Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Older Persons Mental Health

Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Older Persons Mental Health

We are inviting applicants for the post of Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Older Persons Mental Health. This is a permanent, full time (10 PA) post, with an optional 1 SPA working a 1 in 12 rota - Monday to Friday 5pm to 9pm and then Saturday 9am to Monday 9am. However, we would consider offering a part time, 8 PA position.

The post holder will provide community care to older adults in the Taunton, West Somerset & Exmoor National Park areas. This Consultant post relates to the Older Person's CMHTs and Memory Services Teams based at the Barnfield Unit in Minehead and Foundation House in Taunton. The community mental health teams and memory services provide psychiatric community care to patients over the age of 65. The West Somerset area covers 8 GP practices and equates to approximately 11000 patients over the age of 65 (CCG figures December 2017). There is also a much smaller group of patients under 65 years of age, with primary dementias who are also cared for by the older adults' community mental health team.

There is an emphasis on members of the CMHT seeing the majority of initial assessments with a day time duty rota dealing with urgent referrals.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• Provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health needs of community patients in their community area;
• Work closely with the community teams to provide effective multidisciplinary collaborative care: this will include availability for consultation, regularly attending team meetings and providing case discussion and advice at the request of team members and/or team managers;
• Act as Responsible Clinician for community patients subject to a compulsory treatment order under the Mental Health Act; (CTOs)
• Undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care (including those detained under S136);
• Provide Mental Capacity Act s49 reports for patients in their community area.

About us

As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development. You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.

We really value the impact that you as a Consultant will have on our patients and services; we therefore may be able to offer a relocation package (subject to criteria) which includes:

• Welcome to Somerset Foundation Trust Payment
• Relocation Assistance

We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London. There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!

Job responsibilities

The Clinical Role

There is an emphasis on members of the CMHT seeing the majority of initial assessments with a day time duty rota dealing with urgent referrals. This helps to minimise consultant emergency work and keeps their individual community caseload at a manageable size. The CMHT will seek advice from the post holder in order to guide management for the patient; this is achieved through formal team meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions with the team when required.

Staff from within the memory assessment service currently see all initial referrals; these are discussed with the consultant and a decision is made as to who is best placed to see the patient for further assessment and treatment. We are encouraging colleagues in primary care to make memory assessments in less complex cases and the post holder will be expected to work with colleagues in primary care in order to advise and support these diagnoses.

The post holder will hold regular clinics in Minehead and Taunton, as well as undertaking domiciliary visits when required.

The community mental health teams are part of wider integrated teams. Each team is collocated with staff from district nursing and the integrated rehabilitation team (community OT and Physiotherapists). These links are very helpful when managing a patient from a holistic viewpoint. The links will also allow the post holder to work towards closer integration between physical and mental health care, as well as primary and secondary care. Being collocated with this team allows for a free flow of advice and ideas between the services.

Transfers from general adult services to older adults are made in discussion between the teams, and with the patient and their carer. Our aim is that the right treatment is delivered by the right people at all times.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to the above mentioned responsibilities, the post holder will:

• Provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust;
• Work collaboratively with inpatient staff to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the wards;
• Join a peer group for CPD purposes: this can be a Trust group or other local peer group depending on the post holder's preference;
• Identify areas for personal development, that will allow the post holder to improve the care they provide;
• Maintain good standing for Continuing Professional Development (CPD); the Trust actively encourages continuing professional development and appropriate study leave and expenses will be supported by the Trust (up to 30 days study leave every three years);
• Undertake annual appraisal and job plan reviews;
• Develop the services around them, in collaboration with management and other team members to continue to improve patient care;
• Participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case based discussion;
• Provide mutual cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff;
• Fulfil the duties agreed in the job plan;
• Comply with all Trust policies;
• Work within the financial and other constraints decided upon by the Trust.

Person Specification Qualifications

• On GMC specialist register or within 6 months of CCST
• S12/approved clinician status
• Accredited clinical/educational supervisor
• Further professional qualification e.g. masters

Knowledge

• Significant experience of assessment care of older adults
• Knowledge of MHA/MCA
• Wide range of specialist and subspecialist experience in NHS
• Formal leadership development or qualification
• Experience of QI or service development with older adults

Skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational and time management skills
• Research and/or journal publications
• Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience

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.