Trainee Or Liaison Psychiatry Acp Lead

Dorset Healthcare University Nhs Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Advanced Clinical Practitioner to join the Liaison Psychiatry Team based at University Hospital Dorset. You will provide clinical leadership for co-occurring mental health, alcohol and substance use within acute hospital settings.

The role requires travel between UHD sites and offers a permanent, full-time post with Agenda for Change band 7 salary.

Qualifications

• Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level with ACP role plus PG Dip (120 credits) and MA/MSc or working towards.
• Membership of relevant professional body required.
• Learning and Assessing in Practice qualification or equivalent training.
• Evidence of recent professional development in up-to-date portfolio.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation in clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical advice, leadership and support for service needs with high clinical judgement.
• Undertake independent assessment and management of patients, including pharmacological considerations.
• Offer specialist advice on co-occurring mental health, alcohol and substance use to staff.
• Lead alcohol and substance use work within Liaison Psychiatry.
• Lead training and education for Liaison Psychiatry staff and acute hospital colleagues.
• Maintain strong relationships with hospital, community services and voluntary sector.

Skills

Advanced Clinical Practice Leadership

Alcohol & Substance Use Knowledge

Multidisciplinary Teamwork

Education

ACP Degree/PG Dip (120 credits)

MA/MSc or studying

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Liaison Psychiatry Team based at University Hospital Dorset (UHD), this post is open to Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

The team is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists - Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network, and are actively engaged in exciting service developments in line with the Core24 model.

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic clinician to join a highly skilled and supportive MDT, including Consultant Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, Advanced Practitioners, Psychologists, Assistant psychologist and support workers as we move forward with these innovative changes.

The post-holder will provide offer clinical leadership, specialist expertise and service development for co-occurring Mental health, alcohol and substance use within Liaison Psychiatry services across Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

The role will ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care for individuals presenting to acute hospital settings with alcohol and/or substance use disorders, often alongside complex mental and physical health needs.

This post is a Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. The postholder will be required to travel between UHD hospital sites (on occasions to Dorchester County hospital as required).

Main duties of the job

• Provide advanced clinical advice, leadership and support ensuring the needs of the service are met by exercising and demonstrating high levels of clinical judgement, critical analysis and advanced decision making skills.
• Undertake independent assessment and management of patients to incorporate pharmacological considerations, where appropriate making complex clinical decisions regarding patient management and clinical outcomes.
• Act as a source of specialist advice with regards to co-occurring Mental health, alcohol and substance use and consultation to Liaison Psychiatry staff and acute hospital professionals.
• Provide day-to-day clinical leadership for alcohol and substance use work within Liaison Psychiatry.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives in line with national liaison psychiatry standards, NICE and Department of Health guidance. Lead the delivery of training and education for Liaison Psychiatry staff and acute hospital colleagues on co-occurring Mental health, alcohol and substance use.
• Maintain strong working relationships with Acute Hospital colleagues, Inpatient and community alcohol and substance misuse services and voluntary services.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted: 21 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £49,387 to £64,750 a year, dependent on fully qualified ACP or Trainee ACP

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 152-M152.26A

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Training

Essential

• Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level - ACP Role supplemented by minimum PG dip (120 credits) plus MA/MSc or working towards in a relevant subject or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant speciality
• Membership of the relevant Professional Body (2)
• Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio
• Demonstrable knowledge of legislation relevant to area of clinical practice

Desirable

• Non-medical prescriber

Job Specific Experience

Essential

• Experience at Registered Practitioner Band 6 level
• Evidence of risk management skills and experience
• Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

• Liaison Psychiatry service experience

Experience

Essential

• Candidate has the essential experience relevant for post
• Candidate demonstrates an understanding of Service need and delivery

Desirable

• Experience relevant for post

Information Technology

Essential

• Able to analyse data and produce reports using Microsoft Excel and Word
• Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems

Desirable

• Experience of using different electronic patient systems re EPR

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.

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: Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle lane east, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Liaison Psychiatry Matron, Paul Hutchings, [e-mail], 07747020136