Job Description

The closing date is 2nd Jun 2025

Job summary

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We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking Consultant Psychiatrist who is also a Mental Health Act Approved Clinician and have completed training or have 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. For which a detailed job description is available upon request.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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Please see job description for full details of essential person specifications required for both positionAsh 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:


A Community Forensic Team - providing Forensic advice and support to community mental health services and non secure inpatient settings.


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 setting across the South West Provider collaborative region.


Somerset Foundation Trust Forensic Services also provide the following:


A Liaison and Diversion Service within police Custody, locally named ASCC - (Advice and Support in Custody and Court )


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 with 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.

Job description

-------------------


CLINICAL DUTIES


The post holder is expected to provide the following:


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.


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.


work with other senior clinical team members to make sure 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


work with other senior clinical team members to make sure make sure that staff are clear about their individual and team objectives, their personal and collective responsibilities for patient and public safety, and for openly and honestly recording and discussing problems


communicate effectively with colleagues within and outside the team; making sure that arrangements are in place for relevant information to be passed on to the team promptly


work with other senior clinical team members to make sure that all team members have an opportunity to contribute to discussions and that they understand and accept the decisions taken


work with other senior clinical team members to make sure that each patient's care is properly coordinated and managed, and that patients are given information about whom to contact if they have questions or concerns; this is particularly important when patient care is shared between teams


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


work with other senior clinical team members to make sure that your team and the organisation have the opportunity to learn from mistakes.


to record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively, and submit this promptly to the Information Department.


to participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.


The list is not exhaustive and there will be a significant opportunity for the successful post holder to help shape the role further.


Special interests can be developed through discussion and agreement in job plan review meetings.


There are no external duties, however, these would be considered through job planning if necessary.


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 (Rydon 1 and 2 Wards in Taunton, Rowan Wards 1 + 2 in Yeovil), older people (Pyrland Ward in Taunton), the PICU (Holford Ward in Taunton), and the rehabilitation and low secure inpatient services (Willow and Ash Wards respectively in Bridgwater). Hence it includes duties for patients within the following specialties: general adult, CAMHS, old age, rehabilitation and learning disability.


The senior on-call rota also involves MHA assessments in inpatient wards, the two Hospital Place of Safety suites (located in Yeovil and Taunton), the district general and community hospitals, police custody centres and also 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 (excluding current Trust inpatients);


The rota is frequently supported by senior trainees who accept calls before the consultant, but require consultant supervision and stop work at midnight;


Assessments in the Hospital Place of Safety are not routinely undertaken at night for patients arriving after 1am (at the discretion of the nurse in charge).

Person specification

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Qualifications

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Essential

Medical


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

Medical


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


Non Medical


Masters level qualification in health / social care or demonstrable equivalent experience, supplemented by specialist training and/or experience to doctorate level or equivalent


Advanced physical healthcare assessment qualification


Independent and supplementary prescribing qualification


Therapeutic psychological interventions qualification


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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


Ability to take full 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 position


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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.


###

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.


From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.


###

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.


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For help with your application, contact:

Sathya Cherukuri


Sathya.Cherukuri@SomersetFT.nhs.uk




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Pay scheme

Hospital Medical and Dental


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Band

Consultant


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Salary

105504.00 to 139882.00 Yearly
###

Contract

Permanent


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Working pattern

Full-Time


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Reference number

184-OL-MED-FAM-2240


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Job locations

Broadway House

Broadway Park

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5LX