Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist - Rathbone Low Secure Unit

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Liverpool is seeking a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist to manage the care of 16 male in-patients at the Rathbone Low Secure Unit. The role offers a competitive salary of £109,725 to £145,478 annually, along with opportunities for professional development and service evaluation. Applicants must be GMC registered and have MRCPsych. This is a full-time, permanent position, contributing to a multidisciplinary team focused on forensic mental health.

Qualifications

• Registered with the GMC with a licence to practice.
• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months.
• Experience in NHS or comparable services is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage care and treatment of 16 male in-patients.
• Lead assessment of individuals referred for admission.
• Participate in service management and clinical meetings.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Ability to manage clinical complexity

Strong written and oral English

Evidence-based decision making

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

MRCPsych

Job description

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist to join the team at Rathbone Low Secure Unit in Liverpool. This is a full-time, permanent position, arising due to the retirement of the current post holder.

Rathbone Low Secure Unit provides specialist forensic mental health care for detained male patients with mental disorders who present a significant risk to others and require treatment in a secure setting. The service comprises 32 beds across two wards, serving a population of approximately 330,000 across North and South Liverpool, South Sefton (up to Southport), and part of Kirkby. It forms a key part of the secure services pathway within Mersey Care.

Responsibilities

• Join a well-established multidisciplinary team (MDT) with strong medical support.
• Work alongside a substantive consultant colleague, each managing 16 inpatients.
• Be supported by a full-time substantive staff grade doctor, a core trainee, and a full-time Physician Associate.
• Maintain clinical responsibility for patients throughout their journey within the unit.
• Act as Responsible Clinician within a multidisciplinary team and lead on the management of a caseload of 16 male inpatients, including preadmission planning, MDT meetings, CPA reviews and discharge planning.
• Liaise with other agencies (Ministry of Justice, police, probation, social care and other mental health services).
• Exercise statutory responsibilities for patients detained under Restriction Orders, including completing statutory reports to the Ministry of Justice; provide reports regarding Consent to Treatment and attend Tribunals and Managers' Reviews for both non-restricted and restricted patients.
• Lead on the assessment of individuals referred for admission from various sources (other secure services, general adult services, courts or prisons) and participate in weekly referral and panel meetings for admission to low secure and forensic step-down beds across the Merseyside and Cheshire region.
• Participate in service management, attend clinical and service-related meetings, and provide supervision to junior doctors and/or Physician Associate.

Job description

• The post holder will manage the care and treatment of 16 male in-patients within the LSU (Allerton and Childwall wards), including preadmission planning, MDT meetings, CPA reviews and discharge planning; liaise with the Ministry of Justice, police, probation, social care and other mental health services.
• Lead on the assessment of individuals referred for admission from various sources; average referrals: 2–3 per month.
• Hold statutory responsibilities as a Responsible Clinician under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended), including reporting to the Ministry of Justice and providing reports for consent to treatment and attendance at Tribunals and Managers’ Reviews; expect to be approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983 and be an Approved Clinician.
• Participate in service management, clinical team meetings and other related meetings.
• Further role details are available in the official job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• Essential: MRCPsych.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management; additional clinical qualifications.

Eligibility

• Essential: Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Essential: Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
• Essential: Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.
• Essential: Approved under S12 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.
• Desirable: In good standing with GMC with respect to warnings and conditions on practice.

Transport

• Essential: Holds and will use a valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Essential: Excellent knowledge in specialty; wide medical knowledge; excellent written and oral English; ability to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty; evidence-based decision making; ability to meet duties under MHA and MCA.
• Desirable: Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist NHS or comparable service experience.

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning

• Essential: Ability to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training; ability to lead a team; commitment to shared leadership and collaborative improvement; participation in research or service evaluation; ongoing CPD and audit involvement.
• Desirable: Experience in clinical research and service evaluation; leadership in audits leading to service improvement.

Details

• Date posted: 19 September 2025
• Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
• Grade: Consultant
• Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 per year plus 10% R&R (non-contractual) and on-call
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Location: Rathbone Low Secure Unit, Mill Lane, Liverpool, L13 4AW

About us and employer information

Mersey Care is one of the largest NHS trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people and delivering specialist inpatient and community services across various domains, including high secure mental health facilities.

We are committed to safe, effective, timely and equitable care, supporting staff to do their best and involving service users, families and carers in service development.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.