Consultant Psychiatrist – General Adult, Juniper Ward

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

Job summary

A leading health service in Chester is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to join Juniper Ward at Bowmere Hospital. This role involves providing comprehensive psychiatric care, leading a multidisciplinary team, and ensuring evidence-based patient care. The ideal candidate must have MBBS or equivalent qualifications, be GMC registered, and possess strong clinical skills. A competitive salary is offered, along with opportunities for mentorship and professional development. Flexible working options and a supportive culture are part of the package.

Benefits

Mentoring and leadership development opportunities

Protected SPA time for CPD, teaching, QI and research

Flexible working options

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 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive psychiatric care and act as Responsible Clinician for detained inpatients.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team including junior and senior trainees.
• Collaborate with Home Treatment Team to ensure continuity of care.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Ability to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty

Education

MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management

MRCPsych

Job description

Job Summary

We are excited to invite applications for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join Juniper Ward, an acute adult inpatient unit at Bowmere Hospital, Chester.

Juniper Ward provides care for adults aged 18 and over experiencing acute mental health crises, including psychosis, affective disorders and personality disorders. Patients may be admitted informally or detained under the Mental Health Act.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join during an exciting phase of redevelopment, as Bowmere Hospital undergoes major remodelling to enhance safety, therapeutic design, and the overall wellbeing of both patients and staff.

What CWP Offers

A supportive, peer-connected consultant network

Protected SPA time for CPD, teaching, QI and research

Mentoring and leadership development opportunities

Flexible working options and strong wellbeing support culture

Our values of compassion, collaboration, and clinical excellence guide everything we do. Consultants joining us are encouraged to lead, innovate, and contribute to service improvement while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance.

Planned shortlisting will commence on 14th January and proposed interview date is 22nd January.

Main Duties of the Job

Provide comprehensive psychiatric care and act as Responsible Clinician (RC) for detained inpatients.

Lead a multidisciplinary team that includes junior and senior trainees, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses and pharmacists.

Ensure timely, evidence-based clinical decision‑making and patient‑centred care.

Collaborate closely with the Home Treatment Team and Community Mental Health Teams to ensure continuity across the acute care pathway.

Take shared responsibility with the Ward Manager for clinical governance, risk management, and service improvement on the ward.

Contribute to the design and delivery of safer, modernised inpatient pathways aligned with the Bowmere remodelling project.

Participate in incident reviews, audits and quality improvement initiatives.

Provide teaching and supervision for medical trainees and multidisciplinary staff, fostering a positive learning culture.

Join the West Cheshire consultant on‑call rota (1:13) and participate in cross‑cover arrangements as needed.

About Us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all‑age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person‑centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Job Details

Posted on: 12 December 2025

Pay Scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade: Consultant

Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 373‑MED1246‑CRR

Location: Juniper Ward, Bowmere Hospital, Chester, CH2 1BQ

Qualifications

Essential:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable:

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• MRCPsych
• Additional clinical qualifications.

Eligibility

Essential:

• 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 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.
• Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment.

Desirable:

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge in specialty.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.

Desirable:

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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure and Barring Service check to screen for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer Details

Employer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Juniper Ward, Bowmere Hospital, Chester, CH2 1BQ

Website: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/