Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary Up to 37.5 hours per week. We are looking for suitably qualified practitioners with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure. Experience of working with adults of working age and older people is desirable but not essential. Liaison Psychiatry in Derriford provides a 24hr, 7 days a week provision and successful applicants will be expected to work various shift patterns on a rotational basis. Main duties of the job The specialist function of the team is to provide bio-psychosocial assessments for individuals aged 18 years and above within the Derriford Hospital footprint, either attending via the Emergency Department or being an in-patient within the hospital. Patients seen may present with mental health difficulties eg. psychiatric crisis or an organic presentation such as a dementia /delirium. Following assessment, patients may be signposted to services in their local area (be that Plymouth, Cornwall, Devon or further afield). The Team work with hospital staff to develop plans of care for those who may be staying in hospital for a little longer. It's a challenging and rewarding service to work in, and we need the best quality of candidates to help us grow our service further. We welcome applications from Registered Nurses (RMN and RGN), Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers who have relevant experience (NMC/HCPC registrations required). Please demonstrate in your application how you meet the essential criteria in order to be considered. This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility. Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline. All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service. About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve. We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives. We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation. Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert. Details Date posted 09 October 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year pa, pro-rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working Reference number B9832-2026-NM-10509 Job locations Derriford Hospital Derriford Rd Plymouth Devon PL6 8DH United Kingdom Job description Job responsibilities Based within Derriford Hospital the Liaison Psychiatry service provides a mental health service to all wards and departments within the hospital where a person who has mental health need is receiving care. As a member of the Liaison Psychiatry Team you will be expected to assess patients who are referred from the Emergency Department and ward areas within the acute general hospital. The specialist function of the team is to provide bio-psychosocial assessments for individuals aged 18 yrs. and above within the Derriford Hospital footprint, either attending via the Emergency Department or being an in-patient within the hospital. Patients seen may present with mental health difficulties eg. psychiatric crisis or an organic presentation such as a dementia /delirium You will be expected to be able to make clear clinical decisions based on the analysis of, often complex, presenting problems. This can include being the decision maker in terms of discharge of patients experiencing mental health needs. You will be required at times to make clear autonomous decisions, based on analysis of complex presenting problems and clinical judgement. You will be able to demonstrate a high level of communication skills in terms of use of verbal, electroni