Job summary
This is a non-accredited clinical post based at North East London NHS Foundation Trust, to provide clinical services to patients in the psychiatric drug deprescribing clinic.
This is a newly established clinic aimed to help people stop unnecessary and unwanted psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, z-drugs, gabapentinoids, and antipsychotics in common mental health conditions, mostly anxiety, depression and insomnia (not serious mental illness). Referrals currently come from local GPs in the NELFT catchment area. The post will be supervised by Professor Moncrieff, consultant psychiatrist at NELFT.
For medical applicants, The post is an 'out of programme experience' (OOPE), but trainees may apply for recognition of the post for training purposes via the Royal College of Psychiatrists. One 0.2 FTE post is available at North East London NHS Foundation Trust to commence August 2023 for 6 months. The post is open to Specialty Registrars (ST4-6) in run-through training or anyone with equivalent qualifications and experience. Applicants in training will need to discuss with their respective Training Programme Director(s) before applying and subsequently apply to the London School of Psychiatry for an Out of Programme Experience (OOPE).
Main duties of the job
Duties include:
- Assessment of referrals for suitability for the clinic with Professor Moncrieff
- Initial assessment of patients and decision on a plan for reduction
- Periodic follow up with patients to assess progress and adjust reduction regimens accordingly
- Communication with GPs during the process
Non-clinical activities:
- Supervision of pharmacists and other doctors shadowing the clinic. There are often 1 or 2 and sometimes more clinicians shadowing the clinic. Discussion of relevant cases with these clinicians will help to inform others of deprescribing techniques.
- Talks to primary care doctors in the trust. We are trying to communicate what the clinic does to GP practices in the area - this will involve occasional talks to GP practices to advertise what we do.
- Administering baseline and progress surveys to patients.
- Monitoring of clinic progress. We are required to submit yearly progress reports to the LTC board and monitoring of progress month by month will be a part of the role.
About us
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Higher cost area supplement
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,108 to a maximum of £5,177).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Service - The post-holder will be the principal clinician in the deprescribing service. The service currently has a case load of about 15 -20 patients seen between fortnightly and 3 monthly. There is an aim to expand this clinical service to see 40 patients by Feb 2024.
Duties include:
- Assessment of referrals for suitability for the clinic with Professor Moncrieff
- Initial assessment of patients and decision on a plan for reduction
- Periodic follow up with patients to assess progress and adjust reduction regimens accordingly
- Communication with GPs during the process
You will have an experienced administrator to help with booking appointments, arraning follow-ups and sending letters to GPs, etc. You will have periodic supervision of patients with Professor Moncrieff.
Non-clinical activities:
- Supervision of pharmacists and other doctors shadowing the clinic. There are often 1 or 2 and sometimes more clinicians shadowing the clinic. Discussion of relevant cases with these clinicians will help to inform others of deprescribing techniques.
- Talks to primary care doctors in the trust. We are trying to communicate what the clinic does to GP practices in the area this will involve occasional talks to GP practices to advertise what we do.
- Administering baseline and progress surveys to patients.
- Monitoring of clinic progress. We are required to submit yearly progress reports to the LTC board and monitoring of progress month by month will be a part of the role.
Peer support group. We hold a peer support group on the first Tuesday of the month online from 7 to 8.30pm , co-faciliated by an experienced drug withdrawal peer facilitator
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Service - The post-holder will be the principal clinician in the deprescribing service. The service currently has a case load of about 15 -20 patients seen between fortnightly and 3 monthly. There is an aim to expand this clinical service to see 40 patients by Feb 2024.
Duties include:
- Assessment of referrals for suitability for the clinic with Professor Moncrieff
- Initial assessment of patients and decision on a plan for reduction
- Periodic follow up with patients to assess progress and adjust reduction regimens accordingly
- Communication with GPs during the process
You will have an experienced administrator to help with booking appointments, arraning follow-ups and sending letters to GPs, etc. You will have periodic supervision of patients with Professor Moncrieff.
Non-clinical activities:
- Supervision of pharmacists and other doctors shadowing the clinic. There are often 1 or 2 and sometimes more clinicians shadowing the clinic. Discussion of relevant cases with these clinicians will help to inform others of deprescribing techniques.
- Talks to primary care doctors in the trust. We are trying to communicate what the clinic does to GP practices in the area this will involve occasional talks to GP practices to advertise what we do.
- Administering baseline and progress surveys to patients.
- Monitoring of clinic progress. We are required to submit yearly progress reports to the LTC board and monitoring of progress month by month will be a part of the role.
Peer support group. We hold a peer support group on the first Tuesday of the month online from 7 to 8.30pm , co-faciliated by an experienced drug withdrawal peer facilitator
Person Specification
Prescribing ability/experience
Essential
Desirable
Person Specification
Prescribing ability/experience
Essential
Desirable
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).
