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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Liaison Psychiatry
Grade
Band 7
Contract
12 months (12 Month Fixed Term (Secondment considered for Internal) - Maternity Cover)
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (Flexible Working including weekend working)
Job ref
387-MED3305-HN
Employer
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queens Building, Bristol Royal Infirmary
Town
Bristol
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 pa, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust logo

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Liaison Psychiatry

Band 7

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist - Liaison Psychiatry to join our friendly and innovative team within the City and Weston Hospital Operating Unit, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Registered Mental Health Nurse to join our dynamic and accredited Liaison Psychiatry Service. The post holder will provide specialist mental health assessments across the Emergency Department and acute hospital, supporting patients presenting with self-harm, suicidality, behavioural disturbance, psychological distress and other complex mental health needs.

You will undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial and risk assessments, coordinate care plans, provide expert advice to patients, carers and clinical teams, and act as an autonomous practitioner within the multidisciplinary team.

Working closely with nursing, medical and allied health professionals, you will provide clinical leadership, contribute to service development, support education and training, and promote best practice in mental health care across the Trust.

Applicants should have a minimum of two years' experience at Band 6 level or above within Liaison Psychiatry, Crisis Services or a similar acute mental health setting.

For further details/informal visits contact:
Holly Starkey, Modern Matron
[email protected]
0117 342 9073

Main duties of the job

  • Provide expert specialist nursing assessment, advice and support to patients presenting with complex mental health needs within the acute hospital setting.
  • Undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial, mental health and risk assessments, developing and coordinating appropriate care plans.
  • Act as an autonomous practitioner, providing specialist advice and guidance to patients, carers, ward teams and multidisciplinary colleagues.
  • Lead on the assessment and management of patients presenting with self-harm, suicidal ideation, behavioural disturbance, cognitive impairment and other acute mental health presentations.
  • Work collaboratively with acute, community, social care and mental health services to ensure seamless, patient-centred care and effective discharge planning.
  • Provide leadership, supervision and support to nursing staff and contribute to the professional development of the wider multidisciplinary team.
  • Deliver education and training to acute hospital staff, promoting mental health awareness and best practice across the Trust.
  • Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and service development initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and service delivery.
  • Promote patient, carer and public involvement in service evaluation and development.
  • Support the delivery of a safe, responsive and high-quality Liaison Psychiatry service in line with Trust and national standards.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.  

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.  

 Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Extensive post registration experience - min 5 years, and at least 2 years mental health nursing at Band 6 or above
  • Extensive knowledge of the various approaches to mental health assessment
  • Experience of working autonomously and therapeutically in residential/community settings
  • Knowledge of key areas of liaison psychiatry practice, including the psychological effects of physical illness
  • Knowledge of the clinical and demographic risk factors associated with self-harm and suicide
  • Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Mental Health Act and their use in the general hospital
  • Knowledge of working therapeutically with individuals following self-harm
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of participation in audit, quality improvement or service development initiatives.
  • Experience and knowledge of advanced practice/ protocols
  • Experience of working in Acute Mental Health care settings

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Skills in assessing, planning implementing and evaluating mental health nursing interventions
  • Ability to interact therapeutically with distressed and/or disturbed individuals and/or those in crisis
  • Skills in interacting effectively with colleagues from a range of specialties and departments
  • Evidence of effective organisational and time management skills
  • Effective verbal & written communication skills
  • Knowledge of the teaching process, skills in teaching to a range of levels of staff
Desirable criteria
  • Skills in complex report writing

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • RMN with First Degree or equivalent
  • Current NMC registration
  • Teaching and assessing qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
  • Recognised qualification in delivering therapeutic inventions
  • Post qualification Master’s Degree or equivalent experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDDisability Confident - two yearsVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPride In Veterans

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sheriff Oyejobi
Job title
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Liaison Psychiatry
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0117 342 9073
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