Principal Clinical Psychologist

Overview

The post holder(s) will provide specialist assessment and intervention within a physical health context, including psychology across hospital specialties (e.g., gastroenterology, diabetes, respiratory, dementia/frailty, and pain) and supporting secondary care mental health presentations (e.g., complex personality disorder). The role offers opportunities to engage in service development, teaching/training, and consultation across the acute care context. This is a full-time post for a Lead Clinical Psychologist within the Mental Health Liaison Service at a general hospital, with a focus on integrated care and a fast-paced, innovative environment.

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and intervention for clients with complex needs in a physical health context.
• Deliver psychology services across hospital specialties and support with secondary care mental health presentations.
• Lead and contribute to service development initiatives, teaching/training, and clinical consultation within the acute care setting.
• Plan own workload and coordinate with relevant staff to deliver an integrated clinical service.

• HCPC registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist with at least 4 years post-qualification experience in mental health (preferably in acute settings).
• Experience of integrated care and physical health presentations, or working with older people and frailty is advantageous.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, or fully completed training as a Counselling Psychologist.
• Full-time post-registration experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment with clients with complex needs.
• Desirable: related academic qualifications to masters or doctorate level; post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice.

• Experience of working with moderate to severe mental health problems, including medically unexplained symptoms, physical health problems, and personality difficulties.
• Experience of working within MHLT or acute services; ability to exercise full clinical responsibility for client’s psychological care and treatment.
• Ability to plan workload and coordinate with staff to deliver clinical services.
• Familiarity with computing technology, word-processing, email, and internet software; good presentation and teaching skills with use of multimedia materials for large group presentations.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. The organization is Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT), an Outstanding Provider of Mental Health Services. The Mental Health Liaison Service integrates physical and mental health care in a general hospital setting, aiming to provide a multidisciplinary approach to co-morbid mental and physical health difficulties. HPFT employs around 4,500 staff across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering services within the community and inpatient settings, and offers a range of nationally commissioned specialised services.