A day in the life with Samina Allie, Mental Health Liaison Service Counselling Psychologist

Hi Samina, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have been qualified for 18 years and have worked in the Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust for 15 years. I have most recently been appointed as a Principal Psychologist across two mental health Liaison teams in Sandwell and Dudley.

Mental Health Liaison work is at the interface between physical and psychological health. Providing specialist mental health assessment and treatment for patients attending Emergency departments and general hospitals, we deal with a range of presentations such as mental health issues, delirium, dementia, substance misuse issues and medically unexplained symptoms. It’s about working collaboratively with the team and wider services to improve access and reduce admissions.

This is a really exciting post as neither team have had psychology provision before, the teams have historically been very nurse led so this is a wonderful opportunity to develop and shape a psychology service and develop good multidisciplinary team (MDT) working as our teams are growing.

That sounds like a fantastic opportunity - What does a typical day look like for you?

The work is varied no one day is the same, I am part of two very skilled teams who are very passionate about delivering a compassionate service to our patients. My role is varied, I offer reflective practice and consultation to the team. There will also be opportunities to develop specific training to staff across the mental health liaison teams and also delivering bespoke mental health awareness and other topics across to staff on the general wards with the hope to support our physical health staff to increase their understanding of mental health.

I also support the team to assess patients presenting in Emergency departments and acute wards and support the team in a highly pressurised fast paced service. An exciting emerging part of my role has been developing an outpatient clinic whereby I offer brief therapeutic work.

I am also involved with the frequent attenders forum for both Dudley and Sandwell, this is where we discuss complex cases and try and formulate robust management plans for patients that frequent A&E with the hope we can make a difference to the patients we see. We work closely with other community services and think about the needs of this client group in order to reduce presentation at Emergency Departments.

What is your favourite part about this work?

I love the varied nature of the role, no day is the same. I have the opportunity to run an outpatient clinic where I am able to deliver brief work with patients assessed by the Mental Health Liaison Service (MHLS). I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and have more recently been working quite intensively with this approach and have seen first hand the positive outcomes this has brought to the patients I have seen.

How would you describe your work/life balance?

I work part time which is lovely, it allows time for us as a family to connect. I also love art, especially drawing and painting and attend an art class at my local library which is a great way of meeting others. I have a son who is 9 and we try and plan activities out doors, going for walks, going to our local park etc.

What advice would you give to our Aspiring Psychological Professional members?

I would encourage them to explore roles within MHLS as this is quite an exciting and emerging role and there are opportunities to develop. The skills most needed in this role are being a team player, being compassionate and most of all an enthusiasm to learn and develop.

The PPN Midlands would like to thank Samina for sharing this exciting new role in her service and for showing that Counselling Psychologists can work in almost any setting.