Job Description

HMP Bullingdon is seeking an experienced and dedicated Acting Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist to lead our Mental Health Team. This pivotal role offers an exceptional opportunity to provide clinical leadership and strategic oversight within a challenging and rewarding environment.



As the Acting Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality forensic psychiatric care to a diverse prison population, leading a multidisciplinary team, and contributing to the development and delivery of mental health services within the prison.



The post holder will join the Forensic Consultant on-call rota. The current frequency of on-calls is 1 in 13.5, category A, low frequency, banded at 3.0%. The on-call rota attracts an additional 0.25PA payment for work done out of hours, mainly seclusion reviews at weekends. The on-call rota is exclusively for Forensic Psychiatry and covers the Thames Valley region.



The successful applicant will play a pivotal role in the ongoing expansion and enhancement of mental health services at HMP Bullingdon. Working alongside another experienced consultant forensic psychiatrist, you will be an integral part of a well-established and multidisciplinary Mental Health Team dedicated to delivering exceptional care.



You will lead the care of prisoners receiving treatment and support from the integrated Mental Health Team (MHT), providing comprehensive psychiatric assessment and treatment both on the residential wings and within the healthcare unit. This will include initiating transfers to psychiatric hospitals when clinically necessary and managing the safe return of patients to the prison once hospital treatment is complete.



As most prisoners at HMP Bullingdon are from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, transfers will frequently be made to psychiatric units within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.



In addition, you will liaise closely with general adult and community forensic mental health teams to ensure smooth, well-coordinated transitions between prison and community services, supporting continuity of care.



Cross-cover arrangements are in place with other Forensic Consultants based in prisons or across the wider Thames Valley region, fostering collaborative working and shared clinical responsibility in this dynamic environment.



The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service (TVFMHS) provides treatment in a range of inpatient settings across the region (Oxford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes). The service also inputs into local prisons and provides services for the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway in the community.



Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust holds a lead role across the whole South-Central Region, as part of the Thames Valley and Wessex Provider Collaborative.



The Bullingdon Mental Health Team is experienced and tight knit. This vacancy would suit a newly qualified Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with an interest in prison psychiatry, a higher trainee within six months of their CCT date or a more experienced candidate. Free parking is available on site at both the Oxford Clinic and HMP Bullingdon, along with a staff restaurant. Annual leave starts at 30 days a year plus bank holidays.



Management



As part of the Forensic Service leadership, the post holder will work collaboratively with consultant colleagues to ensure the smooth and effective running of the service. This will involve active engagement with the management structures within both the Division and the wider Trust, fostering a supportive and well-coordinated clinical environment.



Supervision



For those interested and suitably approved, there is the exciting opportunity to supervise psychiatric trainees. The Thames Valley Higher Forensic Training Scheme offers six national training numbers, including a dual Forensic and CAMHS post. The current Forensic Training Programme Director, Dr. Hasanen Al Taiar, along with the Director of Medical Education, Dr. Alastair Reid, provide excellent leadership and support for trainee development within the scheme.



Education and Training



Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is a proud teaching Trust with strong, close ties to Oxford University. The Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, based at the Warneford Hospital, is internationally renowned for its medical teaching and cutting-edge research. More information can be found on their [website](https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/).



The post holder will be encouraged to actively engage in training programmes and teaching sessions. There are also opportunities to contribute to wider training events within the Division. Medical students frequently visit HMP Bullingdon, and the Consultant may play a vital role in educating and supporting multi-disciplinary staff development.



Continuing Professional Development, Mentorship, and Induction



Ongoing professional development is essential, and the Trust fully supports consultants in maintaining their Royal College CPD requirements, including access to study leave and funding for conferences. The post holder will participate in Trust consultant meetings, audits, and academic events, maintaining continuous professional growth through membership of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) group and annual appraisal.



New consultants benefit from a structured induction programme and are supported through mentorship, with suitable mentors nominated to guide and support them.



Forensic psychiatry consultants hold monthly peer supervision sessions on Wednesdays and quarterly reviews of PDPs--an excellent forum for professional support and collaboration, which the successful applicant will be invited to join.



Additionally, the Forensic Psychiatry Academic Programme runs on Wednesday afternoons during Oxford University term time, featuring visiting speakers and rich academic content. The post holder is expected to contribute actively here, as well as participate in the broad programme hosted by the Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital on Tuesday mornings.



Research and Audit



The post holder will contribute to service-related audit projects, working alongside the multidisciplinary team and Trust audit department to continually improve care quality.



The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service (TVFMHS) is committed to expanding academic forensic mental health in partnership with Oxford University. This role offers exciting opportunities to collaborate on research projects with the forensic psychiatry department at the Warneford Hospital, under the leadership of Professor Seena Fazel.



Mental Health Act Assessments



The Consultant will be expected to obtain Section 12(2) approval under the Mental Health Act. The Trust provides full support for acquiring Section 12 approval and Approved Clinician status if required.



Job Planning



The post holder will engage in annual job planning with the Forensic Associate Medical Director, ensuring the role is tailored collaboratively to reflect clinical and professional interests. Any changes to the job plan will be negotiated bilaterally. Annual appraisal will be conducted as part of the Trust's appraisal process, supporting readiness for revalidation.



The exact timetable will be agreed upon with the Clinical Lead, with an expected ratio of 7.5 sessions of direct clinical care to 2.5 sessions dedicated to Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) on a pro-rata basis. SPA time may include special interest clinical work, CPD, peer group activities, teaching, supervision, governance, audit, service development, management, business planning, research, and academic involvement.