CASCAID (HIV Liaison) Mental Health Practitioner in London inLondon PUBLISHED TUE 3 JUN 2025 Jump to job information section

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed registered mental health nurse; occupational therapist or social worker, to work with CASCAID, a specialist HIV mental health liaison team.

CASCAID is a small multi-professional HIV mental health team, comprising consultant psychiatrist, mental health nurse, social worker/team manager, psychological therapy staff and business manager.

Our service covers the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon. Clients are seen in outpatient settings (i.e. at the Maudsley Hospital), or in their HIV treatment centres, and when necessary/appropriate in their own home.

We help people who are experiencing mental health issues related to their experience of living with HIV. We provide mental health assessment, treatment, liaison, support and psychological therapy.

CASCAID's strength lies in its bio-psycho-social approach, specialist knowledge developed over 30 years, and long-established relationships with HIV treatment centres. Regular multi-professional meetings across physical and mental health care teams ensure holistic and integrated care. The team's work is highly valued by referrers and service users alike.

Our team's maxim is: "We take a holistic approach, which recognizes diversity, values difference, and endeavors to reduce the marginalisation of people living with HIV."

You will provide mental health liaison, assessment and short-term support for clients with complex mental health issues related to living with HIV. This will include contributing to and providing advice during regular MDT meetings with other HIV healthcare professionals. Our main referrers are HIV clinics, medical inpatient wards, mental health community teams and addiction services.

You will manage your own caseload, provide key-working responsibilities, addressing practical and social/welfare issues where needed and signposting where necessary. You will also hold, monitor and review clients whilst they are waiting for psychological intervention from our therapy team. Our office base is at Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, but travel will be required across the 4 boroughs we serve. Some home-working is possible, but you will be expected to work in the office or an outpatient setting at least 3 days a week.

You will thrive in working with people from diverse backgrounds and be able to promote equality of access to services and help address and overcome HIV stigma.

About us

Job Purpose:

The postholder will ensure the delivery of care to a client group who are HIV positive and presenting with complex mental health needs.

To provide assessment and support to clients referred by statutory and non-statutory agencies, linking clients into appropriate mainstream services as necessary.*

To embrace the core maxim of the service in recognising diversity, valuing difference, tackling stigma and reducing the marginalisation of people living with HIV.

To support and develop a culture which improves mental health care for patients seen in physical health environments and physical healthcare for those seen in mental healthcare environments.

To provide training and education relating to HIV, sexual health promotion and education.

To work with clients whose behaviour affects the transmission risk of HIV

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical and Client Care

To provide assessment and interventions for clients in CASCAID HIV Liaison Service*

To attend MDT forums (in person or online) in HIV treatment centres providing consultation and advice

To attend Clinical Nurse Specialist meetings, providing consultation and advice

To provide support, advice and liaison to SLaM inpatient wards, mental health teams and addictions services, co-working as necessary*

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans; liaising with referrers, GPs and other professionals as appropriate.*

To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.*

To co-work with other SLaM teams and/or inter-agency colleagues in providing comprehensive and holistic care for our clients; signposting where necessary

To provide cover for the Chemsex support service (the Axis clinic) with a worker from Antidote at London Friend as necessary.

*The HIV Service is not a case-holding service

Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the service delivery in acting as an interface between mental and physical health services for people living with HIV in the 4 boroughs that SlaM covers (LSLC); and embedding this practice across services

To contribute to the HIV Liaison Services aims to increase the capacity for mainstream mental health services to provide support to PLHIV who also experience mental health difficulties (e.g. by providing training, and through HIV awareness initiatives)

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services.

Policy and service development

• To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities

Management and supervision

• To be responsible for contributing to the mentoring of either student nurses, OTs or social workers (including induction, training, assessment and supervision)

As this list is not exhaustive please refer to the attached job description.