About this role
Job summary
The post holder will provide administrative and operational support to the Mental Health Liaison Team, contributing to the effective delivery of services across acute hospital settings. They will support the coordination and tracking of referrals, maintain accurate patient records on EPJS and other systems, and ensure compliance with Trust and information governance requirements.
The role involves liaising with a range of internal and external stakeholders, effective communication and the timely completion of administrative processes. The post holder will also assist with patient flow and bed management and deputise for the Patient Flow Coordinator during periods of absence or increased service demand, helping to facilitate safe and timely admissions, transfers, and discharges.
Acting as a key point of contact between liaison teams, Emergency Departments, inpatient wards, bed management teams, community services, and external providers, you will support the management of mental health bed demand. Duties include coordinating Mental Health Act assessment referrals, processing bed requests, assisting with documentation, arranging transport, maintaining tracking systems, monitoring delays, and supporting service improvement activities.
The successful candidate will have excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently, prioritise workloads, and contribute to the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.
Main duties of the job
Provide administrative and operational support to the Mental Health Liaison Team, including referral coordination, patient flow support, and assistance with discharge planning. Maintain accurate patient records on EPJS and Trust systems, process clinical documentation, and support data collection, reporting, and audits.
Act as a key point of contact for patients, carers, staff, and partner agencies, ensuring effective communication and escalation of urgent issues. Liaise with hospital, community, and external services to support continuity of care and maintain administrative tracking systems.
Undertake general administrative duties, including diary management, meeting support, minute taking, filing, and correspondence. Contribute to governance, quality improvement, training, and service development activities, while providing reception and cross-site cover as required.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field.
The core philosophy of the Core24 Mental Health Liaison team is:
"We take a professional, honest, caring and open-minded approach. We encourage and support choice. We are prompt and will take time to listen, work collaboratively with you and stick to our word. We respect differences"
This is in line with the trust's core values:
I will be caring, kind and polite. I will be prompt and value your time. I will take time to listen to you I will be honest and direct with you. I will do what I say I am going to do.
Job description Job responsibilities
As outlined above, this role requires that the post holder provide comprehensive administrative, operational and patient flow support.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Good standard of general education including English and Mathematics.
Desirable
Medical / legal secretary qualification Business Administration or Project Management qualification
Experience Essential
Previous experience in an administrative or clerical role within an NHS setting
Desirable
An understanding of the function of inpatient wards, CMHTs (Community Mental Health Teams), and home treatment teams and how they interface with each other. Experience using EPJS or similar electronic patient record systems. Knowledge of mental health bed management and coordination.
Skills Essential
Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and information governance. Good IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word and basic Excel. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including dealing sensitively with distressed individuals Diary management, meeting coordination, minute taking where required, photocopying, filing and post handling.
Desirable
Discharge co-ordination
Abilities Essential
Ability to work under pressure Ability to maintain and manage data Ability to work with minimal supervision and direct own work streams Ability to work effectively as part of a team and use initiative within agreed procedures
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address GSTT Mental Health Liaison Team
St Thomas Hospital, Gassiot House
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)