Consultant Psychiatrist in Perinatal Psychiatry

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

The posts are in Peterborough City care centre and having satellite clinics in Huntingdon Newtown Centre and Wisbech Agenoria House. The two newly appointed consultant psychiatrists will work together to provide clinical leadership of the North Perinatal Mental Health Team and offer advice, assessment, and treatment for all perinatal patients with severe and complex mental health conditions in the area. Consultants are expected to form close working relationships with local maternity, health visiting mental health champions as well as primary care colleagues and the Primary care Mental Health team. Consultants are expected to foster close working relationships with the local Mother and Baby Units.

The post may be assigned Specialty Trainees or GPVTS Trainees on rotation.

Main duties of the job

1. Provide Clinical leadership and responsibility for provision of a specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team to the north half of the county of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in a job share with the other consultant colleague.
2. Advice, assessment, and management of patients with severe and/or complex mental health conditions in the perinatal period and preconception counselling.
3. Deliver evidence-based treatments and provide expertise in respect to treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
4. Liaise with statutory and non-statutory sector agencies including maternity, social services, primary care and secondary care colleagues.
5. Ensure excellence in and continuity of care including safe and efficient patient records.
6. Contribute to the teaching, training and mentoring of any junior medical staff and in-service training and supervision of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members.
7. Work closely with other consultants to provide appropriate Consultant cover 9 am to 5 pm and for periods of annual/study/special leave during the week.

About us

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at

Job responsibilities

Key Clinical Responsibilities

1. The post holder will provide clinical leadership to the team, contributing to the advice and assessment of perinatal patients referred to the service for diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and support MDT members who carry out assessments of patients in the team.
2. Facilitate accurate diagnosis and timely interventions so that patients and their families receive integrated, evidence-based treatment delivered in a timely manner and in accordance with the recovery model.
3. Provide ongoing treatments to patients that are evidence-based and supported by NICE guidelines, maintaining a bio psychosocial approach.
4. Maintain Section 12(2) status and Approved Clinician status and have comprehensive awareness of Mental Health, Mental Capacity and Care Act legislation.
5. Participate in Mental Health Act assessments when possible.
6. Commit to a multidisciplinary approach to care and actively contribute to MDT meetings and formulation meetings, working in close collaboration with team members, care coordinators, other CPFT services and statutory agencies as required for the care of community patients.
7. Foster close working relationships with key stakeholders in the perinatal pathway, leading the perinatal training programme development locally and contributing to the perinatal training of the workforce.

The service

The Perinatal Mental Health Team (PMHT) is a specialist community mental health team operating in two main locations, Peterborough and Cambridge, to meet local family needs and foster close working relationships with local maternity, health visiting, primary care, and statutory and voluntary organizations. The PMHT is a multidisciplinary team; psychiatrists, psychologists, perinatal clinical nurse specialists, occupational therapists, social workers, nursery nurses, and support workers work together. The PMHT will undergo further expansion in line with NHS England Long term Plan.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications

• Full GMC registration and licence to practice.
• MRCPsych or equivalent.
• Approved Clinician Status or eligible to attend training.

Entry criteria for grade

• Specialty Registration in adult psychiatry.
• CCT in relevant specialty or within 6 months of attainment of Higher Training CCT at time of interview.
• Shall have equivalent experience and competencies recognised by GMC.

Experience

• Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
• Experience of teaching and supervision of doctors in training.
• Experience in the assessment and management of women in the perinatal period in acute and community settings.
• Publications in the field of psychiatry.
• Credential or experience in Perinatal Psychiatry.
• Relevant research experience.

Skills, knowledge and ability

• Knowledge of policy and legislation relating to mental health.
• Ability to take a clinical lead.

Qualities and attributes

• Ability to demonstrate/develop an understanding of service within the wider context of NHS Mental Health Services and PCTs.
• Experience of developing services in a constantly changing environment within tight budgetary restraints.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and 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.