communicate at a detailed and expert level both in the written format and verbally.
• Ability to attend formal meetings such as inquests and to provide formal reports.
• Ability to negotiate with patients and other stakeholders.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.