Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist in Working Age Adults
The closing date is 30 June 2026
Join a dynamic Liaison Psychiatry Service at Peterborough City Hospital, where you will have the opportunity to make a real difference to patients with complex mental and physical health needs. This substantive part‑time Consultant post (4 sessions) offers the chance to work primarily with adults aged 17 to 65, providing expert assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in a fast‑paced general hospital setting. We are particularly keen to hear from consultants with dual training in adult and older adult psychiatry, who can also bring valuable input to older adult care and provide cross‑cover for colleagues. The role offers flexibility and can be shaped around the successful applicant’s skills, interests, and experience, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a rewarding portfolio within a supportive and collaborative team. There may also be scope to increase sessions in the future.
Main duties of the job
- To provide clinical leadership to the Liaison Psychiatry Service focussed on the assessment, diagnosis and evidence‑based treatment of patients with psychiatric and psychological co‑morbidities in the general hospital.
- To work collaboratively with CPFT and NWAFT colleagues to ensure high quality, integrated care for patients.
- To work with CPFT and NWAFT to achieve agreed performance targets including the collection and monitoring of clinical outcome data across the service for service development and commissioning purposes.
- To participate in clinical audit as relevant to service needs.
- To work in accordance with Trust and service policies and guidelines.
- To lead a programme for the training and support of staff in NWAFT.
- To provide clinical supervision for post‑graduate psychiatry trainees, foundation doctors, and GP trainees.
- To engage in teaching and supervising Cambridge University psychiatry medical students on placement in LPS.
- To maintain CPD activities.
- To support the broader CPFT research endeavour where possible.
- The post‑holder will ensure that they are in good medical standing for CPD, that their practice is up‑to‑date and in line with the GMC’s Good Medical Practice Guidelines and will be able to evidence this for the purposes of annual appraisal.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high‑quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life. Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children’s, adult and older people’s mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under‑represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Job responsibilities
Key Clinical Responsibilities
Along with LPS colleagues, to provide a Liaison Psychiatry Service focussed on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of working‑age adults with psychiatric and psychological co‑morbidities in the general hospital. Where needed, to provide input for services for older adults in conjunction with Old Age consultant colleagues. To take a lead in providing teaching and support to acute hospital colleagues. To make accurate diagnostic formulations and record these in the notes. To deliver evidence‑based treatments. To liaise with statutory and non‑statutory sector agencies concerning the treatment and management of patients. To maintain accurate and up‑to‑date clinical records. To work closely with other consultants to provide appropriate Consultant cover across sites for weekday daytime, 9 am to 5 pm and for periods of annual/study/special leave. With the broader team, to ensure that the service is run in an efficient and cost‑effective manner whilst adhering to high quality, evidence‑based practice. To contribute to the teaching, training and mentoring of any junior medical staff and, where appropriate, of other team members. To support audit, research, and service development. The post‑holder will ensure that they are in good medical standing for CPD, that their practice is up‑to‑date and in line with the GMC’s Good Medical Practice Guidelines and will be able to evidence this for the purposes of annual appraisal.
Administration
Work with the clinical and management team to achieve the key performance indicators set for the service. Contribute to the collection and monitoring of clinical outcome data. Participate in the administration of patient information systems and ensure that data are entered in accordance with CPFT policies and guidance.
Management
Work with clinical colleagues, the Service Manager and Directorate Leadership team to ensure that the service works in an efficient and cost‑effective manner whilst delivering high quality, evidence‑based care. Work in accordance with the team’s Service Operating Policy. Work in accordance with CPFT policies and guidelines.
Teaching
To contribute to the teaching, training and mentoring of any junior medical staff and, where appropriate, of other team members. To contribute to broader teaching initiatives where possible e.g., medical undergraduates, MRCPsych, etc.
Research
The post‑holder is expected, with colleagues in Psychological Medicine, to support the broader CPFT research endeavour. CPFT offers unrivalled opportunities for research and for collaboration with University Departments and MRC Units. A wide range of research is currently conducted by the University Department of Psychiatry and by NHS staff.
Clinical Governance
The post‑holder will be aware of, and act within, locally and nationally agreed protocols and will be actively involved in clinical governance within the service. The post‑holder will ensure any issues of concern are appropriately escalated and that any incidents are appropriately reported.
Accountability
The post holder will be accountable to Clinical Director for Adult and Specialist Services. Professional accountability is to the Trust Board through the Trust Medical Director.
Job Planning & Appraisal
Job Plans are reviewed with the LPS Clinical Lead, Job Planning Lead and Associate Clinical Director. Consultants are required to take part in the annual appraisal process under the supervision of the Medical Director. Consultants are also encouraged to arrange a suitable mentor.
On-call
All consultants, unless there are health reasons or exceptional circumstances, are required to contribute to the rota. Two consultant rotas are in operation: North and South. They are both approximately 1 in 22 WTE. Consultants undertaking their first appointment may discuss with the Clinical Director regarding a phased lead in to on call commitments.
Liaison Psychiatry Service, Peterborough City Hospital
Peterborough City Hospital is a 612‑bed district general hospital. The Liaison Psychiatry Service covers inpatient and emergency areas and provides services 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The team includes experienced B7 clinical nurse specialists, admin support and a team manager shared with the Hinchingbrooke team. The team usually also includes at least one resident doctor. The successful applicant will work as part of a team of general adult and old age psychiatrists working across the Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke sites.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
- Full GMC registration and licence to practice
- MRCPsych or equivalent
- Postgraduate Thesis
Experience
- CCT in general adult psychiatry or within 6 months of attainment of Higher Training CCT at time of interview.
- Approved Clinician Status or eligible to attend training.
- Experience in the assessment and management of patients in acute medical setting including experience of working with older adults.
- Relevant research experience.
- Endorsement or equivalent experience in Liaison Psychiatry.
- Dual training in Old Age and Adult psychiatry.
- Endorsement in Substance misuse psychiatry.
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the context of the service within the wider landscape of the current NHS.
- Candidates need to be effective teachers and trainers and also be able to guide their own continuing education and training.
- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies.
- Experience of delivering and developing services in a constantly changing environment and to tight budgetary restraints would be an advantage.
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.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
£113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum pro rata
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