NursingNetUK

Liaison and consultation

Be responsible for the full assessment of care needs of patients 
presenting with a range of undifferentiated mental health and 
psychological problems. As a result of this assessment, you will be 
responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of 
programmes of care, without supervision.

Provide a comprehensive consultation-liaison service to clinical teams, 
assisting them to formulate appropriate plans of care and make decisions 
in cases where patients may be exhibiting complex needs and/or 
challenging behaviours.

Initiate and participate in the teaching and educational programmes of all 
grades of nursing and non-nursing staff. You will also provide teaching 
and develop learning opportunities for pre and post-registration nursing 
students.

When appropriate, maintain a caseload of patients, providing a broad 
range of treatments and clinical interventions, as appropriate to the 
individual’s needs.

Be responsible for participating in specific clinical projects and undertake 
all the necessary work to complete these, including facilitating meetings, 
liaising and/or negotiating with other staff.

Participate fully in appropriate quality assurance initiatives, with the 
emphasis on developing patient/service user-focused services.

Promote a positive attitude and encourage a supportive culture in relation 
to mental health and psychiatric illness across the general hospital.

Clinical practice

Utilise a range of clinical skills appropriate to the individual patient's needs 
and the clinical setting in which they are being cared for.

Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments with patients presenting 
following an episode of self-harm. Highly developed risk assessment and 
management skills are required in order to undertake this function effectively.

Prompt referral on to secondary mental health services, social services 
and voluntary groups, as appropriate.

Flexible, needs-based follow-up of individual who require assessment 
following an earlier attendance after an episode of self-harm.

Concise, effective liaison and feedback to clinical staff within the general 
hospital regarding advice on appropriate management strategies for 
individuals referred.

Utilise a range of follow-up options and sources of help and support for 
patients, as appropriate.

Effective liaison and communication with patients, relatives, carers, 
primary health care and secondary mental health services.

Role model clinical excellence and high standards of nursing practice to 
other staff.

Demonstrate and apply a sound understanding of the legal and ethical 
issues in caring for people with mental health problems. In particular, 
demonstrate a sound understanding of the application of the Mental Health Act (1983) and The Mental Capacity Act, and their use within the non-mental health (acute hospital) setting.

Communication

Demonstrate the ability to receive and give complex clinical details clearly 
and effectively.

Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and sensitively in 
situations that may be hostile and/or contentious.

Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and 
empathy in all communications.

Demonstrate the ability to negotiate and problem-solve in contentious 
and/or potentially antagonistic situations.

Management

Following negotiation, take responsibility for agreed clinical and 
managerial projects associated with the provision of the mental health liaison service. 

In the absence of the clinical team leader, take responsibility for the 
overall management of the service, to the agreed local and professional 
standards.

Ensure the promotion of the health and safety, well-being and interests of 
patients, staff and visitors that come into contact with the service and its 
environs.

At all times practice within the boundaries of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.

Supervise, monitor and appraise the performance of registered and 
unregistered staff within sphere of responsibility.

The post-holder will be designated to regularly take charge of the clinical 
service in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility. 

You may also be required to undertake a range of management duties in 
the absence of, or at the request of, the designated team leader.

Audit and evaluation

Demonstrate a commitment to developing audit and evaluations skills.

Participate in appropriate audit projects, including data collection, as a 
means of contributing to the ongoing evaluation and audit of the mental health liaison service.

Education

Actively participate in the identification of own learning and education 
needs and demonstrate achievement against personal development plans 
(PDPs).

Participate in the mentoring and education of a range of students placed 
with the team.

Act as a mentor and preceptor, when appropriate.

Participate in the planning, development and delivery of multi-professional 
education programmes and training sessions for a range of clinical and 
managerial staff.

Provide clinical supervision to colleagues and students, as required.

Clinical governance

Promote and encourage user and carer feedback regarding the service.

Participate in and undertake appraisal and clinical supervision.

Adhere to relevant trust health and safety and clinical policies as 
appropriate.