Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurse (SPLN) | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 27 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £55,524 - £62,652 per annum Incl. HCAs |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 May 2026 |
| Location: | THORNTHON HEATH, SURREY, CR7 7YE |
| Company: | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7926061/334-NUR-7926061-FR |
Summary
As part of a review of our operational strategies and response to growing need need for more highly skilled, experienced and dynamic Mental Health Liaison Nurses; we are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for the role of Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurse to work in the acute trust emergency department and inpatient settings.
Successful applicants will be working as part of a dynamic Multi-Disciplinary Team, interface between physical and mental health across Croydon University Hospital (CUH) Emergency Department and the inpatient wards.
You will work with anyone over the age of 18 years presenting with mental health as well as physical health needs to both the emergency department and inpatient wards.
We are looking for dedicated, dynamic and tenacious Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurses who enjoy rapid assessment / crisis work and working with a diversity of clinical presentations.
The post holder will be working as part of a multidisciplinary Mental Health Liaison Team to facilitate timely assessment, safe discharge and reduction of multiple attendances of clients with complex mental health, physical health and social care needs. There will also be opportunities to teach both colleagues and acute trust staff as part of your role as Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurse.
As a Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurse you will be work as a highly experienced senior mental health practitioner carrying out first line specialist assessments and crisis risk management plans within the Emergency Department (ED) as part of the Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT).
The Senior Psychiatric Liaison Nurse will provide face to face screening of all referrals to the MHLT at first contact and at times signpost to primary care where appropriate.
The post-holder will be an independent decision maker with regard to the assessment of those presenting to the Emergency Department. They will be required to carry out specialist assessments and reach decisions on appropriate treatment plans or onward referrals autonomously and provide evidence based care as outlined in NICE guidelines.
The post holder will coordinate and triage suitable patients to the Clinical Assessment Unit (CAU) for reviews and assessment contributing efficient patient flow in the emergency department by liaising with CAU staff
To provide clinical leadership for the shift and be responsible for the performance of the Mental Health Liaison Team during that shift; ensuring that the service provided is in accordance with the Key Performance Indicators and SLaM aims.
To undertake relevant data collection, analysis and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the team and audit clinical care to ensure a consistent high standard of care is being provided by the team.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient
care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Benefits:
We 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 is important to us that you are valued and appreciated and that is why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
To provide specialist screening at the point of referral.
To provide senior response to challenging/ violent incidents in the Emergency Department.
Provide initial response to all Section 136/Code 10 presentation in the department and lead on co-ordination the process.
To record all contact within the SLaM and Croydon University Hospital electronic information systems.
Complete Risk Assessment from the completed screening; including autonomous decisions around discharge and/or onward referral and sign-posting to primary care/ mental health services.
To oversee the progress of patients through the Emergency Department, taking on a coordinating role within the MHLT and providing a senior single point of access for staff to make referrals and/ or to be informed of any presentations to ED at the first opportunity.
Act as a senior clinician in the MHLT; providing advice, clinical support and senior review where necessary.
To liaise effectively with services and service providers both inside and outside of the Trust (including CMHTs, Police, Ambulance, Social Services, GPs and Hospital staff).
The post holder will co-ordinate streaming and triaging patients to the Clinical Assessment Unit by liaising with CAU staff for efficient patient flow throughout the Emergency Department.
Participate in teaching and training of ED and other staff within CUH
Co-ordinating the pathway and patient flow throughout the Emergency Department.
Consistently apply effective decision making and problem solving skills, including but not limited to ability to prioritise workload, ability to assess and manage mental health crises, ability to manage conflict, ability to work in a high pressure environment and ability to communicate across a range of services and professionals especially those working in acute trust.
Maintain confidentiality by ensuring that information is only shared with those who need to know.
Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness, leadership skills and empathy in all communications
This advert closes on Monday 11 May 2026