Consultant in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability.

Integrated Care System; Poole; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a full-time Learning Disability Psychiatrist to work in Poole. The successful candidate will provide community-based psychiatric services for adults with Learning Disabilities within a multidisciplinary team, focusing on patient care and collaboration. Excellent clinical and communication skills are vital. Experience in psychiatry or related fields required. Interested applicants should apply by the closing date of 09 October 2025.

Qualifications

• Must have a Licence to Practise.
• Experience of medicine outside psychiatry.
• Teaching Experience is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Provide community psychiatry service for adults with Learning Disabilities in Poole.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team for effective patient care.
• Attend weekly meetings for the LD Intensive Support Team.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective

Effective multidisciplinary team involvement

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

General medical Qualification (e.g. MBBS)

MRCPsych or equivalent

CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability

Job description

Go back Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Consultant in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability.

The closing date is 09 October 2025

This is an excellent opportunity for a full time (10 PA) Learning Disability Psychiatrist working in the Poole CLDT within the wider Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 'BCP' multidisciplinary team for adults with LD. It provides multidisciplinary community-based services to adult patients with Learning Disabilities / Intellectual Disabilities registered with general practitioners within this area. You will be one of 3 psychiatrists in the BCP CLDTs.

You will be taking over from the current post holder who is moving to a smaller patch due to reducing their hours.

You will provide a community psychiatry service for adult patients with Learning Disabilities in Poole. The total population of Poole is approx. 150,00 and the current psychiatry caseload is 65 adults, the current Poole CLDT caseload is 210.

You will not be responsible for management of epilepsy. In Dorset, epilepsy management is provided by the Neurology led Dorset Epilepsy Services from provided by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust for all patients, with and without LD.

Poole is the 2nd largest town in Dorset after neighbouring Bournemouth and is a desirable and well-connected location with direct trains to London, 10 miles from Bournemouth Airport and has a beautiful harbour on the same coastline as Dorset World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

Dorset HealthCare was last inspected by the CQC in 2019 and received and overall rating of Outstanding.

Main duties of the job

This is a post for a full time (10 PA) Learning Disability Psychiatrist working in the Poole CLDT within a wider Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) multidisciplinary team for adults with LD. It provides multidisciplinary community-based services to adult patients with Learning Disabilities / Intellectual Disabilities registered with general practitioners within this area. You will be one of 3 psychiatrists in the BCP CLDTs.

DHC also has a nurse-led Dorset-wide LD Intensive Support Team (IST) which supports the 9 Dorset CLDTs, and you will regularly attend their weekly online meetings.

Specialist epilepsy management for adults with LD is not part of the LD psychiatrist's role in Dorset as this is provided by the consultant Neurology led Dorset Epilepsy Service, provided by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust 'UHD'.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

• General medical Qualification e.g. MBBS, or equivalent and hold a Licence to Practise.
• MRCPsych or recognised equivalent, e.g. membership of a psychiatry college in another country.
• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Must be in possession or within 6 months of possession of a CCT in Psychiatry or on Specialist Register in Psychiatry.
• Section 12(2) approval and Approved Clinician approval or ability to obtain approval before starting post
• If no CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability / not on Specialist Register in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability, then must demonstrate interest and ability to apply psychiatric practice to this patient group
• CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability
• Experience of medicine outside psychiatry e.g. general practice, medicine.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team involvement.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wider medical knowledge.
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
• Make decisions based on evidence and experience including contribution of others.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Teaching Experience
• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within the NHS or comparable service.

Dorset HealthCare Values

• Proactive, respectful, supportive, reliable and trustworthy, and positive

Management Skills

• Understand the importance of working with managers in the interest of good patient care
• Able to manage priorities
• Evidence of management/Leadership skills training
• Previous management experience including that of other junior medical staff

Supervision of Junior medical Staff

• Knowledge of requirements for supervision and appraisal of junior medical staff.
• Approved educational supervisor training
• To have an understanding of own strengths and weaknesses and how these attributes affect professional functioning.
• To have an understanding of the stresses involved in being a consultant psychiatrist and how to manage these appropriately.

Clinical Governance

• An understanding of the importance of Clinical Governance in the NHS organisations and importance in patient care.
• Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation

Leadership Skills

• Understand principles of leadership and give examples of leadership in own practice.
• Able to provide clinical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team.

Research and Audit

• Experience of carrying out an audit project
• Experience or involvement in a research project and publication
• Ability to supervisor junior medical staff undertaking research projects
• Published audit project
• Ability to critically appraise published research

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.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust