Band 6 Primary Care Liaison Practitioner - Bristol - #1704025

THIS POST IS AVAILABLE TO ALL APPLICANTS WHO CAN DEMONSTRATE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION, EDUCATION TO DEGREE LEVEL OR ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE

Bristol Shared Point of Access - Triage team is the main integrated referral point into adult secondary mental health services. The team provides mental health support, advice, and signposting for service users, potential users of AWP mental health services, their carers and relatives, GPs, Health and Social Care, and third sector organizations.

Our multi-disciplinary team includes professionals such as Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and other allied health professionals.

Flexible working options, compressed hours, and blended home working arrangements will be considered to meet service needs.

This post is open to newly qualified social workers. According to AWP trust policy, all newly qualified social workers (NQSW) will initially be recruited at Band 5, regardless of the advertised role banding. NQSWs are expected to complete their ASYE within 2 years, with possible extensions in exceptional circumstances.

If appointed to a Band 6 role, progression to this level will be automatic upon successful ASYE completion. Those appointed at Band 5 can apply for Band 6 vacancies after completing their ASYE.

The PCLS team operates Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 6 pm, conducting assessments for adults aged 18 and over. The team screens and triages referrals, engaging in multidisciplinary discussions to support decision-making. Practitioners deliver comprehensive assessments and psychoeducation to individuals referred from various sources.

We seek team players with sensitivity, tact, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.

We invest in our staff’s development, offering training opportunities such as 'brief interventions,' 'Non-medical prescribing,' and 'management.'

You will join a dedicated multidisciplinary team that values collaborative working and has adopted modern remote assessment and intervention methods via video conferencing.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), a diverse organization with over 5,000 staff providing inpatient and community mental health care.

Our services reach approximately 1.8 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire, and parts of Dorset.

We promote mental health and wellbeing, emphasizing a person-centered approach. We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Provide information, proportional assessments, and signposting to patients and their families/carers in community settings.

Foster strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships with referrers and primary care professionals, guided by an educative and solutions-focused approach, offering credible clinical expertise.

This may include:

• Using standardized assessment tools.


• Focusing on strengths and aspirations of the individual.


• Providing succinct formulations and recommendations, including risk management advice.


• Assessing cultural and diversity impacts.


• Supporting primary care staff in relation to The 10 Essential Shared Capabilities.


• Offering advice on a broad range of mental health conditions.


• Recognizing and supporting the needs of families and carers.


• Evaluating risk from a positive risk-taking perspective.


• Supporting bio-psycho-social formulations, including for medically unexplained symptoms.


• Ensuring appropriate specialist involvement.


• Advising on interventions and treatments to promote positive change.


• Supporting safeguarding and public protection procedures.


• Providing second opinions on complex capacity assessments.


• Facilitating safe and effective mental health care practices in primary care.


• Assisting in care planning processes.


• Responding promptly to referrals.


• Providing liaison and feedback to secondary mental health and primary care teams.


• Ensuring seamless transfer into AWP services where needed.


• Using structured assessment formats like SBAR.


• Following up with patients where appropriate.


• Contributing to multidisciplinary care planning.


• Communicating effectively with service users, families, and professionals.


• Advising on medication management.


• Involving carers throughout assessments.


• Providing timely information and advice.


• Promoting collaboration among staff, users, and community agencies.


• Providing expert advice on mental health needs.


• Raising awareness of physical health impacts on mental health.


• Participating in service development forums.


• Providing training and mentorship.


• Maintaining professional development and adhering to the NMC Code of Conduct.


• Ensuring health and safety standards.


• Developing personal and team practices through feedback and training.


• Leading and participating in team practices.


• Maintaining accurate records.


• Implementing assessment, communication, and follow-up systems.


• Using resources efficiently.


• Participating in audit and evaluation activities.


• Managing staffing absences as needed.

• Professional qualification in mental health, such as RMN, Registered Social Worker, or OT.

• Current registration with a professional body and commitment to CPD.

• Frontline experience with advanced assessment skills, especially in mental health severity and differentiation.


• Experience in PCLS services and using Rio.

• Understanding of legal frameworks like CPA, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Safeguarding.


• Knowledge of recovery principles and secondary mental health care roles.

This post requires a DBS check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure submission will be necessary to check for previous convictions.