Clinical Specialist

The Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) is dynamic integrated assessment and liaison service providing mental health assessments in the three Emergency Departments in the South of North London Mental Health Partnership, Royal Free, Whittington and University College London Hospitals and the central MHCAS hub.

The MHCAS hub accepts referrals via self-presentation, the London Ambulance Service, the Police, and transfers from Emergency Departments for further assessment and referrals from Crisis and Community Teams. The service has an ethos of improving both patient experience and outcomes, the service was recognised and received the award for Excellence in Mental Health at the UK NHS Parliamentary awards in 2022.

The role will be primarily based in The Whittington Hospital Emergency Department with occasional rotation to the MHCAS hub. With a fully integrated emergency pathway, Clinical Specialists have most of their shifts at a ‘home’ Emergency Department and the MHCAS hub.

The team office is in the recently opened state of the art Highgate East Wing on the site of the Whittington Hospital and is part of the new Highgate Campus site which has newly refurbished MHCAS across the road in Highgate West with the Place of Safety, Crisis Teams, and acute wards. This is an exciting time to join the service with the aim of becoming of centre of excellence.

**Highgate East**: New mental health hospital 'will make a difference' - BBC News

Clinical Specialist Role

We are looking for skilled and dynamic Clinical Specialists with a passion for delivering outstanding patient care, and a commitment to least restrictive practice and acting in the patient’s best interest. You will be required to complete trauma informed psychosocial assessments and develop safe and effective collaborative plans with service users. The service acknowledges that we often see people at their most vulnerable and as such it is essential that we provide, compassionate and trauma informed care.

The service is dynamic and fast paced and the role therefore requires stamina, resilience, and the ability to work in a joined-up way with Trust services as well as with our acute hospital colleagues.

As a central London service, you will see the complete spectrum of mental health presentations from people with very diverse backgrounds and as such you will need to be someone mindful of cultural differences.

Working for your Organisation

At North London Mental Health Partnership our staff and service users have worked closely to create a set of values that make sure people who use our services get the best possible chance of a rapid recovery.

**We are kind**: We show empathy and compassion for one another, so we feel supported and safe.
**We are respectful**: We treat one another fairly, with courtesy and honesty, so we feel valued and appreciated.
**We work together**: We work as one team across the Partnership and beyond, so we feel supported, connected and better able to do our part
**We keep things simple**: We make it easy to do things once, so we are clear and able to focus on doing our job well.
**We empower**: We seek ways to continuously improve so we feel motivated and trusted to do our best work.
**We are proudly diverse**: We celebrate our diversity and ensure inclusivity with opportunities open to all, so we can bring our authentic self to work

As an applicant for this role, you are urged to demonstrate within your supporting statement a combination of evidence that reflects your competence to meet the job specification and provide examples of how Trust Values are an integral part of the way you have and will continue to deliver service.

The nature of liaison can be challenging, however is extremely rewarding as we are often the first point of contact for those in a mental health crisis, and the interventions and decisions we make can have a profound impact upon someone’s life.

Please see job description and person specification. You can also contact the Clinical Team Manager Charlie Darbyshire on 07929 821482

What we offer
- You will be supported through bespoke in-house training; the aim of the service is to become a leader in training and research. We also have online monthly teaching sessions on specialist topics delivered by Liaison Consultants and Registrars on a range of topics.
- The liaison team is currently undergoing PLAN (Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network) accreditation which outlines the highest evidence-based standards for liaison psychiatry.
- Assured Study with City University London MHCAS are part of this research study aiming to improve patients’ experience and reduce repeat attendance for self-harm in the Emergency Department, this has led to bespoke training for Clinical Specialists.
- Regular clinical supervision and reflective practice: Support with complex cases and professional development.
- Senior Clinician is always available at MHCAS to provide clinical support and discuss co