Job summary
We are recruiting a part-time Consultant Psychiatrist to join the Oxfordshire Prevention & Early Detection (OPEN) Service for At Risk Mental States (ARMS) . This is a brilliant opportunity to shape and lead a newly established, community-based specialist service for young people aged 14-35 years at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P), in line with NICE guidance and NHS England Access and Waiting Time standards.
Based at the Slade Hospital site in Oxford, the post offers 8 PAs (6 DCC, 2 SPA) with no inpatient responsibility and a focused consultant caseload centred on complexity, risk, and transitions to first-episode psychosis. The role combines high-quality clinical practice with service development within a Trust recognised nationally for research and innovation in early intervention.
Oxford Health hosts a NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and has strong links with the University of Oxford, offering unique opportunities for academic collaboration, digital innovation and experimental therapeutics. This is a rare chance to contribute to preventive psychiatry within a progressive and research-active mental health Trust.
Main duties of the job
- Provide senior clinical leadership within the OPEN ARMS service, leading the weekly multidisciplinary team meeting and overseeing assessment, formulation and treatment planning for young people and adults identified as being at clinical high risk for psychosis.
- Undertaking specialist psychiatric assessments, contributing to diagnosis and formulation, prescribing where indicated, and ensuring appropriate physical health monitoring.
- Responsibility for clinical risk assessment and management, including leading on transitions to the Early Intervention in Psychosis service where required.
- Provide expert advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues, support psychologically informed interventions delivered by the wider team, and hold a focused caseload of the most complex cases.
- Close partnership working with CAMHS, Adult Mental Health Teams, Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams, inpatient services and primary care to ensure safe, timely and coordinated care.
- Supervise LED and resident doctors where allocated, participate in the Oxfordshire adult on-call rota, and contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and continuing professional development activities within the Trust.
About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 33 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 35 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
This substantive 0.8 WTE post has been established to consolidate and develop the OPEN ARMS service following a successful pilot year. This role will not act as care coordinator and has no inpatient responsibility. The role involves leading CAARMS-informed reviews, providing expert diagnostic clarification and formulation in complex and evolving presentations, and supporting decision-making under conditions of clinical uncertainty.
The team expects to receive on average 23 new referrals per week, generating an annual caseload of 7091 CHR-P patients. Referrals are triaged at a weekly multidisciplinary meeting, where they are reviewed and allocated for assessment. Assessments are delivered using the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS) alongside psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health screening.
You'll contribute to service development, including digital detection pathways and integration with electronic health recordbased risk tools, while ensuring compliance with national standards and audit requirements. Working closely with the Service Lead and Clinical Director, you will support the continued development of Oxfordshires preventive psychiatry pathway and strengthen integration with Early Intervention services and wider system partners.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This substantive 0.8 WTE post has been established to consolidate and develop the OPEN ARMS service following a successful pilot year. This role will not act as care coordinator and has no inpatient responsibility. The role involves leading CAARMS-informed reviews, providing expert diagnostic clarification and formulation in complex and evolving presentations, and supporting decision-making under conditions of clinical uncertainty.
The team expects to receive on average 23 new referrals per week, generating an annual caseload of 7091 CHR-P patients. Referrals are triaged at a weekly multidisciplinary meeting, where they are reviewed and allocated for assessment. Assessments are delivered using the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS) alongside psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health screening.
You'll contribute to service development, including digital detection pathways and integration with electronic health recordbased risk tools, while ensuring compliance with national standards and audit requirements. Working closely with the Service Lead and Clinical Director, you will support the continued development of Oxfordshires preventive psychiatry pathway and strengthen integration with Early Intervention services and wider system partners.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
- MRCPsych
Desirable
- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Excellent knowledge in management of physical health comorbidities in mental health and preventive approaches
- Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Desirable
- Subspecialist experience in early intervention, ARMS/CHR-P, or psychosis prevention within NHS or comparable service
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Ability to work in and lead team
- Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement
- Participated in continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- Evidence of involvement in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
Desirable
- Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
- Reflect 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 or improved outcomes to patients
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
- MRCPsych
Desirable
- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Excellent knowledge in management of physical health comorbidities in mental health and preventive approaches
- Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Desirable
- Subspecialist experience in early intervention, ARMS/CHR-P, or psychosis prevention within NHS or comparable service
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Ability to work in and lead team
- Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement
- Participated in continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- Evidence of involvement in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
Desirable
- Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
- Reflect 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 or improved outcomes to patients
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).
