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NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Principal Psychologist - Acute and Crisis (Older)

The closing date is 09 April 2026

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Job summary

Job overview 12 months fixed-term maternity leave cover We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Principal Practitioner Psychologist to join our well-respected and exciting Inpatient and Acute Psychology Service. The team are at the forefront of national developments in inpatient and acute working. We are also actively involved in research and keen to recruit people who share that vision of contributing to best practice, national guidelines and an evidence base. This post will be suitable for someone who has a strong interest in working with multidisciplinary teams, working in crisis settings (inpatient and home treatment services) and a passion for working with older people, their families and carers at a time of crisis. The post holder will join a well-established psychology service for people in crisis and receiving care; the role will involve creative and thoughtful input including offering consultation, training, clinical leadership, supervision and ensuring a high quality service is provided to people in crisis.

Main duties of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder will work under the guidance and leadership of the Professional Lead for Inpatient and Crisis psychological services. This post sits alongside other pathways within the wider crisis psychology service and offers an opportunity for close collaboration and joint working, as well as excellent leadership experience. There will be scope for creativity and contributing directly to the development of the pathway in line with the Crisis psychology teams' values of putting service users, carers and co-production at the centre of what we do and working in a trauma informed way.

About us

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details

Date posted

27 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year Plus HCAs (Pro rata for part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

NLD-000119

Job locations

Goodmayes Hospital

Ilford

Essex

IG3 8XJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

 

Starting with NELFT NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

 

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

 

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

 

Job description

Job responsibilities

 

Starting with NELFT NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

 

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

 

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

 

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Must have doctoral degree in either Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Desirable

  • Must have doctoral degree in either Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supervising trainee psychologists
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Must have doctoral degree in either Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Desirable

  • Must have doctoral degree in either Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supervising trainee psychologists

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.

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Goodmayes Hospital

Ilford

Essex

IG3 8XJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Goodmayes Hospital

Ilford

Essex

IG3 8XJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead

Mina Patel

mina.patel@nelft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

27 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year Plus HCAs (Pro rata for part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

NLD-000119

Job locations

Goodmayes Hospital

Ilford

Essex

IG3 8XJ


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