Principal Clinical Psychologist, 24/7 Initial Response Lead

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training programmes

Career progression

Annual leave 27–33 days

NHS discounts

Job summary

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced 8b clinical psychologist to lead the Initial Response Service (IRS), a 24/7 single point of access. The role focuses on psychologically informed triage, formulation, risk management and staff support to ensure timely, appropriate care at first contact.

You will provide leadership across IRS, CRHT and NHS 111, deliver expert crisis consultation, supervise staff, and drive service transformation while maintaining flexibility to

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology, or its equivalent, including eligibility for chartered status with the BPS.
• Further post-qualification, post-graduate training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
• Registered as a practitioner psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of CPD in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological leadership within IRS, CRHT and NHS 111 mental health option services.
• Lead psychologically informed triage, formulation, risk assessment and risk management for complex, urgent and crisis presentations.
• Deliver expert clinical consultation regarding managing crisis presentations.
• Provide structured consultation and supervision to IRS staff.
• Support NHS 111 clinicians with formulation, risk assessment and psychologically informed decision-making.
• Develop and align psychological practice across IRS, CRHT and NHS 111 to evidence-based and best-practice standards.
• Provide training, reflective practice sessions and post-incident reflections to multidisciplinary teams.
• Support the delivery of trauma-informed, autism-informed and psychologically informed care.
• Contribute to patient safety processes, after-action reviews and the production of reports.
• Provide one day a week of direct clinical work.
• Develop integrated pathways with system partners including NHS 111, primary care, crisis services and acute care pathways.
• Lead and support urgent care service transformation, pathway development and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote a standardized approach to safety planning, clinical decision-making and risk formulation across services.

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology, or its equivalent, including eligibility for chartered status with the BPS

Further post-qualification, post-graduate training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Registered as a practitioner psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Evidence of CPD in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Job description

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced 8b clinical psychologist to lead the Initial Response Service (IRS), a 24/7 single point of access. The role focuses on psychologically informed triage, formulation, risk management and staff support to ensure timely, appropriate care at first contact.

You will provide leadership across IRS, CRHT and NHS 111, deliver expert crisis consultation, supervise staff, and drive service transformation while maintaining flexibility to