Consultant Psychiatrist

Priory; Testwood; On-site; GBP 153,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Enhanced maternity pay

Birthday Holiday - extra annual leave

Contributory pension scheme

Flexible benefits: gym membership, IT,

Private healthcare

IPD sponsorship for professional quals

Leadership & management development

Long service award

Refer a friend bonuses

Job summary

Priory Hospital Southampton is inviting a Consultant Psychiatrist to join the Sandpiper Ward in an 18-bed acute inpatient setting. The role emphasizes patient recovery, risk management, and high standards of care within a NHS-partnered, private hospital environment.

The successful candidate will lead clinical care, supervise junior medical staff, and contribute to governance and service development. A commitment to workforce collaboration and relocation flexibility is welcomed.

Qualifications

• Current GMC Registration is essential.
• Specialist Registration in a Psychiatric Specialty is essential.
• Approved Clinician status, or eligibility to apply, is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultant psychiatric care for up to 18 inpatients on Sandpiper Ward, leading comprehensive assessments and ward rounds.
• Provide clinical leadership for the ward, chair MDT meetings, and support safe, recovery-focused care.
• Supervise the Specialty Doctor and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team for professional development.
• Contribute to clinical governance, audits, and service improvements; build relationships with NHS partners and commissioners.
• Support patient flow with regular reviews, risk management, and discharge planning.

Skills

GMC Registration

Specialist Registration

Approved Clinician status

NHS acute inpatient psychiatry

MDT leadership

Job description

Priory Hospital Southampton Salary £170,000 Full Time/37.5 Hours

Priory Hospital Southampton is looking to recruit a Consultant Psychiatrist. This is a permanent position, ideally full-time (37.5 hours per week) with part-time and job-share arrangements also considered.

Set within beautiful, landscaped gardens, Priory Hospital Southampton’s tranquil environment offers therapeutic and recovery-focused residential treatment for those suffering from a number of mental health conditions.

The hospital has 31 mixed gender adult acute beds across 2 wards, as well as a 13 bed Eating Disorders ward and an Eating Disorders day hospital, all of which care for NHS patients.

The hospital is well-established and holds a CQC rating of “Good”. One of our acute wards is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrist Quality Network for Working Age Adults, and we are aiming for the other ward to achieve accreditation this year.

We have a long-standing partnership with the local NHS Trusts, and relationships with commissioners and neighbouring NHS services are strong.

What you’ll be doing

You will join the team on the Sandpiper Ward, which is an 18 bed mixed gender adult acute inpatient ward. In this role, you will play a key part in patient recovery, supporting the assessment and delivery of tailored treatment plans while ensuring dignity, respect, and high standards of care.

• Provide consultant psychiatric care for up to 18 inpatients, undertaking comprehensive assessments, leading ward rounds and delivering high-quality, patient‑centred treatment.
• Provide clinical leadership for the ward, leading multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, supporting effective decision-making and ensuring safe, recovery‑focused care.
• Supervise and support the Specialty Doctor, while working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to promote clinical excellence and professional development.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the service through participation in clinical governance, audits, senior management meetings and service improvement initiatives, while building strong relationships with NHS partners and commissioners.
• Support effective patient flow through regular clinical reviews, risk management and discharge planning.

You can find additional information in the attached job description.

What you’ll bring to the role

Essential for the role –

• Current GMC Registration
• Specialist Registration in a Psychiatric Speciality
• Approved Clinician status, or eligibility to apply for Approved Clinician status

We are looking for a Consultant Psychiatrist with experience in UK acute inpatient psychiatry, gained within the NHS and/or independent healthcare sector. The successful candidate will have a strong background in managing patients in an acute mental health inpatient setting and be confident working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Applications are welcomed from experienced Consultants, ideally with experience of working on NHS acute wards.

We would also consider applications from newly appointed Consultants who can demonstrate substantial inpatient expertise.

The ideal candidate will be committed to delivering high-quality patient care, able to build strong relationships with NHS stakeholders and commissioners, and keen to become an integral member of the local service and medical team.

Candidates who are not currently based in the area should be open to relocating to support their long‑term commitment to the service.

What we will give you in return

We want you to succeed at Priory and thrive in your role. You will be well supported with regular career conversations. We also offer full training and numerous pathways into leadership and qualified clinical positions to help you shape your career with us.

Healthcare benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Birthday Holiday - Your Birthday as an extra days annual leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Flexible benefits including reduced rates and access to new schemes including gym membership, IT technology (laptops / tablets / smartphones) and private healthcare
• Access to development opportunities
• Sponsorship of professional qualifications through our Individual Professional Development (IPD) panel
• Leadership & management development
• Long service award
• Refer a friend bonuses

Shortlisting may begin upon receipt of applications, and the Recruiting Manager may close the vacancy early if enough suitable candidates are identified.

About Priory

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and adult social care. With 12,000 colleagues and a network of 270 services, we support over 24,000 people each year to live their lives as fully and independently as possible. We treat more than 70 conditions – including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and children’s mental health – and provide residential and supported living care for autistic adults, people with a learning disability, Prader–Willi Syndrome, brain injuries and older people.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to providing an inclusive, accessible recruitment process. Learn more about the accessibility support we offer here.

All roles are subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Access NI or Disclosure Scotland. Priory will cover the cost of a DBS check.