Job Description

The closing date is 31st Jul 2025

Job summary

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We are looking for a Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry to join our dedicated team at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust


This is a permanent, full time (10 PA per week) position. Working Monday to Friday. There is an optional 1:11 on call, subject to availability. This can be discussed at interview stage


The post holder will be working across both our Musgrove park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital sites providing providing input and having clinical responsibility for the care of patients who are attending due to mental health conditions, as well as patients that are admitted to our wards for psychiatric input or advice


Start your journey in making a difference and apply today. We look forward to receiving your application

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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This is a replacement post forming half of a team of 2.8WTE PLT consultants providing input into Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil Hospital as a split role. The appointee will have clinical responsibility for the care of patients who are attending Musgrove Park hospital (MPH) and Yeovil Hospital (YH) due to mental health concerns, as well as for patients admitted to the wards at MPH and YH for requiring psychiatric input or advice.


This is a 1.0 WTE consultant post with the following DCC/SPA split:


DCC 7.5


SPA 2.5


On call requirement: optional - 1.11, which attracts an additional 1.25 APA and 3% on call supplement

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

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


The post holder is expected to provide the following:

To support the existing staff in the assessment, diagnosis and management of referrals for adults presenting with mental health problems in Musgrove Park Hospital (MPH) as well as Yeovil Hospital (YH) To provide medical expertise and support to MPH and YH staff involved in looking after patients with functional and organic mental health problems presenting in the acute hospital. The Consultant will supervise the clinical caseload of the team members and the work of any trainee doctors who may be attached to the service.

To support the existing liaison team in deciding the most appropriate intervention for patients referred to the service. This will include facilitating discharge planning and timely communication with Primary Care, CMHT's or Inpatient Services, as appropriate. The clinical work will involve the assessment and psychiatric treatment of patients either directly, or through the supervision of other team members. The Consultant will be expected to offer clinical leadership to the Liaison Psychiatry team and to act as an advisor to the team, particularly with respect to patients whose mental health needs are complex and / or carry high risk.

Act as the responsible clinician (RC) under the Mental Health Act for patients detained under the Mental Health Act at MPH and YDH. In case of annual leave or study leave of the other consultant, the RC responsibility will rest with this post. To develop effective liaison with the medical, surgical, nursing and allied health professionals within the acute hospital setting. The Consultant is expected to support the acute trust by providing relevant advice regarding the use of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act if relevant. The post holder is expected to liaise effectively with other teams operating at MPH to ensure effective hand over of care when patients transfer between teams as part of the patient pathway. The post holder is expected to attend and develop regular interface meetings with his professional partners to improve pathways in and out of the Acute Hospital.

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


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 11 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 Ward 1 and 2 in Yeovil), older people (Pyrland Ward in Taunton and Magnolia Ward in Yeovil), the PICU (Holford Ward in Taunton), and the rehabilitation and low secure wards (Willow and Ash Wards respectively in Bridgwater). Hence it includes duties for patients within the following specialties: general adult, 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 general and community hospitals, police custody centres and 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

Mental Health Act Approved Clinician / Section 12 approval


Full GMC registration with a licence to practice and 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 liaison psychiatry.


MRCPsych passed


Accredited for the training of junior doctors


Postgraduate thesis


Qualifications specific to Liaison psychiatry (e.g. DGM MRCP)


Endorsement in liaison psychiatry


Dual accreditation in Old Age and General Adult Psychiatry




####

Desirable

An appropriate higher degree or qualification (MD, PhD or equivalent).


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Experience

####

Desirable

3 years supervised training in an appropriate ST4-6 equivalent training programme.


Previous experience of working at consultant level


Experience of front-line psychiatry in either a liaison, crisis or primary care liaison service setting


Experience in the assessment and management of Eating Disorders




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Additional Criteria

####

Essential

Please see attached job description for full details of essential criteria required to undertake the 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.


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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.


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UK Professional Registration

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


###

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

109725.00 to 145478.00 Yearly
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Contract

Permanent


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Working pattern

Full-Time


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Reference number

184-OL-MED-FAM-2761


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Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT