Job summary
10 PAs Substantive Post AAC 18 /06/ 2025 Lead innovation. Inspire change. Shape future care in one of the UK's most complex and fascinating secure settings.
We're looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking Consultant Psychiatrist to lead our experienced mental health team at HMP Woodhill - a high-performing Category B prison with Category A functions and one of the few sites nationally hosting a Close Supervision Centre.
This is an exceptional opportunity to deliver trauma-informed, high-quality psychiatric care to a population with complex forensic and clinical needs.
Why Woodhill?
- Home to a national CSC unit - a unique environment offering some of the most challenging yet rewarding work in forensic psychiatry.
- A prison that's nationally recognised for its innovation, with a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team.
- Located in Milton Keynes, with strong transport links to London and Oxford
Main duties of the job
- Conduct assessments, including risk assessments, treatment, care planning, and multiagency liaison for individuals with mental health problems in the prisons.
- Undertake Mental Capacity Assessments.
- Contribute to planned emergency interventions.
- Liaise with prisons, courts, statutory and non-statutory agencies concerning all aspects of mental health care management for men with mental health problems in the prisons.
- Collaborate closely with the Manager, Psychologists, and other lead professionals to provide clinical leadership and ensure safe, supportive care.
- Work closely with other medical, clinical, and managerial staff to provide high-quality care pathways.
- Participate in the ACCT (self-harm/suicide prevention) processes when relevant.
- Practice in accordance with NICE and other relevant Guidelines and CNWL Trust policy.
- Maintain accurate record-keeping according to Trust and professional guidelines (data protection legislation and information governance standards).
- Apply the Mental Health Act, including sections 48/49 and 47/49.
About us
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest trusts in the UK, caring for people with a wide range of physical and mental health needs. We have approximately 7,000 staff that provide healthcare to a third of London's population and across wider geographical areas, including Milton Keynes, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire.As a Foundation Trust we involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run and our future development. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Foundation Trust please visit our website.Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.
We can offer full access to a wide range of staff Benefits Discounts :
- Salary sacrifice schemes
- Sponsorship for International candidates
- Access to leadership development, study leave, and a wide range of staff wellbeing and financial benefit
- Relocation allowance up to £8000 subject to policy requirement
- Study discounts for staff
- Flexible working
- Interest free loans season tickets and car parking
- Competitive Bank Rates
Job description
Job responsibilities
Why this role?
- Academic and research opportunities: Strong links with UCL and potential for an honorary academic appointment, particularly for those interested in research in the CSC or wider forensic mental health.
- Clinical innovation: Get involved in quality improvement, digital transformation, and AI in secure healthcare.
- Leadership: Provide senior clinical leadership, service development, and mentorship within a well-supported governance structure.
- Flexible pathways: Option to gain experience in court diversion, outreach, or management roles.
- Inclusive and values-led: Work in a trust deeply committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a focus on culturally competent, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Why this role?
- Academic and research opportunities: Strong links with UCL and potential for an honorary academic appointment, particularly for those interested in research in the CSC or wider forensic mental health.
- Clinical innovation: Get involved in quality improvement, digital transformation, and AI in secure healthcare.
- Leadership: Provide senior clinical leadership, service development, and mentorship within a well-supported governance structure.
- Flexible pathways: Option to gain experience in court diversion, outreach, or management roles.
- Inclusive and values-led: Work in a trust deeply committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a focus on culturally competent, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed care.
Person Specification
PPREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- ?Clinical leadership/management experience
- ?Track record of improving quality in a service
Desirable
- ?Experience of job planning
- ?Experience of resolving conflict and complex performance management issues
Qualifications
Essential
- ?Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- ?Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months
- ?Approved clinician status
- ?Section 12MHA Approval
- ?Primary Medical Degree
- ?CCT in Forensic
Desirable
- ?Management and leadership course/qualification
- ?Higher degree (Msc, LLM, MD or PhD)
- ?MRCPsych
CLINICIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE
Essential
- ?Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho- social perspective and wide medical knowledge
- ?Excellent knowledge in specialty
- ?Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- ?Ability to manage Clinical Complicity
- ?Ability to manage conflict and difficult conversations
- ?Ability to make decision based on evidence and experience including the contribution of other
- ?Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
Desirable
- ?Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to the post within NHS or comparable service
- ?Experience of Quality Improvement
- ?Management experience
- ?Membership of committee/relevant regulatory body CQC preparation
- ?Contract/procurement knowledge
ACADEMIC SKILLS & LIFELONG LEARNING
Essential
- ?Participated in continuous professional development
- ?Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- ?Ability to work constructively within MDT environments without complaints / concerns
- ?Has actively participated in clinical audit
- ?Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to equality & diversity
- ?Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in working pattern
- ?Demonstrates energy, enthusiasm & initiative in pursuing innovation and the highest standards for patients, juniors, others, colleagues & the organisation.
- ?IT literate
- ?Demonstrable ability to cope under pressure
Desirable
- ?Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
- ?Has led clinical audits leading to service change
Person Specification
PPREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- ?Clinical leadership/management experience
- ?Track record of improving quality in a service
Desirable
- ?Experience of job planning
- ?Experience of resolving conflict and complex performance management issues
Qualifications
Essential
- ?Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- ?Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months
- ?Approved clinician status
- ?Section 12MHA Approval
- ?Primary Medical Degree
- ?CCT in Forensic
Desirable
- ?Management and leadership course/qualification
- ?Higher degree (Msc, LLM, MD or PhD)
- ?MRCPsych
CLINICIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE
Essential
- ?Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho- social perspective and wide medical knowledge
- ?Excellent knowledge in specialty
- ?Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- ?Ability to manage Clinical Complicity
- ?Ability to manage conflict and difficult conversations
- ?Ability to make decision based on evidence and experience including the contribution of other
- ?Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
Desirable
- ?Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to the post within NHS or comparable service
- ?Experience of Quality Improvement
- ?Management experience
- ?Membership of committee/relevant regulatory body CQC preparation
- ?Contract/procurement knowledge
ACADEMIC SKILLS & LIFELONG LEARNING
Essential
- ?Participated in continuous professional development
- ?Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- ?Ability to work constructively within MDT environments without complaints / concerns
- ?Has actively participated in clinical audit
- ?Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to equality & diversity
- ?Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in working pattern
- ?Demonstrates energy, enthusiasm & initiative in pursuing innovation and the highest standards for patients, juniors, others, colleagues & the organisation.
- ?IT literate
- ?Demonstrable ability to cope under pressure
Desirable
- ?Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
- ?Has led clinical audits leading to service change
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).
