Principal Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

Lead Clinical Psychologist 8b - Mental Health Liaison Service (Lister Hospital)

Would you like to work at the cutting edge of clinical psychology provision within general hospital wards and specialty areas?

The Mental Health Liaison Service works at integrating physical and mental health care for people attending the general hospital. The aim is to provide a multidisciplinary approach in understanding individuals presenting with co-morbid mental and physical health difficulties.

Here’s what our staff say about why they work at HPFT:

• I’ve have had lots of training opportunities and personal development since I joined, with regular support and supervision
• We have monthly CPD psychology sessions across the Trust for peer support
• Staff are energetic, imaginative, and care passionately about working with individuals and their families

The post holder will focus on the provision of specialist assessment and intervention within a physical health context including the provision of psychology across hospital specialities, e.g. gastroenterology, diabetes, respiratory, dementia/frailty, and pain whilst also focusing on supporting with secondary care mental health presentations e.g. complex personality disorder. There is huge opportunity to engage in service development initiatives, provide teaching/training and consultation across the acute care context.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• be HCPC registered in Clinical or Counselling Psychologist with strong post qualification experience in mental health (within acute setting desirable)
• experienced in integrated care and physical health presentations, or experienced in working with older people and frailty
• develop specific areas of specialism and expertise following their own initiatives
• take part in project work such as reducing frequent attenders to A&E based on:
• a consultation model
• group programmes for Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)
• reflection work with acute general hospital staff
• proactive psychological support for individuals at risk of lengthy hospital admissions. There is a keen focus on supervision, personal development and peer support opportunities

We welcome applications from clinical/counselling psychologists aspiring to move fields or to expand their Clinical Health Psychology knowledge and skills.

HPFT is committed to its staff. You would also be joining a strong and established group of psychological therapists offering services within adult mental health. There are thriving special interest groups and we offer regular opportunities for ongoing professional development

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As the remit of the service is wide there is scope for the post holder/s to develop specific areas of specialism and expertise and to develop and follow their own initiatives. Examples of liaison initiatives include projects focused on reducing frequent attenders to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department based on a consultation model, group programmes for Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), reflection work with acute general hospital staff and proactive psychological support for individuals at risk of lengthy hospital admissions. There is a keen focus on supervision, personal development and peer support opportunities.

Please see Job Description and person Specification for full details.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.