Principal Psychologist - Adult Inpatient Services | East London NHS Foundation Trust

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking an experienced Principal Psychologist to enhance inpatient services in the Luton area. The successful candidate will provide clinical expertise, supervise staff, and contribute to the development of trauma-informed environments. Key qualifications include experience with complex mental health difficulties and strong assessment skills. This role offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful psychology activities and support workforce development.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with adults with complex and severe mental health difficulties in inpatient settings.
• Proven track record of developing trauma-informed therapeutic environments.
• Clinical confidence to work independently and make rapid clinical judgments.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical and strategic input for inpatient wards.
• Engage with psychology activities and initiatives around workforce development.
• Supervise and train staff in psychosocial interventions.

Skills

Clinical confidence

Excellent assessment skills

Ability to train and supervise staff

Experience with trauma-informed environments

Job description

Overview

We are looking for an experienced psychologist to join us as a 0.6wte Principal Psychologist in our Adult Inpatient Services in the Luton area.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical and strategic input for our inpatient wards, delivering services for adults with complex and severe mental health difficulties.
• Work independently with clinical confidence, making rapid and well-informed clinical judgments using excellent assessment and formulation skills.
• Commit to and contribute to a MDT setting, offering advice and consultation to other professional colleagues.
• Contribute to staff training and staff support, including reflective practice spaces.
• Supervise qualified, trainee, and pre-qualified psychology staff; train and supervise MDT colleagues in the provision of psychosocial interventions.
• Bring strategic ideas to support the development of the acute psychology service.
• Engage with ELFT-wide psychology activities, including regular meetings focusing on Clinical Governance and CPD, and participate in wider initiatives around workforce development and trauma-informed cultures across the Trust.
• Share knowledge across therapy models and access consultation across models within ELFT.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in working with adults with complex and severe mental health difficulties in inpatient settings.
• Track record of developing trauma-informed therapeutic environments for both clients and workforce.
• Clinical confidence to work independently and provide rapid clinical judgments; excellent assessment and formulation skills.
• Experience in MDT work and offering advice/consultation to colleagues.
• Ability to supervise and train staff at various levels (qualified, trainee, pre-qualified) and to supervise MDT colleagues in psychosocial interventions.
• Willingness to contribute to staff training, reflective practice spaces, and staff support.
• Willingness to engage with a range of therapy models and to share knowledge and access consultation across models.

Additional Information

Please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification attached to this advertisement.

This advert closes on Sunday 28 Sep 2025.