Principal Psychologist - Psychiatric Liaison Service

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

An opportunity exists for a highly creative Clinical Psychologist to join the Psychiatric Liaison Service leadership team at a leading NHS trust. The role focuses on providing psychological assessments and interventions in both acute hospital and A&E settings, offering a collaborative environment with diverse health disciplines. Suitable candidates will possess substantial experience, a relevant doctoral qualification, and a passion for enhancing mental health services.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in Clinical or Counselling Psychology.
• Doctoral knowledge of research methodology and complex data analysis.
• Registered with the HCPC and experience in NHS settings.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to multidisciplinary service development and delivery.
• Provide specialist psychological assessments and treatments.
• Join regular clinical governance and peer-led CPD meetings.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Risk assessment

Teaching and training

Education

Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for a highly creative and experienced psychologist to join the Psychiatric Liaison Service (PLS) leadership team and contribute to the team's work across the general hospital wards as well as the clients who present in acute crisis at A&E. PLS highly values psychological formulation and brief interventions to support their complex cases, as well as support their team's wellbeing through working closely with the other leads in the team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute a psychological perspective to multidisciplinary service development and delivery within the general acute hospital and A&E settings. This will include reviewing pathways to meet the needs of our service users, enabling the team to meet the standards for a Core 24 service. You will be part of the PLS Leadership team.

Clinical work focuses both on complex health presentations from the general acute hospital as well as service users with severe mental health difficulties and high risk presenting in crisis to A&E. Clinical work on the hospital side is varied, including service users with eating disorders, FND, MUS, depression and anxiety, as well as those who are experiencing long hospital stays in the face of multiple physical and mental health issues. There are opportunities to develop joint work with health disciplines across the hospital, and to devise training programmes for the general wards. On the A&E side, we offer a 'follow-up psychology clinic' for those who have presented with an attempt on their life and need brief psychological support to stabilise and prevent future suicide.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations

Details Date posted

13 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-LUT7152235-A

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder would join regular countywide Psychology Clinical Governance and peer-led CPD meetings.

For further information please refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder would join regular countywide Psychology Clinical Governance and peer-led CPD meetings.

For further information please refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) / OR Have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes PLUS have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Clinical supervision training for doctoral clinical /counselling psychology trainees.

Knowledge Essential

• The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders, including SMI, complex mental health and psychosis
• Risk assessment practice and procedures.
• Thorough understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.

Desirable

• Developed knowledge of range of psychological therapies and psychiatric assessment and treatment

Experience Essential

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling or Forensic psychologist at a highly specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
• Providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of patients utilising at least two main models as appropriate across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
• Providing teaching, training and clinical supervision.

Desirable

• The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
• The development of integrated physical and mental health pathways

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) / OR Have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes PLUS have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Clinical supervision training for doctoral clinical /counselling psychology trainees.

Knowledge Essential

• The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders, including SMI, complex mental health and psychosis
• Risk assessment practice and procedures.
• Thorough understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.

Desirable

• Developed knowledge of range of psychological therapies and psychiatric assessment and treatment

Experience Essential

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling or Forensic psychologist at a highly specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
• Providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of patients utilising at least two main models as appropriate across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
• Providing teaching, training and clinical supervision.

Desirable

• The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
• The development of integrated physical and mental health pathways

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)