Principal Clinical psychologist

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a dedicated Clinical Psychologist to work within the Acute and Crisis Pathway. This role combines direct clinical care with strategic leadership in a multidisciplinary team, emphasizing crisis intervention and management. The successful candidate will lead complex case assessments and support junior psychology posts. Commitment to a welcoming and supportive team environment is essential. The location offers a blend of historical richness and natural beauty, with easy access to London.

Benefits

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health crisis intervention and management.
• Ability to assess and manage risk of harm, including suicide.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills in a multidisciplinary setting.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage risk of harm to self or others.
• Provide evidence-based brief interventions and advice.
• Support acute hospital colleagues in managing mental health cases.
• Lead the assessment of complex cases involving physical and mental health needs.

Job description

Overview

The ACP aims to offer meaningful, dynamic, and evidence-based interventions to support people experiencing a mental health crisis, helping them move through the crisis safely and gain a clearer understanding of its causes.

Within the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) and Mental Health Liaison (MHL), this role will combine direct clinical work with strategic leadership to ensure both teams are effective and successful in their work.

The successful candidate will also provide line management to more junior Psychology posts within the Acute and Crisis Pathway.

CRHTT

The West Suffolk CRHTT provides a four-hour response for people experiencing acute mental distress and crisis. The team also offers a home treatment service supporting people in the community, including medication management and brief psychological interventions, with the aim of preventing hospital admission. Support is also offered to carers of those using the service.

MHL

The Mental Health Liaison Service offers a single point of access for referrals from West Suffolk Hospital and provides a range of mental health specialities within one multidisciplinary team. The team operates 24/7 and plays a vital role in supporting the acute hospital, ensuring timely, person-centred care for individuals experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage risk of harm to self or others, including suicide and self-neglect.
• Provide evidence-based brief interventions, advice, and signposting to appropriate services.
• Offer support and education to acute hospital colleagues in managing mental health presentations.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to shared clinical decision-making.
• Lead on the assessment and formulation of complex cases where physical and mental health needs overlap.
• Provide staff support, including reflective practice, clinical supervision, and debriefs within the Acute and Crisis Pathway.
• Maintain awareness of current best-practice guidelines and disseminate relevant information to the team.
• Provide a psychologically informed service to patients and their carers.
• Support engagement between services and chair multi-professional meetings.

Why work for us?

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk?

The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.