Consultant Clinical Psychologist - Older Adult Acute Pathway

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist to become the strategic and professional Lead for Older People Psychology across the Acute Care Pathway within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Key Areas of Oversight

• Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) for Older People
• Older People Inpatient Services (including functional and dementia/organic inpatient care, therapeutic milieu, discharge planning)
• Older Adult Liaison Psychiatry

Responsibilities

As a senior clinician with substantial post‑qualification experience, you will provide a high level of expertise across acute mental health services, overseeing and coordinating service development and the delivery of psychological assessment and interventions in line with best practice and the evidence base.

You will provide clinical, professional and strategic leadership in delivering a high quality psychology service for older people within the acute pathway, ensuring psychologically informed crisis responses, supporting admission avoidance where appropriate, and strengthening discharge planning and transitions.

You will embed psychologically informed and trauma‑informed approaches across acute services, creating and developing a multi‑professional therapeutic environment within the Well‑Established Psychology Speciality Clinical Network for older people.

Your line management responsibilities will include recruitment, appraisal, CPD planning and workforce development for a team of senior psychologists, including Highly Specialist Psychologists within the Liaison Psychiatry Older Adult Team, CRHTT specialists and the Inpatient Psychology Team (Specialist Psychologists, a Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology, a Specialist Clinician and an Assistant Psychologist).

The role involves policy development, service improvements, and working collaboratively with senior leadership teams to deliver pathway changes and service developments.