Consultant Psychiatrist - Community Eating Disorders

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

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Dunstable seeks a Consultant Psychiatrist to lead the Eating Disorder services. Responsibilities include providing leadership, conducting complex assessments, and ensuring high-quality service delivery. Candidates must be fully registered with the General Medical Council and have experience in Adult Psychiatry, particularly in eating disorder services. This is a permanent role, with options for full-time or part-time hours, offering a competitive salary package.

Qualifications

• At least one year of clinical work in Adult Psychiatry, particularly in eating disorder services.
• Experience in teaching junior staff and good communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultant leadership and support the development of the Eating Disorder services.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of complex referrals.
• Lead in monitoring and treating physical complications of eating disorders.

Skills

Leadership skills

Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team

Consultation skills

Risk assessment expertise

Education

Fully registered with the General Medical Council

Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Job description

Job summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust runs a specialist Community Eating Disorders Service (CEDS) providing specialist assessment and treatment to people referred with severe and complex eating disorders. We have a stepped care partnership with local charity 'Caroline' who are commissioned to provide for mild to moderate eating disorders.

The team works in close conjunction with primary care and secondary mental health services and manages approximately 200-300 referrals per year with an ongoing caseload of circa 70, with average of 30 at high risk. The EDS consists of a multi-disciplinary community team comprising psychology, psychiatry, mental and physical health nursing, GP with special interest, Occupational Therapists and dietetics colleagues.

The current team delivers evidence-based treatments within a recovery model of care. We work using a motivational approach with patients to empower them in taking ownership of their recovery. To promote recovery positive risk taking and effective risk management are essential.

Closing date:30th October 2025

Interview date (AAC panel): 18th November 2025 (Pending Shortlisting)

Main duties of the job

Provide consultant leadership and support the continued development of the Eating Disorder services.

Ensure that service users consistently receive high-quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and achieve high professional standards.

Provide a key role as the senior specialist clinician within the team and support the wider work of the multi-disciplinary team.

Provide a comprehensive assessment of complex referrals requiring psychiatric review. This includes medical and psychiatric assessment, including eating disorder and non-eating disorder psychopathology.

Provide consultations as part of the MEED pathway with colleagues from acute hospitals.

Lead in the monitoring and treatment of the physical complications of eating disorders in collaboration with other health professionals.

Supervise the team in charge of the medical monitoring and management of High-risk patients monitored in House (checking bloods when needed, taking appropriate actions).

Provide clinical advice and guidance to primary care physicians to manage patients in the least restrictive environment.

Work with the Team manager to ensure KPI and national targets are met.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details Date posted

19 December 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

363-MRBED7272012-B

Job locations

Mountbatten House

56 High Street South

Dunstable

LU6 3HD

Job description Job responsibilities

The Team currently consists of:

• Consultant Psychiatrist (This post)
• GPSI
• Consultant Psychologist & Team Lead
• Clinical Psychologist
• Principal Psychologist
• Operational Manager
• Therapist / Nurse Practitioner
• Occupational Therapist
• Dietitians
• Eating Disorder Practitioners / Nurse / Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Clinical Support Workers
• Admin Team

The Team currently consists of:

• Consultant Psychiatrist (This post)
• GPSI
• Consultant Psychologist & Team Lead
• Clinical Psychologist
• Principal Psychologist
• Operational Manager
• Therapist / Nurse Practitioner
• Occupational Therapist
• Dietitians
• Eating Disorder Practitioners / Nurse / Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Clinical Support Workers
• Admin Team

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Fully registered with the General Medical Council
• Eligible for inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register (or Specialist Registrar within 6 months of gaining CCT at time of interview).
• Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines)
• Eligible for Section 12 Approval (Mental Health Act)/ Approved Clinician or willing to apply for such approval once in post

Desirable

• A higher degree such as MD or PhD

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Experience of clinical work in Adult Psychiatry (with at least one year experience in eating disorder services) at SpR, SASG or consultant level within the last 3 years
• Excellent working knowledge and experience of the application of the Mental Health Act
• Appreciation and understanding of ethnic minority issues and a commitment to developing culturally sensitive practices
• Understanding of social factors relevant to psychiatry
• Robust experience of working with severe and enduring mental illness and risk assessment, management

Desirable

• Experience of service development and introducing new services in mental health
• Experience of working at consultant level in a community environment

Organisation Skills / Abilities Essential

• Leadership skills
• Ability to work as a part of multidisciplinary, multi-model team
• Ability to manage complex workloads and support others to do that
• Consultation skills to services, teams and individuals
• Commitment to working in multidisciplinary setting
• Commitment to working with service users on service development

Desirable

• Formal leadership and management training
• Experience of team /service leadership
• Experience of organisational development work
• Project management ability

Clinical Skills and Supervision Essential

• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary team and provide leadership for the team
• Self-motivating and innovative
• Expertise in risk assessment
• Confident in therapeutic risk taking
• Commitment to clinical governance

Desirable

• Experience in supervising trainee doctors and SAS doctors

Teaching Essential

• Experience in teaching junior staff
• Good teaching and communication skills
• Experience of teaching medical undergraduates and postgraduates
• Experience of teaching non-medical mental health professionals

Desirable

• Medical education qualification

Research and Audit Essential

• Experience of research work, or be able to interpret research findings and apply them to clinical practice
• Audit experience

Desirable

• Experience of grant-funded project work
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals in relevant academic fields

Other Requirments Essential

• UK Driving Licence

Desirable

• Car Owner

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.

Additional information 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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Mountbatten House

56 High Street South

Dunstable

LU6 3HD

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/