Job summary
We are seeking a full time, permanent Consultant to work as part of a team of three community consultants covering the South Somerset area (Yeovil East, Yeovil West and Chard). There is an established associate specialist who will work alongside the consultant.
This post provides senior psychiatric input to the Yeovil West part of the community mental health team, which is aligned to 5 of the 20 GP surgeries in the Yeovil area. The consultants work to a functional model following a community/inpatient split. The GP population catchment area for Yeovil West CMHT is 45,162 which is within Royal College recommendations.
The working pattern is 9-5, Monday to Friday with a 1:11 on call requirement
Main duties of the job
Routine and urgent referrals from GPs and other sources are dealt with through a single point of access. Referrals are processed through a streaming meeting and more complex cases may come to a Local leadership Group (LLG) meeting. Referrals for doctors can be reviewed individually by the doctor to ensure good practice. Medical staff take a proportion of referrals as clinically indicated either for joint assessment with a team member or more usually as individual outpatient assessments.
The average number of new referrals to the South Somerset Team (East and West) is 3623 per year.
The consultant caseload will include patients with SMI, complex cases with medical comorbidities, diagnostic assessments, joint worked cases, cases with specific medication supervision requirements, ADHD with significant comorbidity.
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.The post-holder can opt to join the senior out-of-hours on-call rotasubject to availability
This rota provides senior medical cover including Responsible Clinician duties to all the in-patient wards in the Trust. If the doctor does not have AC approval cover for this can be arranged. It therefore covers all inpatient services. Hence it includes duties for patients within the following specialties: general adult, old age, rehabilitation and learning disability.
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.
Relocation - will be offered in line with eligibility criteria
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post provides senior psychiatric input to the Yeovil West part of the community mental health team, which is aligned to 5 of the 20 GP surgeries in the Yeovil area. The consultants work to a functional model following a community/inpatient split. The GP population catchment area for Yeovil West CMHT is 45,162 which is within Royal College recommendations.
We have an established system to support doctors to manage DNAs, support transfer of patients to other sources of support or discharge and maintain caseloads at a manageable size. This enables appropriate oversight of caseload. This creates more flexibility within the working week so that doctors can be more creative in service they offer to organisation and patient group.
The CMHT psychiatrists also provide medical input to relevant patients in the small Assertive Outreach Team (AOT). Somerset Assertive Outreach service is being developed and improved and provided with forensic link support and input.
The core CMHT works closely with the wider community mental health service. This consists of therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, and several team managers. We work together, especially in complex cases and where there is higher risk, to support patients and colleagues. This working together includes within patient consultation, professionals' meetings, care planning, referrals meetings and multi-disciplinary team meetings. We have a clinical model that helps guide our service.
There are several more specialised services within the CMHS following specific models that may require medical input to varying degrees.
The Assertive Outreach service offers an intensive service to patients with complex needs and difficulty maintaining engagement with a higher likelihood of co-morbid substance abuse. They have ties with the Dual Diagnosis service and benefit from contact with the forensic link worker.
Connect 18 is a small team that works with young people transitioning from CAMHS to adulthood, over an 18-month period, and who have complex emotional or mental health needs. They follow principles of engagement and recovery and use a collaborative, strengths and solution focused, and trauma informed approach. Medical review is occasionally needed.
Community services have expanded across the Trust with concomitant expansion in staff as we have built up a new service called Open Mental Health in the last 4 years. This service works closely with primary care, the wider community, and the voluntary sector. This service is made up of psychologists, assistant psychologists, liaison staff, eating disorder leads and support workers. This staff body is closely linked with CMHTs through team meetings and supervision. This affords greater skill mix and appropriate input for patients depending on risk level, diagnoses, and previous mental health treatment. This gives many more options for patients referred or being discharged from mental health services. Linked software and interface meetings ensure all referrals have a considered and appropriate offer with reduced repeated assessments. We can provide a more holistic service with greater satisfaction for staff and patients. The development of the OMH service led to Somerset FT being awarded Mental Health Trust of the Year in 2022.
There is a Community Mental health reference guide which brings all relevant aspects of CMHS working priorities and practice together in one document with useful embedded links.
Specialist Psychological Interventions - these interventions include CBT, Cognitive Analytic therapy, Family therapy, Art Therapy, Dialectic behavioural therapy, EMDR, county wide CAT group and mentalisation based therapy.
Our directorate continues to improve the county-wide service to monitor our patients' physical health and prescribing. There are wellbeing, depot and clozapine clinics that follow a newly created standard operational policy. Yeovil's clinics are based in the south somerset hub and is a well-functioning service which facilitates appropriate physical health monitoring, risk factor modification and is managed by the CMHS team managers, with input from psychiatry. We have established referral and follow-up systems.
Other teams operating in the area are the South Somerset Home Treatment Team and the Early Psychosis (STEP) team, with their own dedicated psychiatrist.
All the above teams are based at Magnolia House on the Summerland's Hospital site in Yeovil, where the post-holder will also be based.
There is no inpatient responsibilities attached to this post and inpatient beds for Yeovil are located on Rowan Ward 1, which is also based on the Summerland's Hospital site. This is an 18 bedded unit, providing assessment and treatment primarily for adults of working age.
All section 12 approved staff can contribute to the management of the Place of safety based on Rowan ward through contribution to section 136 assessments. There is remuneration for MHAA work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post provides senior psychiatric input to the Yeovil West part of the community mental health team, which is aligned to 5 of the 20 GP surgeries in the Yeovil area. The consultants work to a functional model following a community/inpatient split. The GP population catchment area for Yeovil West CMHT is 45,162 which is within Royal College recommendations.
We have an established system to support doctors to manage DNAs, support transfer of patients to other sources of support or discharge and maintain caseloads at a manageable size. This enables appropriate oversight of caseload. This creates more flexibility within the working week so that doctors can be more creative in service they offer to organisation and patient group.
The CMHT psychiatrists also provide medical input to relevant patients in the small Assertive Outreach Team (AOT). Somerset Assertive Outreach service is being developed and improved and provided with forensic link support and input.
The core CMHT works closely with the wider community mental health service. This consists of therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, and several team managers. We work together, especially in complex cases and where there is higher risk, to support patients and colleagues. This working together includes within patient consultation, professionals' meetings, care planning, referrals meetings and multi-disciplinary team meetings. We have a clinical model that helps guide our service.
There are several more specialised services within the CMHS following specific models that may require medical input to varying degrees.
The Assertive Outreach service offers an intensive service to patients with complex needs and difficulty maintaining engagement with a higher likelihood of co-morbid substance abuse. They have ties with the Dual Diagnosis service and benefit from contact with the forensic link worker.
Connect 18 is a small team that works with young people transitioning from CAMHS to adulthood, over an 18-month period, and who have complex emotional or mental health needs. They follow principles of engagement and recovery and use a collaborative, strengths and solution focused, and trauma informed approach. Medical review is occasionally needed.
Community services have expanded across the Trust with concomitant expansion in staff as we have built up a new service called Open Mental Health in the last 4 years. This service works closely with primary care, the wider community, and the voluntary sector. This service is made up of psychologists, assistant psychologists, liaison staff, eating disorder leads and support workers. This staff body is closely linked with CMHTs through team meetings and supervision. This affords greater skill mix and appropriate input for patients depending on risk level, diagnoses, and previous mental health treatment. This gives many more options for patients referred or being discharged from mental health services. Linked software and interface meetings ensure all referrals have a considered and appropriate offer with reduced repeated assessments. We can provide a more holistic service with greater satisfaction for staff and patients. The development of the OMH service led to Somerset FT being awarded Mental Health Trust of the Year in 2022.
There is a Community Mental health reference guide which brings all relevant aspects of CMHS working priorities and practice together in one document with useful embedded links.
Specialist Psychological Interventions - these interventions include CBT, Cognitive Analytic therapy, Family therapy, Art Therapy, Dialectic behavioural therapy, EMDR, county wide CAT group and mentalisation based therapy.
Our directorate continues to improve the county-wide service to monitor our patients' physical health and prescribing. There are wellbeing, depot and clozapine clinics that follow a newly created standard operational policy. Yeovil's clinics are based in the south somerset hub and is a well-functioning service which facilitates appropriate physical health monitoring, risk factor modification and is managed by the CMHS team managers, with input from psychiatry. We have established referral and follow-up systems.
Other teams operating in the area are the South Somerset Home Treatment Team and the Early Psychosis (STEP) team, with their own dedicated psychiatrist.
All the above teams are based at Magnolia House on the Summerland's Hospital site in Yeovil, where the post-holder will also be based.
There is no inpatient responsibilities attached to this post and inpatient beds for Yeovil are located on Rowan Ward 1, which is also based on the Summerland's Hospital site. This is an 18 bedded unit, providing assessment and treatment primarily for adults of working age.
All section 12 approved staff can contribute to the management of the Place of safety based on Rowan ward through contribution to section 136 assessments. There is remuneration for MHAA work.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS 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 community psychiatry.
- MRC Psych passed
- Accredited for the training of junior doctors
Experience
Essential
- 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 adult mental health services and ideally in community.
- Experience in the assessment and management of ADHD.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Competent to work without direct supervision where appropriate.
- Clear, logical thinking showing an analytical/scientific approach.
- Ability to lead and develop the service
- Willingness and ability to fulfil the key elements of the job description.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual, multi-professional and team basis with all levels.
- Understanding of clinical governance and the individual responsibilities it implies.
- Knowledge of the NHS plan/modernisation agenda and the implications for service.
- Knowledge of principles of research
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS 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 community psychiatry.
- MRC Psych passed
- Accredited for the training of junior doctors
Experience
Essential
- 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 adult mental health services and ideally in community.
- Experience in the assessment and management of ADHD.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Competent to work without direct supervision where appropriate.
- Clear, logical thinking showing an analytical/scientific approach.
- Ability to lead and develop the service
- Willingness and ability to fulfil the key elements of the job description.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual, multi-professional and team basis with all levels.
- Understanding of clinical governance and the individual responsibilities it implies.
- Knowledge of the NHS plan/modernisation agenda and the implications for service.
- Knowledge of principles of research
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).
