Job summary
This is for a fixed term contract until June 2024.
Opportunity for a Specialty Doctor in Psychiatry to join our team at our Whalley site near Clitheroe. This service is for patients with a learning disability that have a forensic history. The Whalley site is closing in mid-March 2024 and the Maplewood Low Secure service will transfer to Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit on the Maghull Health Park.
You will support the clinical work of one Consultant Psychiatrist working in an inpatient Learning Disability service. You will provide medical input to patients in a Low Secure Unit, including the 4 Individual Packages of Care in Whalley.
There are 8 sessions of Direct Clinical Care, with the 2 remaining sessions allocated to supporting professional activities such as education and training.
There are no out of hours on-call commitments with this post.
Main duties of the job
You will work with Dr Johnson, Consultant Psychiatrist. Maplewood or Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit provides inpatient care to adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Patients might further have an additional diagnosis of mental illness, personality disorder, pervasive developmental disorders, or behavioural problems.
You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Behaviour Therapist and Nurses in learning disability.
There is ward work to complete as part of the day-to-day functioning of the unit, physical health reviews of patients, input into professional meetings such as ward rounds, CPA, CTR, Manager or Tribunal hearings.
The Speciality Doctors based on the Whalley site provide cross cover for the site during the day, when required. This include the 4 IPC's.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will support Maplewood Low Secure Unit, which is based on the Mersey Care Whalley site near Clitheroe. In addition to the Low Secure Unit, there are 4 Individual Packages of Care (IPCs) in Whalley that are also supported.
The Mersey Care Whalley site is closing in mid-March 2024, with the Low Secure Service moving to Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit on the Maghull Health Park in North Liverpool. The 4 Individual Packages of Care (IPCs) will not transfer.
There will be ward work to complete as part of the day-to-day functioning of the unit, physical health reviews of patients where required and input into professional meetings such as ward rounds, CPA, CTR, Manager or Tribunal hearings.
The patients have access to a General Practitioner and a physical health team that are based on site.
There are several Speciality Doctors based on the Whalley site, with an expectation to provide cross cover for the site during the day when required. This will continue at Aspen Wood.
The service is supported by medical secretaries and transcriptionists.
The service is actively involved with the local Transforming Care agenda and LEDER process.
You will be able to attend the Tuesday morning virtual teaching programme as part of their weekly SPA sessions. This is well attended by consultants and junior medical staff. It includes case conferences and journal presentations. One meeting per month is an audit programme with a prize twice a year for the best audit. Occasionally it includes mandatory training slots and guest speakers.
The site is retracting, and we anticipate that it will close during 2024.
The Low Secure service will relocate to Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit on the Maghull Health Park.
Please see job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will support Maplewood Low Secure Unit, which is based on the Mersey Care Whalley site near Clitheroe. In addition to the Low Secure Unit, there are 4 Individual Packages of Care (IPCs) in Whalley that are also supported.
The Mersey Care Whalley site is closing in mid-March 2024, with the Low Secure Service moving to Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit on the Maghull Health Park in North Liverpool. The 4 Individual Packages of Care (IPCs) will not transfer.
There will be ward work to complete as part of the day-to-day functioning of the unit, physical health reviews of patients where required and input into professional meetings such as ward rounds, CPA, CTR, Manager or Tribunal hearings.
The patients have access to a General Practitioner and a physical health team that are based on site.
There are several Speciality Doctors based on the Whalley site, with an expectation to provide cross cover for the site during the day when required. This will continue at Aspen Wood.
The service is supported by medical secretaries and transcriptionists.
The service is actively involved with the local Transforming Care agenda and LEDER process.
You will be able to attend the Tuesday morning virtual teaching programme as part of their weekly SPA sessions. This is well attended by consultants and junior medical staff. It includes case conferences and journal presentations. One meeting per month is an audit programme with a prize twice a year for the best audit. Occasionally it includes mandatory training slots and guest speakers.
The site is retracting, and we anticipate that it will close during 2024.
The Low Secure service will relocate to Aspen Wood Low Secure Unit on the Maghull Health Park.
Please see job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qaulifications
Essential
Desirable
Transport
Essential
- Access to transport and ability to travel across the catchment area in a timely manner
Desirable
Registration
Essential
- Included on the General Medical Council (GMC) Register (or eligible for inclusion)
Desirable
- Approved under Section 12 of MHA 1983
Clinical Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years' experience working in psychiatry
- Experience of MDT working
- Experience of working in inpatient psychiatric services
Desirable
- Experience of Multi-Agency work especially with user / carer organisations
- Experience of working in secure psychiatric services
- Experience of working in learning disability services
Organisation and planning
Essential
- Possess organisational and management abilities including the ability to prioritise workload and deal with conflicting demands
- Good communication skills and ability to work in multi-disciplinary team
- Good IT skills
Personal Skills
Essential
- Communications skills Decisiveness/accountability Interpersonal skills
- Uses a non-judgemental approach to patients
- Flexibility
- Resilience
- Shows initiative/drive/enthusiasm
- Probity
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Understanding of clinical risk management
- Understanding of clinical risk management
- Clear and logical thought processes
- Familiar with range of bio-psychosocial interventions relevant to community psychiatry
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of Government initiatives relevant to general and inpatient psychiatry
Person Specification
Qaulifications
Essential
Desirable
Transport
Essential
- Access to transport and ability to travel across the catchment area in a timely manner
Desirable
Registration
Essential
- Included on the General Medical Council (GMC) Register (or eligible for inclusion)
Desirable
- Approved under Section 12 of MHA 1983
Clinical Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years' experience working in psychiatry
- Experience of MDT working
- Experience of working in inpatient psychiatric services
Desirable
- Experience of Multi-Agency work especially with user / carer organisations
- Experience of working in secure psychiatric services
- Experience of working in learning disability services
Organisation and planning
Essential
- Possess organisational and management abilities including the ability to prioritise workload and deal with conflicting demands
- Good communication skills and ability to work in multi-disciplinary team
- Good IT skills
Personal Skills
Essential
- Communications skills Decisiveness/accountability Interpersonal skills
- Uses a non-judgemental approach to patients
- Flexibility
- Resilience
- Shows initiative/drive/enthusiasm
- Probity
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Understanding of clinical risk management
- Understanding of clinical risk management
- Clear and logical thought processes
- Familiar with range of bio-psychosocial interventions relevant to community psychiatry
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of Government initiatives relevant to general and inpatient psychiatry
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).
