Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health care organization is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to provide leadership and high-quality care for forensic patients in East Sussex. The role involves delivering inpatient care, assessments, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Suitable candidates should have extensive experience in forensic psychiatry and be willing to lead in a challenging environment. This position offers opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Access to lifelong learning and professional development

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in forensic psychiatry required.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Skills in crisis management and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver inpatient care to patients with complex mental health needs.
• Provide clinical leadership for the forensic inpatient team.
• Conduct assessments and manage patient care alongside the team.
• Lead weekly recovery reviews and participate in risk clinics.
• Liaise with various statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Assessment of patients

Understanding of mental health legislation

Collaboration with agencies

Risk management

Education

Approved as Responsible Clinician or willingness to obtain approval

Medical degree

Job description

We're looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we're proud to make a difference every day. At SPFT we put people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development. We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it's part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we'll explore what works for you and the role. We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you. We're shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our forensic health care team in East Sussex providing leadership to deliver high-quality, person-centred care to inpatient forensic patients on a subacute/rehabilitation medium secure ward. This is an established post and has become available due to internal reconfiguration as a result of service expansion. The post-holder will provide clinical leadership for the subacute/rehabilitation ward – Ash ward at the Hellingly Centre. Consultant Psychiatrist would be part of FHS consultant group, The inpatient clinical caseload is 15 male patients on Ash – subacute/rehabilitation ward. All patients are detained under the Mental Health Act.

• Clinical duties include delivering inpatient care to the patients and assessment of patients referred to the forensic service through a single point of access. Referrals are allocated at the weekly referrals meeting. On an average there is 1 referral per week.
• Assessments are undertaken independently and with another member of staff from the team (nursing/psychologist), depending on the patient's mental health needs.
• Chair weekly recovery reviews (ward rounds), CPA meetings and participate in risk clinics. Reviews of patients outside the MDT meetings.
• Provide clinical and strategic leadership for allocated elements of the teams. This will include direct clinical involvement in assessments, diagnosis and management of complex mental health presentations in the context of significant potential risk to self and others.
• It will also include provision of clinical consultation and supervision to the team.
• This post also entails provision of statutory roles including MHA (preparation of reports and Tribunal attendance) and MCA legislation as well as, potentially, the provision of expert testimony to the Criminal Courts.
• The role will also entail significant contributions towards the educational, service development and clinical governance/quality improvement processes within the service.
• To work closely with colleagues from Secure and Forensic community-based services to develop suitable discharge arrangements in preparation for the discharge of suitable secure inpatients to the community and to ensure high quality care pathways.
• To liaise with statutory and non-statutory agencies (Probation, Police, Court, Social Services, voluntary organisations) as required.
• To attend MAPPA meetings as required.
• To participate in the weekly referrals meeting.
• To offer training to professional audiences as appropriate.
• To participate in the East Sussex on-call rota.
• During working hours, the post holder will take part in the Hellingly Centre LTS rota (1:5) together with consultant colleagues.

The post holder will be expected to be approved as a Responsible Clinician or be willing to undertake training to obtain this approval. They will be expected to renew this approval according to agreed procedures.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

We provide NHS care and treatment to children, young people, adults and older people who have mental health problems, learning disabilities or neurodiversity needs. We employ about 5,700 staff. Many of our services are provided in partnership with other organisations. We provide care in people's homes, in specialist clinics, hospitals and GP surgeries.

As well as being a provider of services across Sussex we also commission specialist beds. Working with NHS and independent sector healthcare organisations across the South-East we are the lead provider in three Provider Collaboratives. These cover adult eating disorders, secure care and children and young people inpatient services.

Sussex Partnership was formed in April 2006 as an NHS Trust and established as an NHS Foundation Trust with teaching trust status in August 2008. We work closely with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, a partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. In 2015, we became a member of the Association of UK University Hospitals, the representative body for university hospitals with major teaching and research interests across the UK and internationally.

Our services are rated 'good' by the Care Quality Commission and 'outstanding' for caring. We work closely with other health and care partners to provide the best possible care to our local populations. We have strengths in innovation, including our work in the field of research and development.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.