Job Description

We are looking to recruit 2 full-time consultants to work on Elm Ward and Maple Ward - the two acute admission wards in West Park Hospital, Darlington.
Elm Ward is a female acute ward and Maple Ward is a male acute. There are 4 beds commissioned by the Ministry of Defence across the two wards.
Elm Ward is a 20 bedded inpatient ward. The inpatient unit comprises beds for both assessment and treatment. The Consultant for this post will be expected to work closely with another Consultant Psychiatrist (1.0 WTE). Maple Ward is also a 20 bedded inpatient unit located on the same site and is also covered by two Consultant Psychiatrists.
It is expected that the post holders will provide clinical input to approximately 10 to 12 patients on both Elm and Maple wards, depending on acuity. All the inpatient units in Adult Mental Health are working on the concept of Purposeful In-Patient Admissions model (and the Productive Ward).
Main duties of the job
The principal duty of Consultants is to support the Inpatient Team. There are four Consultant Psychiatrists - 4 WTE identified to support the two acute wards at West Park Hospital, in addition to a Consultant Nurse. The post holders will be expected to work closely with other colleagues in Adult Mental Health to offer a flexible service which recognises the potential for recovery within all service users.
The postholders will provide leadership to the multi-disciplinary team alongside the team manager. They will contribution to service development.
They will contribution to clinical governance and have responsibility for setting and maintaining standards and have a commitment to quality improvement
About us
We are one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disabilities trusts in the country, with an annual income of 320m and a workforce of some 6,700 staff operating from around 100 sites in Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York and Selby. We provide a range inpatient and community services to 2m people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale, Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire. We also provide additional specialist services to other parts of Northern England.
We are a multi-award winning trust and are included within the Health Service Journals Best 100 Places to Work. The trust take a positive and proactive approach to support staff in their personal development and has embedded the Talent Management approach within the Trust.
Psychiatrists are essential contributors to the majority of our mental health teams. Service users expect and are justified to expect collaborative relationships with dedicated psychiatrists who work consistently as part of effective services. Our medical staffing shortage puts strain on services and puts strain on workforce wellbeing and costs extend beyond the financial. The Medical Directorate and Medical Development Team are striving to improve medical workforce recruitment and retention in a variety of ways and the cornerstone of these efforts is The TEWV Charter for the Medical Workforce - see attached Supporting Document.
The Trust welcomes a conversation about flexible working.
Details
Date posted
30 August 2025
Pay scheme
Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade
Consultant
Salary
109,725 to 145,478 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9346-AMH-325M2
Job locations
West Park Hospital
Edward Pease Way
Darlington
County Durham
DL2 2TS
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for further information on this post. Please note this post has been approved by The Royal College. Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for further information on this post. Please note this post has been approved by The Royal College.
Person Specification
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service

Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning
Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit.

Desirable

• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change.

Leadership
Essential

• Reflects on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback.
• Able to influence and persuade to improve services
• Able to take on leadership role in multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of structure and management of the NHS and the Trust.
• Shows commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology OR able to achieve within one year of appointment
• Able to adapt to and lead service change.

Desirable

• Able to take on a leadership role outside the multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding of NHS & wider health economy and its implications for the work of the Trust.
• Trained to standard equivalent to level 2 in TEWV Trust Quality improvement system

Qualifications
Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Experience
• MRCPsych

Eligibility
Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register for General Psychiatry OR included within six months.
• Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
• Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice

Experience
Essential

• Describe your clinical experience relevant to this job role

Desirable

• Any other experience that may be applicable

Person Specification
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service

Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning
Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit.

Desirable

• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change.

Leadership
Essential

• Reflects on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback.
• Able to influence and persuade to improve services
• Able to take on leadership role in multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of structure and management of the NHS and the Trust.
• Shows commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology OR able to achieve within one year of appointment
• Able to adapt to and lead service change.

Desirable

• Able to take on a leadership role outside the multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding of NHS & wider health economy and its implications for the work of the Trust.
• Trained to standard equivalent to level 2 in TEWV Trust Quality improvement system

Qualifications
Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Experience
• MRCPsych

Eligibility
Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register for General Psychiatry OR included within six months.
• Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
• Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice

Experience
Essential

• Describe your clinical experience relevant to this job role

Desirable

• Any other experience that may be applicable

Skills Required