Job summary
- Main area
- Nursing
- Grade
- NHS AfC:: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Long Day: 08:00-21:15, night shift: 21:00-08:30)
- Job ref
- 334-NUR-8225044-SG
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Thomas' Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Closing
- 07/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Mental Health Liaison Nurse
NHS AfC:: Band 6
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
We are pleased to be recruiting three Mental Health Liaison Nurses to join our expanding Crisis Assessment Unit (CAU), working alongside the Core 24 Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) at St Thomas’ Hospital. This growth reflects increasing demand for high‑quality mental health care in A&E and across the acute hospital, as well as the significant service improvements achieved over the past six months.
We are seeking adaptable, motivated nurses who enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment and who are keen to be part of further service development. The role offers a valuable opportunity to gain and enhance skills in liaison psychiatry, crisis assessment, and the mental–physical health interface.
As a Mental Health Liaison Nurse, you will be an advocate for mental health within the hospital, supporting colleagues in managing patients presenting with complex needs and working closely with specialist services including Older Adults, Perinatal Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry. Out‑of‑hours work includes assessments for these pathways. The team operates 24/7, and applicants must be able to work a full shift pattern including nights and weekends.
If you are passionate about improving emergency mental health care and want to contribute to the development of a modern, responsive liaison service, we welcome your application.
Main duties of the job
St Thomas’ Hospital is a major London teaching hospital within Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s Health Partners. The Crisis Assessment Unit (CAU) is a dedicated, therapeutic space within the Emergency Department for people experiencing an acute mental health crisis. It forms a key part of the hospital’s emergency pathway and works closely with the Core 24 Mental Health Liaison Team.
Within CAU, Mental Health Liaison Nurses complete specialist biopsychosocial assessments, develop person‑centred risk management and care plans, and work collaboratively with ED staff, acute medical teams and partner agencies to ensure safe, timely and effective patient care. The role includes coordinating patient flow through the mental health pathway and acting as nurse in charge, ensuring the safe running of the unit and maintaining high clinical standards.
The post holder will support holistic care planning with patients, families and carers; advocate for mental health across the hospital; and provide timely advice to colleagues managing complex presentations. Strong knowledge of the mental–physical health interface and experience supporting individuals affected by substance or alcohol misuse are essential.
Working for our organisation
South London & Maudsley are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that's why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars.
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
We look forward to receiving your application.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Mental Health Liaison Nurses working within CAU play a central role in the assessment, care and flow of patients presenting to the acute hospital with mental health needs. The post holder will:
• Deliver specialist biopsychosocial assessments for adults in crisis, developing robust, person‑centred formulations and evidence‑based risk management and care plans.
• Lead and coordinate the clinical activity within CAU, acting as the nurse in charge on shift. This includes ensuring safe day‑to‑day operation of the unit, overseeing patient flow, and maintaining adherence to quality and safety standards.
• Support efficient patient movement through the emergency pathway, working closely with acute hospital colleagues to prevent delays, avoid unnecessary admissions, and ensure mental health presentations are managed in a timely and clinically appropriate manner.
• Work collaboratively with ED teams, medical wards, partner agencies and community services to develop holistic plans of care alongside patients, their families, carers, or friends—ensuring continuity, safety and a positive patient experience.
• Advocate for mental health within the acute hospital, providing clinical advice, education and support to colleagues caring for patients with complex mental, physical, and social needs.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse
- Practice assessor and/or leadership qualifications
Desirable criteria
- Master’s Degree or Post-Graduate study in relevant field
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
- Significant relevant clinical experience.
- Experience as a Preceptor / Practice Assessor
- Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation
- Experience undertaking biopsychosocial assessments and risk management plans
Desirable criteria
- Experience of taking responsibility for a ward / clinical unit
- Experience of managing a caseload in the community
- Experience engaging in quality improvement
- Experience in crisis intervention
Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user’s needs, without close supervision
- Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations.
- Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others
- Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity
- Forms very effective working relationships with colleagues
Desirable criteria
- Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework
- Skilled in supervision of others, and in providing critical and constructive feedback.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Felicia Welin
- Job title
- CAU Clinical Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0207 188 6014
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