Job summary
Are you an ambitious Consultant looking for a new challenge, development or simply a change?
We have an exciting opportunity that has become available and searching for a skilful Consultant to join our Adult Inpatient team based at Rydon Ward 1 in Taunton.
You will be working full time, 10 PA's in a 15 bedded ward which admits adults of working age from the west of Somerset, including Taunton, Bridgwater and Minehead. You core responsibilities will be:
- Provide senior medical input and leadership to Rydon inpatient ward, 10 PA's
- Provide Clinical leadership to the multidisciplinary ward team
- Supervise junior medical staff
- Contribute to the strategic development of Adult Mental Health inpatient services in the county
Although this post is full time, we still encourage applicants to apply either looking for flexibility or part time.
There were a total of 599 admissions to all adults mental health units between November 2020 - end October 2021. That gives a rate of 101 admissions per 100,000 people in Somerset. Of the 599 patients admitted to all adult mental health units, 295 were informal and 302 were detained under the Mental Health Act.
From the Mental Health Benchmarking Project for 2020/21 and the national average for the following indicators are below (all adult Mental Health Acute Wards in Somerset):
- National average adult acute bed occupancy for 2020/21 was 86%
- National average for adult acute admissions under the MHA for 2020/21 was 50%
Main duties of the job
Adult inpatient wards are located across the county in the following areas:
- Yeovil: Rowan Ward, 18 beds, providing inpatient services for South Somerset
- Taunton: Rydon ward 1, 15 beds, and Rydon ward 2, 15 beds, providing inpatient services for the west of the county including Taunton, Bridgwater, Minehead and Burnham. Also located in Taunton is Holford ward (PICU).
- Wells: St Andrew's ward providing inpatient services to patients from the Mendip Area.
This Consultant post does not include any community responsibilities. There are 3.5 WTE consultants in the Community Mental Health Service and 1.0 WTE in Home Treatment team (HTT). Community teams including the Home Treatment Team are located on site. Also on site can be found the local Section 136 suite, and Pyrland ward, which provides inpatient services to older adults from Somerset.
The postholder will also be responsible for conducting Mental Health Act assessments for adults of working age admitted to Rydon Ward. The postholder may be invited to contribute to assessments of patients admitted to the Section 136.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Consultant will:
- deliver direct interventions including assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental and physical health needs of the inpatients in Rydon ward
- be Responsible Clinician for Inpatients detained under the Mental Health Act
- undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care
- regularly attend Inpatient ward multidisciplinary team meetings and ward handovers
- work closely with the community teams to provide effective multidisciplinary collaborative care; this will include availability for consultation, case discussion and advice at the request of team members and / or the team managers
- provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust
- work collaboratively with community consultants to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the ward
- fulfil the duties of the weekly timetable
- participate in Medical Audit, including audit of their own practice and attendance at quarterly Medical Audit meetings
- understand and participate in the maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of service specific performance indicators and targets
- maintain good standing with the Royal College of Psychiatrists for Continuing Professional Development (CPD); the Trust actively encourages continuing professional development and appropriate study leave and expenses will be supported by the Trust (up to 30 days study leave every three years)
- join a Trust peer group for CPD purposes (a group will be identified if this cannot be easily arranged by the postholder with colleagues locally)
- provide cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff
comply with all Trust policies.
- participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case based discussion
- undertake annual appraisal and job plan reviews
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Consultant will:
- deliver direct interventions including assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental and physical health needs of the inpatients in Rydon ward
- be Responsible Clinician for Inpatients detained under the Mental Health Act
- undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care
- regularly attend Inpatient ward multidisciplinary team meetings and ward handovers
- work closely with the community teams to provide effective multidisciplinary collaborative care; this will include availability for consultation, case discussion and advice at the request of team members and / or the team managers
- provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust
- work collaboratively with community consultants to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the ward
- fulfil the duties of the weekly timetable
- participate in Medical Audit, including audit of their own practice and attendance at quarterly Medical Audit meetings
- understand and participate in the maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of service specific performance indicators and targets
- maintain good standing with the Royal College of Psychiatrists for Continuing Professional Development (CPD); the Trust actively encourages continuing professional development and appropriate study leave and expenses will be supported by the Trust (up to 30 days study leave every three years)
- join a Trust peer group for CPD purposes (a group will be identified if this cannot be easily arranged by the postholder with colleagues locally)
- provide cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff
comply with all Trust policies.
- participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case based discussion
- undertake annual appraisal and job plan reviews
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
