Consultant Psychiatrist - Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing
Job overview
It is a 4 PA substantive consultant vacancy within the London Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (Op Courage) which has arisen due to the current post holder stepping down from main responsibilities. The post is currently based at St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0PE close to the major transport hubs of King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston.
Main duties of the job
Please see attached job spec and person spec for details on the Consultant Psychiatrist - Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing role.
Working for our organisation
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
- We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
- With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
- We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
- We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
- We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
- We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
- NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
- Excellent internal staff network
The post holder will be aligned with our Values:
- We Are Kind
- We Are Respectful
- We Work Together
- We Keep Things Simple
- We Empower
- We Are Proudly Diverse
The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will be a GMC registered clinician on the Specialist Register.They will be Psychiatry Lead and Joint Head of Service for London Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (Op Courage) and as such will ideally have relevant prior experience of working with military personnel, veterans and/or with people with complex presentations of trauma (including PTSD and CPTSD), Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Psychosis, Personality Disorder and co-morbid Substance Misuse and be confident in managing at risk individuals.
They will be responsible for patients allocated to them and will assess, manage, plan and deliver care, including being professionally and legally accountable. The post holder will support their peers and team leader and be an effective team member whilst working on their own initiative.
They will have a commitment to collaborative working and actively supporting and liaising with other health and social care professionals and agencies.They will work closely with the other Joint Head of Service, Clinical Leads/Operational Manager and other MDT members.
The psychiatrist’s role will be to conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments, comprehensive risk assessments, oversee risk management and crisis planning, conduct medication reviews as well as, liaison/consultation with partner agencies, GPs and external services.
The majority of clinical contacts will be at St Pancras Hospital site. There may be an infrequent need for a domiciliary visit.All pharmacological treatments will be recommended by the psychiatrist based on comprehensive assessment and according to British National Formulary and NICE Guidelines.
Consultant cross-cover arrangements will be agreed with Dr Alexandra Pitman, Consultant Psychiatrist.
This postholder also has responsibilities as Joint Head of Service to work closely with the other Head of Service and the senior management team in management activities to support the continual development and improvement of the service and staff.
They are expected to support the other Head of Service with the ongoing Service evaluation (lead by independent academic partner UCL).Supervisor responsibilities include line management supervision of SAS grade doctor, trainees, and provision of consultation and guidance to other team members as needed.
This postholder will take a leadership role in overseeing and contributing to the programme of education and training for staff.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Registration
Essential criteria- Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and a license to practice. Must be on the specialist register or within 6 months of gaining a Certificate of Completion of Training in General Adult Psychiatry with endorsement in perinatal psychiatry
- Membership of Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent higher qualification in psychiatry
- Section 12(2) and Approved Clinician status (or eligibility) - qualifies to act as a Responsible Clinician
- Registered with Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD programme and in good standing
- Other relevant post-graduate qualification
- Training up to date to be an approved trainer/clinical supervisor in line with GMC recognition and approval of trainers which is overseen by the LETB
- Trained as an Educational Supervisor for doctors in training
- Training as a Consultant mentor
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- Knowledge and observance of the requirements and duties of a doctor laid down by the GMC in Good Medical Practice
- Clinical knowledge of the full range mental disorders including those which occur in military personnel/Veterans.
- Ability to assess and treat psychiatric problems in military personnel/Veterans.
- Ability to assess and treat trauma related presentations and to deal with crisis situations
- Ability to advise on the use of psychotropic medication.
- Experience in the assessment and treatment of complex clinical cases involving severe and enduring mental illness and significant risk histories and the ability to assertively engage and manage such cases.
- Expertise in a comprehensive range of evidence based treatment and case management options including pharmacotherapy.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding practices
- Experience in work place based assessments of doctors in training
- Good understanding of Trust governance structures, especially clinical governance
- An understanding of the role of research within the wider service
- Willingness to participate in research as appropriate and within the context of the duties of the post
- Experience in teaching small and large groups
- Experience in developing policies and protocols.
- Experience of service development.
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria- Ability to practise as an independent Consultant Psychiatrist.
- Thoroughness and attention to detail in clinical matters
- Sensitivity to needs of all patients and carers.
- Sensitivity and awareness in clients and staff from different cultures, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientations.
- Teaching and supervision skills for undergraduate medical students, doctors in training and multi-professional staff
- Ability to work in a team environment and to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multidisciplinary basis with all levels of staff.
- Ability to take on the role and responsibilities of the clinical lead
- Experience in undertaking clinical audit, investigating serious incidents and handling complaints
- Enthusiasm for the subject of the impact of trauma on military personnel/Veterans and willingness to share knowledge and experience
- A special interest or willingness to develop one in an area which helps to meet the needs of the Trust
- Experience in successfully delivering research projects