Job summary
The Trust is seeking to appoint a Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Persons Mental Health to join the Community Mental Health Team. To help support CMHT patients in the North Sedgemoor area, and cover the dementia assessment service for the whole of Sedgemoor. The Team covers Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea/Highbridge, Cheddar and surrounding suburbs/villages
This is a full time (10 PA), permanent position. Working a 1 in 12 rota operating from 1700 - 0900 during the week and at the weekends from Saturday at 0900 to Monday 0900
There is no compulsory out of hours duties, however the post holder will be able to opt in to the out of hours on call rota, subject to availability
Applications from Specialists and or Senior Doctors are welcome and will be considered
Main duties of the job
Provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health needs of community patients in their community area.
Formulation of DASS cases via the MDT meetings and initiation/review of dementia medications
Act as Responsible Clinician for community patients subject to a compulsory treatment order under the Mental Health Act; (CTOs)
Undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care (including those detained under S136);
Provide Mental Capacity Act s49 reports for patients in their community area.
Provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust.
Work collaboratively with inpatient staff to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the wards.
Identify areas for personal development, that will allow the post holder to improve the care they provide.
Maintain good standing 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).
Develop the services around them, in collaboration with management and other team members to continue to improve patient care
Participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case-based discussion.
Provide mutual cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff
Fulfil the duties agreed in the job plan.
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
Job responsibilities
This post is available as a result of changes in how we deliver mental health services to older adults across Somerset and following the retirement of the previous postholder. You will be working alongside a 0.6 WTE consultant colleague who covers CMHT in Bridgewater.
The CMHT covers a community population of approximately 15 000 older adults 65+. The population is supported by a well-established multidisciplinary team and also by other County Wide teams such as central DASS and IDS. The post holder will be part of the medical team with one other part-time consultant (Dr Goddard), who takes all CMHT cases for Bridgewater and surrounding areas. There is also GP and core trainees and a full-time Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner. The post holder will work closely with the community mental health team.
There is an emphasis on members of the CMHT seeing most initial assessments with a daytime duty rota dealing with urgent referrals. This helps to minimise consultant emergency work and keeps their individual community caseload at a manageable size. The CMHT will seek advice from the post holder, to guide management for the patient; this is achieved through formal team meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions with the team when required.
There are approximately 800 referrals each year across the CMHT (not all are taken on). The post holder will hold regular clinics, as well as undertaking domiciliary visits when required.
The community mental health teams are part of wider integrated teams. Each team is colocated with staff from district nursing and the integrated rehabilitation team (community OT and Physiotherapists). These links are very helpful when managing a patient from a holistic viewpoint. The links will also allow the post holder to work towards closer integration between physical and mental health care, as well as primary and secondary care. Being co-located with this team allows for a free flow of advice and ideas between the services.
The community mental health team for older adults includes:
x Band 7 CPN CMHT Team Lead
1.0 Band 7 trainee ACP
Band 5 & 6 CPNs, Occupational Therapists, support workers, psychology and team admin
The DASS team includes
x Band 7 OT Team Lead,
x dementia assessment nurses and a job share post diagnostic associate practitioner, as well as support staff and access to Ots and neuropsychology
The post holder will be based at the Mulberry Centre, in Burnham on Sea
There is no inpatient responsibility associated with this post; however, the post holder will be expected to discuss possible admissions and discharges to our older adult's inpatient unit with the inpatient consultant or their deputy, to ensure safe transfer of care, into and out of the inpatient setting. The postholder may also by agreement offer mutual leave cover to the inpatient consultant, and other OPMH consultant colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post is available as a result of changes in how we deliver mental health services to older adults across Somerset and following the retirement of the previous postholder. You will be working alongside a 0.6 WTE consultant colleague who covers CMHT in Bridgewater.
The CMHT covers a community population of approximately 15 000 older adults 65+. The population is supported by a well-established multidisciplinary team and also by other County Wide teams such as central DASS and IDS. The post holder will be part of the medical team with one other part-time consultant (Dr Goddard), who takes all CMHT cases for Bridgewater and surrounding areas. There is also GP and core trainees and a full-time Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner. The post holder will work closely with the community mental health team.
There is an emphasis on members of the CMHT seeing most initial assessments with a daytime duty rota dealing with urgent referrals. This helps to minimise consultant emergency work and keeps their individual community caseload at a manageable size. The CMHT will seek advice from the post holder, to guide management for the patient; this is achieved through formal team meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions with the team when required.
There are approximately 800 referrals each year across the CMHT (not all are taken on). The post holder will hold regular clinics, as well as undertaking domiciliary visits when required.
The community mental health teams are part of wider integrated teams. Each team is colocated with staff from district nursing and the integrated rehabilitation team (community OT and Physiotherapists). These links are very helpful when managing a patient from a holistic viewpoint. The links will also allow the post holder to work towards closer integration between physical and mental health care, as well as primary and secondary care. Being co-located with this team allows for a free flow of advice and ideas between the services.
The community mental health team for older adults includes:
x Band 7 CPN CMHT Team Lead
1.0 Band 7 trainee ACP
Band 5 & 6 CPNs, Occupational Therapists, support workers, psychology and team admin
The DASS team includes
x Band 7 OT Team Lead,
x dementia assessment nurses and a job share post diagnostic associate practitioner, as well as support staff and access to Ots and neuropsychology
The post holder will be based at the Mulberry Centre, in Burnham on Sea
There is no inpatient responsibility associated with this post; however, the post holder will be expected to discuss possible admissions and discharges to our older adult's inpatient unit with the inpatient consultant or their deputy, to ensure safe transfer of care, into and out of the inpatient setting. The postholder may also by agreement offer mutual leave cover to the inpatient consultant, and other OPMH consultant colleagues.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical Degree
- Mental Health Act Approved Clinician / Section 12 approval -- or eligible and willing to apply for these.
- Entry on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for entry on Register within 6 months of interview via Specialist Training (CCT) or CESR (Consultant Applicants only)
Desirable
- MRCPsych.
- Accredited for the training of Higher trainees / junior doctors.
- Further professional qualifications such as MRCP/DGM
- A Higher degree such as a Masters Degree.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of assessment and management of patients in Older People's community psychiatry.
- Ability to offer expert clinical care of patients.
- A particular understanding of the care and treatment of frail older adults in the community.
- A clear understanding of mental health and mental capacity legislation and the application of these areas of legislation as they relate to community care.
Desirable
- 3 years supervised training in an appropriate ST4-6 equivalent training programme.
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
- Formal training or qualifications in leadership or organisational development
- Experience of service development particularly related to old age psychiatric services
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Please see the Job Description for full details of criteria required to undertake this position
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical Degree
- Mental Health Act Approved Clinician / Section 12 approval -- or eligible and willing to apply for these.
- Entry on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for entry on Register within 6 months of interview via Specialist Training (CCT) or CESR (Consultant Applicants only)
Desirable
- MRCPsych.
- Accredited for the training of Higher trainees / junior doctors.
- Further professional qualifications such as MRCP/DGM
- A Higher degree such as a Masters Degree.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of assessment and management of patients in Older People's community psychiatry.
- Ability to offer expert clinical care of patients.
- A particular understanding of the care and treatment of frail older adults in the community.
- A clear understanding of mental health and mental capacity legislation and the application of these areas of legislation as they relate to community care.
Desirable
- 3 years supervised training in an appropriate ST4-6 equivalent training programme.
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
- Formal training or qualifications in leadership or organisational development
- Experience of service development particularly related to old age psychiatric services
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Please see the Job Description for full details of criteria required to undertake this position
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).
