Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist – Older People
The closing date is 30 June 2026
Join a compassionate and forward-looking Liaison Psychiatry Service at Peterborough City Hospital, where you will play a key role in improving care for older adults with complex mental and physical health needs. This substantive part‑time Consultant post (3 sessions) offers the opportunity to provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and evidence‑based treatment for patients aged 65 and over within a busy general hospital setting. You will work alongside experienced colleagues in a supportive multidisciplinary team and contribute to high‑quality, integrated care across organisations. The role also includes cross‑cover for Old Age Consultant colleagues at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, offering valuable variety and wider system working. There is flexibility to shape the post around the successful applicant's skills, experience, and interests, making this an excellent opportunity to build a rewarding and sustainable portfolio career. There may also be scope to increase sessions in the future.
Main duties of the job
* Provide clinical leadership to the Liaison Psychiatry Service focused on the assessment, diagnosis and evidence‑based treatment of patients with psychiatric and psychological comorbidity in the general hospital.
* Work collaboratively with CPFT and NWAFT colleagues to ensure high quality, integrated care for patients.
* 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.
* Participate in clinical audit as relevant to service need.
* Work in accordance with Trust and service policies and guidelines.
* Lead a programme for the training and support of staff in NWAFT.
* Provide clinical supervision for postgraduate psychiatry trainees, foundation doctors, and GP trainees.
* Engage in teaching and supervising Cambridge University psychiatry medical students on placement in LPS.
* Maintain CPD activities.
* Support the broader CPFT research endeavour where possible.
* Ensure good medical standing for CPD, up‑to‑date practice in line with GMC Good Medical Practice Guidelines and evidence for 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
* Provide a Liaison Psychiatry Service focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of older adults with psychiatric and psychological comorbidity in the general hospital.
* Lead teaching and support to acute hospital colleagues.
* Make accurate diagnostic formulations and record these in the notes.
* Deliver evidence‑based treatments.
* Liaise with statutory and non‑statutory sector agencies concerning the treatment and management of patients.
* Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date clinical records.
* Work closely with other consultants to provide appropriate cover across sites for weekday daytime, 9 am to 5 pm and for periods of annual/study/special leave.
* Ensure efficient and cost‑effective service delivery while adhering to high quality, evidence‑based practice.
* Contribute to the teaching, training and mentoring of junior medical staff and other team members.
* Support audit, research, and service development.
* Ensure good medical standing for CPD, up‑to‑date practice, and evidence for annual appraisal.
* Participate in clinical audit.
* Work with the clinical and management team to achieve key performance indicators set for the service.
* Contribute to the collection and monitoring of clinical outcome data.
* Participate in administration of patient information systems and ensure data entry in accordance with CPFT policies and guidance.
* Provide cross‑cover for the old‑age consultant liaison psychiatrist in Hinchingbrooke Hospital during periods of leave.
* When only one consultant is available, take stock of the caseload, nursing cover and resident doctor availability and base at the most appropriate site, providing telephone advice as needed.
* Incorporate SPA time in line with NHSE job planning guidance (0.75 DCC to 0.25 SPA). On occasion, service needs may require the consultant to be on site and working clinically at times that might otherwise be used for off‑site SPA work.
* Work with clinical colleagues, the Service Manager and Directorate Leadership team to ensure efficient, cost‑effective and high‑quality service delivery.
* Adhere to Service Operating Policy, CPFT policies and guidelines.
* Contribute to broader teaching initiatives where possible (e.g., medical undergraduates, MRCPsych).
* Provide supervision of resident doctors on site in all but exceptional circumstances.
* Support the broader CPFT research endeavour with colleagues in Psychological Medicine.
* Leverage opportunities for research and collaboration with University Departments and MRC Units.
* Be aware of and act within local and national protocols and be actively involved in clinical governance.
* Escalate concerns and report incidents appropriately.
* Be accountable to Clinical Director for Adult and Specialist Services, and to Trust Board through the Trust Medical Director.
* Job Plans are reviewed with the LPS Clinical Lead, Job Planning Lead and Associate Clinical Director.
* Participate in annual appraisal under Medical Director supervision and arrange suitable mentor.
* All consultants, unless health reasons or exceptional circumstances, are required to contribute to the rota.
* Two consultant rotas are in operation: North and South, both approximately 1 in 22 WTE.
* New consultants may discuss phased lead‑in to on‑call commitments with Clinical Director.
Person Specification
Education / Qualification
* 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 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 / Ability / Knowledge
* Ability to work in a multi‑disciplinary team.
* Good interpersonal skills.
* Enquiring, critical approach to work.
* Caring attitude to patients.
* Effective communication with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies.
* Understanding of service context within wider NHS developments.
* Effective teachers and trainers, guided by own continuing education and training.
* Experience delivering and developing services in a constantly changing environment and tight budgetary restraints.
Equality
* Demonstrate understanding of acceptance and commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunities.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
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