Job overview

The primary objective of this role is to manage the transfer of patients from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) inpatient wards and Emergency Department (ED) to mental health beds and services outside the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) area.

Based within the Mental Health Liaison team at St Thomas’ Hospital, the post holder will oversee mental health pathways for GSTT patients, including those from the Mental Health Liaison team, Mental Health of Older Adults (MHOAD), and Clinical Assessment Unit (CAU). The role requires a strong understanding of mental health admission processes, and collaboration with clinical teams to identify patients requiring mental health care, both within SLaM and externally, providing ongoing support throughout the process.

A key responsibility is developing expertise in mental health trusts outside of SLaM and building relationships with these trusts. The post holder will work with various services and stakeholders to ensure smooth patient transfers and will maintain strong connections with bed management teams. The role also involves supporting the Mental Health Liaison team in collecting and analyzing data related to patient stays, including those from SLaM boroughs, to address challenges around delayed transfers of care.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

Daily Patient Flow Management:

• Participate in clinical handovers to assess bed demand and provide updates to the clinical team.
• Identify responsible CCGs and mental health trusts for patients needing admission.
• Support SLAM borough patients by troubleshooting bed calls for efficient patient flow.
• Collaborate with bed management teams to follow local gatekeeping protocols.
• Ensure non-SLaM patient referrals are gate-kept without barriers to inpatient bed referrals.
• Document and notify clinical and bed management teams about disruptions or delays.
• Serve as the main contact for Trusts, providing updates on bed availability.
• Maintain daily communication with bed management teams to track bed availability.
• Act as a resource for liaison teams and wards/ED, supplying patient flow information.

Escalation and Communication:

• Initiate escalation for delayed transfers of care during business hours (0900–1700).
• Maintain accurate clinical records in EPJS, including liaison proformas and caseload management for patients needing mental health admissions.
• Ensure detailed records are kept in Enoting and other GSTT platforms.

Workload Prioritization:

• Prioritize workload and referrals based on patient needs, service demands, and GSTT requirements, ensuring efficient patient care.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the largest range of NHS mental health and substance misuse services in the UK, with a strong focus on treating drug and alcohol addiction. The Trust collaborates closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London and is part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre, which integrates treatment, research, and training.

Employing around 5,000 staff, SLaM serves a population of 1.1 million across South London, covering areas like Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, and providing substance misuse services in Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich. The Trust operates over 230 services, including inpatient, outpatient, and community-based care, treating approximately 5,300 patients annually in inpatient settings and over 45,000 in the community.

Working at SLaM offers the chance to join a globally recognized mental health care provider, with access to professional development and training. In 2014, SLaM delivered over 14,000 training experiences for staff at all levels. The strong partnership with King's Health Partners also provides opportunities to engage in academic research, bridging the gap between mental health practice and scientific inquiry.