Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry

Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the post of Consultant Psychiatrist on Chichester House, a low secure rehabilitation unit within the Langdon Hospital campus. This is a full-time post based at Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, Devon.

The Forensic Service at Langdon Hospital under Devon Partnership NHS Trust provides an inpatient and consultation liaison service for the 1.5 million population of Devon and Cornwall. There are currently 8 substantive consultant psychiatrists/nurse consultants within the Forensic Directorate. You will be joining a very supportive and friendly consultant peer group which meets on a weekly basis. Chichester House has an established nursing team including an acting ward manager, occupational therapist and OT assistants, a Specialty doctor, a dedicated ward social worker, ward psychologist and assistant psychologist, pharmacist, sports and activity workers and site GP.

We would love to hear from you if you are an enthusiastic and forward-thinking consultant willing to take a leading clinical role in our forensic inpatient mental health services. Personal values and a patient-centred approach are of utmost importance to the peer group.

Main duties of the job

Chichester House is a 15-bed low secure ward for patients with significant mental health needs and a history of violence, mainly stepped down from Dewnans Centre's medium secure ward. It also admits patients from other MSUs, LSU providers, general adult wards, PICUs, and prisons. The Consultant Psychiatrist will lead a multi-disciplinary team and provide forensic psychiatric liaison and assessment for Devon and Cornwall residents in high secure hospitals, prisons, local psychiatric units, and independent facilities.

Main duties include leading and coordinating care for 15 male patients, attending daily zoning meetings, weekly care and risk review meetings, operational management meetings, and HCR-20 meetings. The post holder will prepare reports, provide oral evidence to Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers' hearings, and liaise with the Ministry of Justice, courts, probation, and MAPPA. The role also involves supervising ward doctors, core trainees, and higher trainees, with opportunities for teaching, research, and quality improvement. The post holder will have support from a friendly peer group, meeting formally weekly.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part-time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Teaching and Supervision

• Experience of teaching undergraduates and postgraduates.
• Evidence of additional teaching skills.
• Experience as a lecturer or supervisor.
• Experience in Clinical Supervision.

Aptitudes and Values

• Evidence of ability to exercise leadership in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other clinical teams.
• A commitment to respect, inclusiveness and diversity.
• A team player able to inspire and support staff at all levels of training and across professional disciplines.
• A commitment to continuing professional development.
• A commitment to multidisciplinary and multi-agency working.
• Evidence of new ideas in service delivery.
• A track record of implementing service initiatives.
• A track record of team leadership or collaboration with other agencies.

Research

• Ability to interpret published research and to apply research findings to clinical practice.
• Aptitude for and practical experience of research.

Experience

• Prior experience working in an Inpatient Mental Health Team.
• Experience of psychiatric practice in a range of settings, especially the community.
• Experience of audit and an understanding of the principles of clinical governance.
• Evidence of development of special interest in Inpatient & Forensic based Psychiatry.

Qualifications

• Full Registration with the General Medical Council.
• To hold Approved Clinician status at the point of taking up post.
• Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register or within 6 months of CCT at time of interview.
• Approved under section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983.
• CCT/CESR in forensic Psychiatry.

Management

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and managers.
• Awareness of NHS management and funding arrangements.
• Management training / experience.
• Experience of involvement in service development.

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.