Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking Consultant Psychiatrist who is also a Mental Health Act Approved Clinician and has completed training or gained experience working within a Forensic Mental Health Service to join our clinical team in Ash ward.
This is for a full time (10 PA) permanent position.
Applications/Expressions of Interest are also welcome from:
Consultant Psychologists, Consultant Nurses, Consultant Social Workers or Consultant Occupational Therapists, who are also a Mental Health Act Approved Clinician and have completed training or have gained experience working within a Forensic Mental Health Service. A detailed job description is available upon request.
Main duties of the job
Please see job description for full details of essential person specifications required for both positions. Ash Ward is part of Somerset Foundation NHS Foundation Trust Forensic Services providing support for those in Somerset who experience mental health difficulties and are in contact with the criminal justice system or who present with significant risks to others. This developing service comprises a number of teams including:
1. A Community Forensic Team -- providing Forensic advice and support to community mental health services and non secure inpatient settings.
2. A Specialist Community Mental Health Team (SCFT) who hold responsibility for Gatekeeping / admission avoidance into secure care and provide key working for patients within secure care settings across the South West Provider collaborative region.
Somerset Foundation Trust Forensic Services also provide the following:
1. A Liaison and Diversion Service within police Custody, locally named ASCC - (Advice and Support in Custody and Court).
2. An OPD (Offender Personality disorder) Pathway in conjunction with probation services.
The service is actively considering full time working over four days to enhance the working lives of consultants. We will also consider partly remote working again to ensure the wellbeing of our consultants.
This 1.0 WTE consultant post has the following DCC/SPA split:
DCC 7.5
SPA 1.5
Additional SPA time will be negotiable, subject to additional roles and responsibilities the successful candidate may wish to pursue.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
* Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
* NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
* Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
* A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset?
Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Date posted: 11 April 2025
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £105,504 to £139,882 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 184-OL-MED-FAM-2240
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL DUTIES
The post holder is expected to provide the following:
1. Provide clinical leadership to the Ash ward Team either through direct responsibility arising from the direct clinical involvement or distributed responsibility for the care of individuals whose care is distributed amongst other professionals.
2. Maintain AC/RC responsibilities for any patients in the community who remain under the framework of the MHA and act as the liaison with the Ministry of Justice if and when that is necessary.
3. Work with other senior clinical team members to ensure that colleagues understand the professional status and specialty of all team members, their roles and responsibilities in the team, and who is responsible for each aspect of patient care.
4. Communicate effectively with colleagues within and outside the team; ensuring that arrangements are in place for relevant information to be passed on to the team promptly.
5. Work with other senior clinical team members to set up and maintain systems to identify and manage risks in the team's area of responsibility.
6. To record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively, and submit this promptly to the Information Department.
7. To participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.
8. The list is not exhaustive and there will be a significant opportunity for the successful post holder to help shape the role further.
OUT-OF-HOURS ON-CALL DUTIES:
The post-holder can opt to join the senior out-of-hours on-call rota subject to availability. Duties include senior medical and RC cover for the inpatient wards and S12 MHA work both in Trust premises and in the community.
This is a 1 in 10 rota operating 5pm to 9am on weekdays; at weekends the rota operates from 9am on Saturday morning to 9am on Monday morning.
This rota provides senior medical cover including Responsible Clinician duties to all the in-patient wards in the Trust except the child and adolescent ward (Wessex House). It therefore covers inpatient services for adults of working age, older people, the PICU, and the rehabilitation and low secure inpatient services.
The senior on-call rota also involves MHA assessments in inpatient wards, the two Hospital Place of Safety suites, and in the community.
The rota attracts a payment of 1.25 PA (for the S12 component) and a 3% salary enhancement for the RC / senior medical cover for inpatient wards. Section fees are also paid for assessments.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
* MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
* Mental Health Act Approved Clinician / Section 12 approval
* Entry on GMC Specialist Register; eligible for entry on Register or within 6 months of receipt of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) at time of interview or CESR
* Evidence of competencies to be able to fulfil the role of a consultant in forensic psychiatry
* MRCPsych passed
Non Medical
* A professional mental health qualification e.g. RMN, CQSW, BSc/Diploma in OT, SROT, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, ENB 811/812 or CPN Degree
* A current registration with a professional body (ie NMC; HCPC)
* Trained and registered as an Approved Clinician
Desirable
* Accredited for the training of junior doctors
* Postgraduate thesis
* Qualifications specific to forensic psychiatry
* Endorsement in forensic psychiatry
* Dual accreditation in forensic and general adult psychiatry
Experience Essential
* Clinical training and experience required for gaining UK CCT or CESR including widespread and detailed experience of liaison psychiatry
* Ability to offer expert clinical advice and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
Additional Criteria Essential
* Please see job description for full details of essential person specifications required for both positions
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: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Broadway House, Broadway Park, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5LX
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/
#J-18808-Ljbffr