About this role
Job summary
Join our dynamic Psychiatric Liaison Team as a Band 6 Clinician, where you'll play a key role in delivering specialist mental health care within a fast-paced acute hospital environment. You will provide expert assessment, risk formulation, and short-term intervention for patients presenting with complex and often high-risk mental health needs.
Working across the emergency department and inpatient wards, you will undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, including detailed mental state examinations and risk assessments relating to self-harm, suicide, and safeguarding. You will support a diverse patient group, managing presentations such as acute crisis, first-episode mental illness, and individuals with complex psychosocial needs.
You'll develop safe, effective management and discharge plans, often in challenging and time-pressured situations, while working collaboratively with acute colleagues, community teams, and partner agencies to ensure seamless, person-centred care.
This is an exciting opportunity for an autonomous practitioner who thrives on clinical complexity, values multidisciplinary working, and is passionate about promoting parity of esteem and delivering high-quality mental health care in the acute setting.
Main duties of the job
Provide timely specialist mental health assessments, including comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, mental state examinations (MSE), and risk assessments relating to self-harm, suicide, and safeguarding.Deliver short-term, evidence-based interventions and develop robust management and discharge plans for patients presenting with complex and high-risk mental health needs within the acute hospital setting.Work autonomously within professional guidelines, using advanced clinical reasoning to inform decision-making in complex and uncertain situations.Contribute effectively to multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions, supporting clinical decision-making and care planning.Provide specialist advice, support, and guidance to acute hospital staff to enhance the management of mental health presentations and promote parity of esteem.Liaise and work collaboratively with a range of internal and external agencies to ensure safe, coordinated, and person-centred care pathways.Manage a diverse caseload, including first episode presentations, acute crises, and frequent attenders with complex psychosocial needs, including adults and older adults.Consider safeguarding, family dynamics, and wider social factors in all aspects of assessment and intervention.Participate in a 24-hour rota, including nights and weekends, contributing to a responsive and dynamic liaison service.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Band 6 clinician to join our dynamic Psychiatric Liaison Team, working across acute hospital settings. In this role, you will deliver high-quality mental health assessments, including biopsychosocial and risk assessments, for patients presenting with complex and often high-risk needs.
You will work autonomously while contributing to multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision-making, providing specialist advice, consultation, and education to acute hospital colleagues. The role involves managing a varied caseload, including first presentations, crisis situations, and frequent attenders, and requires strong clinical judgement in developing safe, effective care and discharge plans.
You will liaise with a wide range of internal and external partners, including community mental health teams, GPs, social care, and voluntary services, to ensure seamless, person-centred care pathways. The role requires excellent communication skills, including supporting distressed patients and carers and managing challenging situations.
As a senior team member, you will role model high standards of care, contribute to service development, participate in audit and quality improvement activity, and support the learning of colleagues and students. You will maintain accurate clinical records and adhere to professional and organisational standards.
This is a varied and rewarding role within a fast-paced 24-hour service, requiring flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to improving outcomes for people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Pleased see attached JD for further information
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
RMN, Social Work or Occupational Therapy QualificationCurrent registration with relevant professional bodyEvidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
Registered General NursePsychological therapies training
Experience Essential
Experience of managing risk of clients in crisis, recognising when to seek additional supervision
Desirable
Experience of working within psychiatric liaison servicesExperience of working within both older adult and adult acute settingsEvidence of high levels of motivation in the provision of care
Additional Criteria Essential
Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patientsCompassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respectBe a role model to Support Time Recovery Workers and apprenticeship trainees including supervising these staffFlexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patientsAct in a ways that support equality and diversityAbility to work under pressure and on own initiativeAbility to undertake PMVA training required for the role
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.
Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)