Consultant Psychiatrist - Older Adult In-patients

Consultant Psychiatrist - Older Adult In-patients

We seek an enthusiastic and skilled age psychiatrist for one of our two older adults wards at Highgate East Mental Health Centre. We are looking for an old age psychiatrist with an interest in dementia and related conditions. Garnet Ward is a 16 bed older adults ward. As a result of our ECT service expanding we need additional consultant input into that service. This post includes one session for ECT (the other older adults consultant also has one PA session for this). This post is a fixed term post, initially for six months, with the possibility of extension. It would suit either an experienced consultant or a new consultant who has just gained their CCT. Ideally, we are looking for doctors with a CCT in old age psychiatry. Psychiatrists with a CCT in general adult psychiatry would also be considered. The post holder would be based in Highgate East in which there are two older adults mental health wards, three rehabilitation wards and a liaison service. There is a supportive group of consultants there.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will provide clinical leadership to Garnet ward and ECT (on average) one session per week.

Garnet Ward

Garnet ward is a 14 bedded ward for older adults with a primary diagnosis of an organic mental illness. The post-holder is expected to review patients together with the MDT on the ward on a regular basis. They will act as the Responsible Clinician for patients on Garnet ward who are detained under the Mental Health Act. They will also be expected to provide clinical supervision to the trainee doctors working on the ward.

The ward is managed by a full-time ward manager and 2 full-time charge nurses. There is a full time OT and activities co-ordinator that are shared between Garnet and Pearl (our other Older Adult ward) and also input from a psychologist.

The ward is based in the newly built Highgate East Mental Health Unit. This unit opened in January 2025. There are five wards in Highgate East: two older adults wards and three rehabilitation wards. The Liaison service is also based in Highgate East. Highgate West Mental Health Unit is approximately a 2 minute walk away from Highgate East. In Highgate West there are ten wards: 8 acute wards and 2 PICUs. At Highgate West there is also a Place of Safety and a Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service. Together Highgate West and East make up the Highgate Campus.

Medical cover for Garnet is 0.3 of a higher trainee, a full time core trainee and also a full time foundation doctor.

The ward is part of an integrated acute care pathway with our Camden and Islington older peoples community health teams, community recovery centre for older people and award-winning Home Treatment Team for Older Adults. There is a weekly bed management meeting between all of these teams which is attended by the senior clinical leads. The pathway has been very successful in increasing the number of older adults that have been able to be treated in their own homes over the last few years with a reduction of 33% in older adults occupied in-patient beds.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Registration

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and a license to practice. Must be on the specialist register or within 6 months of gaining a Certificate of Completion of Training in Old Age Psychiatry.
• Membership of Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent higher qualification in psychiatry.
• Section 12(2) and Approved Clinician status (or eligibility) - qualifies to act as a Responsible Clinician.
• Registered with Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD programme and in good standing.
• Training up to date to be an approved trainer/clinical supervisor in line with GMC recognition and approval of trainers which is overseen by the LETB.
• Trained as an Educational Supervisor for doctors in training.
• Training as a Consultant mentor.

Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge and observance of the requirements and duties of a doctor laid down by the GMC in Good Medical Practice.
• Clinical knowledge of the full range mental disorders presenting in old age.
• Experience in the assessment of complex clinical cases involving severe and enduring mental illness in old age and significant risk histories and the ability to assertively engage and manage such cases.
• Expertise in a comprehensive range of evidence based treatment and case management options including pharmacotherapy.
• Experience and competency in delivering Electro-Convulsive Therapy.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding practices.
• Experience and knowledge of the assessment and management of neurodegenerative disorders.
• Experience in work place based assessments of doctors in training.
• Knowledge of clinical commissioning and external organisations that interface with an NHS Trust.
• Experience in organising and chairing meetings.
• Good understanding of Trust governance structures, especially clinical governance.
• An understanding of the role of research within the wider service.
• Willingness to participate in research as appropriate and within the context of the duties of the post.
• Experience in teaching small and large groups.
• Experience in developing policies and protocols.
• Experience of service development.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to change.
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and influence others.
• Ability to organise workload and manage time and delegate responsibility where appropriate.
• Ability to practise as an independent Consultant Psychiatrist.
• Thoroughness and attention to detail in clinical matters.
• Sensitivity to needs of all patients and carers.
• Sensitivity and awareness in clients and staff from different cultures, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientations.
• Teaching and supervision skills for undergraduate medical students, doctors in training and multi-professional staff.
• Ability to work in a team environment and to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multidisciplinary basis with all levels of staff.
• Ability to take on the role and responsibilities of the clinical lead.
• Experience in undertaking clinical audit, investigating serious incidents and handling complaints.
• Enthusiasm for the subject of old age psychiatry and willingness to share knowledge and experience.
• A special interest or willingness to develop one in an area which helps to meet the needs of the Trust.
• Experience in successfully delivering research projects.

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.

Garnet Ward (Highgate East Mental Health Centre)

£105,504 to £139,882 a year Plus £2,162 of London Zone Weighting per year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

455-ME590

Job locations

Garnet Ward (Highgate East Mental Health Centre)

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