Consultant in Adult Forensic Psychiatry (HMP Woodhill)

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist for HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. The successful candidate will manage assessments and treatment planning within a complex prison environment, supported by a multidisciplinary team. Applicants must be fully registered with the GMC and have demonstrable leadership experience. This role offers the chance to work closely with correctional services and contribute to mental health service delivery.

Qualifications

• Fully registered with the GMC and a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Experience of job planning and resolving complex performance management issues.
• Membership of committee/relevant regulatory body, including CQC preparation.

Responsibilities

• Assessment and treatment planning for mental health problems in the prisons.
• Management of care and supervision of quality assurance processes.
• Contribute to clinical governance and participation in audits.

Skills

Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Ability to manage conflict and difficult conversations

Experience of Quality Improvement

Education

Primary Medical Degree

CCT in Forensic

Management and leadership course/qualification

Higher degree (Msc, LLM, MD or PhD)

Job description

Consultant in Adult Forensic Psychiatry (HMP Woodhill)

The closing date is 11 December 2025

Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

The Trust is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to join HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. The service is expanding within HMP Woodhill and a new contract has been mobilised.

The Mental Health Team in HMP Woodhill provides an integrated Mental Health Service, offering both a primary mental health team (PMH) and a secondary mental health in-reach team (MHIRT).

The post-holder will have consultant and RC responsibility for service users, supported by a multidisciplinary team and managed by the Clinical Director.

Main duties of the job

Referrals to the psychiatrist are made at the MDT team meeting following an initial mental health assessment. Prisoners with complex needs and high risk may be jointly managed by both CPN and psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is available to carry out psychiatric assessments, provide evidence-based interventions, medication reviews and offer advice and guidance on particular cases.

The postholder would be expected to up to three outpatient clinics a week, typically seeing three–four patients in each clinic. There would be one ward round each week.

The team assess patients in healthcare, on ordinary location, the CSC and separation & care unit. A key area of the work will be the assessment and treatment of patients on the inpatient unit (up to 12 patients). The inpatient unit houses a mix of both physical health and mental health patients, with up to half being mental health patients including those requiring transfer to a psychiatric hospital.

The post-holder is not expected to carry a caseload. Caseloads will be carried by the CPNs and the post-holder will be expected to conduct psychiatric/medication reviews.

About us

We currently provide a range of services (including mental health, substance misuse, sexual health and primary care) to the following prisons: HMPs Bronzefield, High Down, Downview, Send, Coldingley, Feltham and Aylesbury. We also provide community forensic services in North West London, liaison and diversion services to police stations and Magistrates' Courts (Uxbridge, Hillington, Willesden and Westminster), to the Central Criminal and Harrow Crown Court, as well as low secure specialist forensic services at Park Royal.

The Mental Health Team in HMP Woodhill works closely with prison staff and other health and non‑health contracted services to provide a person‑centred, continuous service that promotes positive health and social care outcomes, sustainable resettlement and reduction in re‑offending. HMP Woodhill is a Category B prison with a Category A function that was built in 1992. Within the perimeter it has a Close Supervision Centre, which accommodates a number of the highest risk men within the prison estate. It also has a Separation Centre, which accommodates inmates felt to be at risk of radicalising others and a Protected Witness Unit. It does not have a remand function.

The prison accommodates approximately 500 adult male prisoners and a small number of Category A young offenders. CNWL provides primary care, mental health and addiction services and is an integral part of the wider prison team contributing to the rehabilitative culture within the establishment.

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will accept that the description of clinical duties is not exhaustive. The detail of clinical duties will be reviewed in the light of the post-holder's experience and the needs of the service.

Clinical responsibilities:

• Assessment (including the assessment of risk), treatment, care planning and multi‑agency liaison for people with mental health problems in the prisons.
• CPA management of care, undertake Mental Capacity Assessments, contribute to planned emergency interventions.
• Liaison with prisons, courts, statutory and non‑statutory agencies, concerning all aspects of the mental health care management of men with mental health problems in the prisons.
• Work closely with the Manager, Psychologists and other lead professionals to provide clinical leadership and ensure safe, supportive care.
• Liaise closely with other medical, clinical and managerial staff to provide high‑quality care pathways.
• Participation, when relevant, in the ACCT (self‑harm / suicide prevention) processes.
• Practice in accordance with NICE and other relevant Guidelines and CNWL Trust policy.
• Accurate record‑keeping according to Trust and professional guidelines (data protection legislation and information governance standards).
• Application of the Mental Health Act including sections 48/49 and 47/49.

Clinical governance:

• Expected contribution to clinical governance and responsibility for setting and monitoring standards.
• Participation in clinical audit/QI, service/team evaluation and the planning of future service developments.

General duties:

• Contribution to Care Quality through audit, research, and participation in local and Trust‑wide care quality processes, including CQC inspections.
• Practice in accordance with NICE and other relevant guidelines.
• Contribute to ensuring that the Health & Justice Directorate and the Trust as a whole achieve the activity, performance and outcome targets as agreed with key stakeholders.
• Contribution to service development (care pathways/clinical protocols/new service development) according to need and in agreement with the Clinical Director.
• Administer duties associated with the care of patients, record clinical activity accurately and submit promptly to the Information Department.
• Participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.
• Participate in annual appraisal for consultants.
• Attend and participate in the academic programme of the Trust, including lectures and seminars as part of the internal CPD programme.
• Maintain professional registration with the General Medical Council, Mental Health Act Section 12(2) approval, and abide by professional codes of conduct.
• Participate annually in a job plan review with the Clinical Director, including consultation with a relevant manager to ensure the post is developed to accommodate changes in service configuration and delivery.
• Work with local managers and professional colleagues to ensure efficient running of services, share medical contributions to management, and comply with Trust policies, procedures, standing orders, and financial instructions.

Person Specification

PPREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Clinical leadership/management experience
• Track record of improving quality in a service
• Experience of job planning
• Experience of resolving conflict and complex performance management issues

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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
• Approved clinician status
• Section 12MHA Approval
• Primary Medical Degree
• CCT in Forensic
• Management and leadership course/qualification
• Higher degree (Msc, LLM, MD or PhD)

CLINICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE

• Excellent clinical skills using bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Ability to manage Clinical Complicity
• Ability to manage conflict and difficult conversations
• Ability to make decisions based on evidence and experience, including input from others
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
• Wide range of specialist and sub‑specialist experience relevant to the post within NHS or comparable service
• Experience of Quality Improvement
• Membership of committee/relevant regulatory body CQC preparation
• Contract/procurement knowledge

ACADEMIC SKILLS & LIFELONG LEARNING

• Participated in continuous professional development
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
• Ability to work constructively within MDT environments without complaints / concerns
• Has actively participated in clinical audit
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to equality & diversity
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in working pattern
• Demonstrates energy, enthusiasm & initiative in pursuing innovation and the highest standards for patients, juniors, others, colleagues & the organisation.
• IT literate
• Demonstrable ability to cope under pressure
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust