Trust Locum Liaison Consultant Psychiatrist

Trust Locum Liaison Consultant Psychiatrist

The closing date is 09 March 2026

This vacancy is a 10 PA locum post in Liaison Psychiatry (Hospital Mental Health Team at St James Hospital) based at Becklin Centre, for 6 months from 1 April 2026, with the potential for extension. You will work as part of a multi disciplinary team providing input to the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust at St James University Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The appointee will be based at the Becklin Centre. This post will cover a vacancy in the department while substantive posts are considered. The post holder's job plan will be dedicated to the Hospital Mental Team (HMHT). The HMHT receives between 3 to 4 referrals each day from the general hospital wards. A team meeting is held each morning so that the referrals can be managed and allocated effectively. The consultants normally lead in allocating new assessments and follow-up reviews between themselves and the rest of the team. Referrals are prioritised at the point of referral and those that are deemed to be urgent have to be discussed with one of the liaison consultants. The post holder will be expected to provide direct assessments for complex cases as well as supervision to other team members as required. This will typically equate to the postholder undertaking 2 to 3 new patient assessments and 4 to 6 follow-up/review assessments per week. The postholder would not be expected to carry a caseload. The postholder will be required to carry out Mental Health Act work as required in the general hospital.

About us

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Job responsibilities

This is a consultant liaison psychiatrist post. Clinically, the postholder will work with the Hospital Mental Health Team (HMHT) and provide medical leadership and medical expertise to the MDT and ensure that patients referred from general hospital wards are assessed and managed appropriately. This is an opportunity to work in one of the most comprehensive Liaison Psychiatry services in the country alongside several other Liaison Psychiatrists.

The HMHT receives between 3 to 4 referrals each day from the general hospital wards. A team meeting is held each morning so that the referrals can be managed and allocated effectively. The consultants normally lead in allocating new assessments and follow-up reviews between themselves and the rest of the team. Referrals are prioritised at the point of referral and those that are deemed to be urgent have to be discussed with one of the liaison consultants. The post holder will be expected to provide direct assessments for complex cases as well as supervision to other team members as required, this will typically equate to the postholder undertaking 2 to 3 new patient assessments and 4 to 6 follow-up/review assessments per week. The postholder would not be expected to carry a caseload.

Person Specification CCT or equivalent in General Adult Psychiatry

• Completion of formal training programme in General Adult Psychiatry, on GMC specialist register for psychiatry

Endorsement in liaison psychiatry, or at least one year experience of liaison psychiatry

• Endorsement in liaison psychiatry seen on GMC register, or at least one year experience of liaison psychiatry in training or non training role

Ability to fulfil responsibilities of approved clinician

• To be approved under s12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and hold Approved Clinician status as defined within the Mental Health Act by commencement of post

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.