Placement Overview
| Placement Title | Bolton Mental Health Liaison Team (BMHLS) |
| Trust | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust |
| Your Placement Contact | Niha Asif (Student Lead), Nadia Coggin – Send Email |
| Placement Contact’s Role | Mental Health Nurse Practitioner & Advanced Clinical Practitioner |
| Placement Address | Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0JR |
| Placement City/Town: | Bolton |
| Placement Phone | 01204 483 055 |
| Your University Contact: | Sean Welsh – Send Email |
About this placement
What is organised for students on commencement of placement?
We would prefer students to arrange a pre-placement visit with the placement manager to discuss expectations and objectives. All placements will be allocated an assessor and supervisor prior to commencement of placement and can be advised of who this is at this meeting; we will also arrange the off duty for the first week at this point too. All students will be given a welcome pack.
What are the arrangements for mentors/assessors?
We would prefer students to arrange a pre-placement visit with the placement manager to discuss expectations and objectives. All placements will be allocated an assessor and supervisor prior to commencement of placement and can be advised of who this is at this meeting; we will also arrange the off duty for the first week at this point too. All students will be given a welcome pack.
What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?
Early:
07.30 – 17.30
Late:
12.00 – 22.00
Night:
20.45 – 08.00
Shift Notes:
Students would work 4 shifts per week, including weekends as per university guidelines.
What patient care situations are available in this placement?
The Bolton Mental Health Liaison Service (MHLS) provide psychiatric assessment and management of patients referred to the team from the Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust acute hospital wards in addition to the Adult and Paediatric Accident and Emergency Department.
We conduct holistic assessments of patient needs and signpost them to appropriate services which can include admission to hospital, home based treatment and community services (statutory and non-statutory).
We would complete risk assessments, consider safeguarding needs, and liaise with relevant agencies. We also complete cognitive assessments, provide medication advice, coordinate mental health act assessments and assist in assessments regarding ongoing placements.
We participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings including best interest meetings and provide support and advice to staff within the Acute Trust regarding patient’s capacity according to the Mental Capacity Act.
What nursing model is used for planning care?
We use the recovery and the rehabilitation models to influence our work with patients.
What core clinical skills can be learnt?
- Communication
- Assessment
- Risk Assessment
- Cognitive Assessments
- De-escalation
- Engaging with distressed patients
- Disengagement at the end of a one-off assessment
What additional clinical skills can be learnt?
Developing an understanding of different mental illnesses and means of managing these, learning to identify delirium, understanding the link between mental and physical health including interpreting blood results.
What resources are available to help students learning?
The MDT has a range of knowledge and experience and can guide students toward pertinent resources, they will be able to access the trust library and intranet and there are a number of paper resources available within the placement area.
What research and practice development activities are being undertaken?
We would appreciate student input and feedback as the placement progresses.
Spoke Placements
They can spend time with the Home Base Treatment Team or the Bolton Assessment Team. There are a range of other spoke placements that students can undertake depending on their learning outcomes, personal interest and previous exposure including inpatient wards, community mental health teams, later life services.
Students will be able to spend time within the Acute Trust which will assist in their exposure to other branches.
Assessors/supervisors will be able to advise further of appropriate spoke placements however students will be encouraged to make contact and arrange the spokes independently.
Additional Information