Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist - Chichester (enhanced £45K RRP)

NHS; Chichester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in Chichester seeks a General Adult Consultant Psychiatrist to lead a mental health team, conducting assessments and providing treatments. This senior role involves collaborating with various healthcare professionals and students while ensuring high-quality, person-centred care. Ideal candidates hold an MB BS or equivalent, are GMC-registered, and have excellent clinical skills and professional conduct. Unique benefits include recruitment incentives and flexible work opportunities.

Benefits

Recruitment & retention premia of £45,000

Relocation expenses up to £8,000

Access to wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist psychiatric assessments.
• Provide clinical supervision to junior staff.
• Liaise with inpatient Responsible Clinicians.

Skills

Excellent clinical skills

Oral and written communication in English

Bio-psycho-social perspective

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

Included on the GMC Specialist Register

Job description

Job Summary

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as a General Adult Consultant Psychiatrist within the Chichester Neighbourhood Mental Health Team (NMHT), based in Chichester West Sussex. This is a pivotal senior medical and clinical leadership role, embedded within a dynamic multidisciplinary community team dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care for adults experiencing mental health challenges.

The Chichester NMHT is aligned with local GP surgeries to support close collaboration with Primary Care colleagues. The team benefits from the support of another Consultant Psychiatrist and a full-time Specialty Doctor.

You’ll be part of a wider network of NMHTs across Coastal West Sussex, including teams in Arun (Bognor, Littlehampton), Worthing, and Adur (Shoreham). Inpatient services are provided at Oaklands Centre in Chichester and Meadowfield Hospital in Worthing, with access to Amber Ward, a mixed PICU at Langley Green Hospital in Crawley. The area is also supported by two Crisis and Home Treatment Teams and a dedicated Enhanced Community Rehabilitation Service.

All services are consultant‑led, and the successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues across these teams to ensure continuity of care and service excellence.

Main Duties of the Job

The Chichester NMHT is an integrated, multidisciplinary community mental health team providing specialist assessment and treatment for adults with complex and severe mental health needs. This is a key clinical leadership role within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and collaborative environment.

As Consultant Psychiatrist, your core responsibilities will include:

• Conducting specialist psychiatric assessments and delivering evidence-based treatments for patients referred to the service.
• Providing clinical supervision to junior medical staff and offering informal guidance to non-medical team members.
• Acting as the Responsible Clinician for patients subject to Community Treatment Orders, including attendance at Managers’ Hearings and Mental Health Tribunals.
• Participating in Mental Health Act assessments for patients on the team's caseload.
• Liaising with inpatient Responsible Clinicians to ensure continuity of care.
• Collaborating with external services such as forensic teams, substance misuse services, and the local risk panel as required.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to high-quality, person‑centred care within a well-established and forward-thinking community mental health service.

About Us

Not only will you be working in a county with areas of outstanding beauty such as the South Downs, and the 137 miles of coastline, along with exciting cities such as Brighton & Hove— the Trust also offers:

• Recruitment & retention premia of £45,000; £15,000 payable upon successful recruitment and £10,000 payable at 12, 24 and 36 months thereafter (subject to role and policy requirements).
• Relocation expenses up to £8,000 subject to role and policy requirements.
• Excellent NHS pension scheme.
• 30 days study leave over 3 years with annual study budget.
• Opportunities for flexible working and bespoke job planning.
• Access to wellbeing support, staff networks, and Balint groups.
• Monthly Medical Advisory Committees (MACs) which offer further peer support.
• Opportunities to engage in research, teaching, and quality improvement.

Job Description & Responsibilities

The post holder will become a senior member of the medical team within the NMHT. They will have the opportunity to work with the leadership team to develop local mental health services, in line with the West Sussex Division's strategic aims and objectives.

This role can also support any interest in research, development, medical education or special interests that you may have. We strongly believe in creating roles that provide a service but also give you the opportunity to develop your own areas of special interest.

There is only so much we can say to you in an advert, so we would love to speak to you about this role in more detail. We would love to hear from you! For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please see our contact details below.

Person Specification – Qualifications & Eligibility

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register or within six months.
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.

Transport

• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Excellent knowledge in specialty.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Desirable Qualifications

• Wide range of specialist and sub‑specialist experience relevant to the post within NHS or comparable service.

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Ability to work in and lead team.
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development.
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes.
• Ability to work in a participatory way so that shared decision making and conversations around formulation/diagnosis and ongoing care are a collaborative endeavour with the people who access our service.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Chapel Street Clinic

Chapel Street

Chichester

PO19 1BX

Employer's Website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/