Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Adult

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Southend-on-Sea is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist specializing in Older Adult mental health services. The role involves providing clinical leadership, performing assessments, and managing patients primarily over 70 years old. Candidates must have a medical qualification and be on the Specialist Register. The organization supports professional development and offers various benefits, including flexible work arrangements and relocation assistance.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent training facilities

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration required.
• Experience and skills in managing complex cases.
• Ability to conduct complex diagnostic memory assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership to the multidisciplinary team.
• Conduct new assessments for complex cases and support assessments.
• Oversee clinical management through team meetings.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to manage clinical complexity

Decision-making based on evidence

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

Registration with the General Medical Council and on the Specialist Register

Postgraduate degree in psychiatry MRC Psych or equivalent

Job description

Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Adult

The closing date is 15 December 2025

Would you like to be part of leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health for inpatient and community care? Why not join Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust for the opportunity to flourish and excel in your career and be part of our dedicated medical team.

This is a full time Consultant post for older adult community mental health services that has become available after the move of the previous post holder. This post is currently covered by a Locum Consultant Psychiatrist. We are hoping to recruit an enthusiastic doctor into a substantive post. The doctor is required to be on the specialist register for Old age or any subspecialty of the mental health.

This community Team based at Harland Centre, provide services mainly to the Dementia patients and to Elderly patients in Southend and surrounding areas.

This post is based at Harland Centre, Southend. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing clinical leadership for the assessment and management of dementia patients in community and to functional older adult 70+ in the catchment area. The post holder will be the Approved Clinician for patients detained under the Community treatment order.

Main duties of the job

As a Consultant Older Adult Psychiatrist, the post holder will provide senior clinical leadership to the multidisciplinary team. The service aims to provide a comprehensive service for patients over the age of 70 years with mental health problems and for patients with an established or suspected diagnosis of dementia. The team may accept patients below the age of 70 years if they meet the criteria for frailty.

You must have full GMC registration and be on the Specialist Register, with an appropriate CCT or equivalent or be within six months of obtaining your CCT on the date of the AAC.

Essex has something for everyone, amazing scenery, great schools, adventurous outdoor activities, fantastic restaurants and a colourful history so why not contact us to discover why so many of our staff love living and working here.

About us

The trust is actively supportive of newly qualified consultants continuing professional development seeking to deepen and broaden their skills. As well as making a clinical difference, we believe that your development is key so you will be supported to enable you to pursue educational and research interests which go hand in hand to provide a high quality of care and safety to our patients. We have excellent links with the medical school at ARU and other educational establishments where we have shared appointments in teaching and research. We also offer generous relocation package.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

Job responsibilities

• The Post Holder will be responsible for referrals from their own patch and will have a clinical leadership role within the team along with other senior clinical team members.
• The post holder will carry out new assessments for complex cases personally and support other team members to assess other referrals through supervision. Patients will be seen in outpatient clinics primarily and through home visits occasionally. The Consultant will be expected to conduct 3 outpatient clinics and 1 clinic for domiciliary visits. In these sessions the Consultant will be approximately seeing 3 new patients and 10‑12 follow up patients.
• They oversee the clinical management of patients within the service through weekly multidisciplinary team meeting.
• The post holder will conduct complex diagnostic memory assessments and provide supervision to the nurses who conduct less complex assessments. The diagnostic process is supported by the psychologist when a neuropsychology assessment is required/ they will conduct disclosure appointments to inform patients of diagnosis, discuss and initiate treatment if appropriate.
• The post holder will also support the nurses in care coordinating people with complex problems and promote active case‑load management. The post holder will attend multi‑professional meetings and carry out Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act assessments for their patients when appropriate.
• The post holder will be available to team members for clinical advice during the working day. There is a well‑functioning duty system in place covered by the nurses for triaging and emergency assessments. The post holder will be available to support the decision making by the duty system for complex cases and provide supervision for the urgent review of patients within the service.
• Cover for holidays and absences to colleagues with mutual consultation and agreement.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• Registration with the General Medical Council and on the Specialist Register OR within six months
• Meets Royal College of Psychiatrists criteria for appointment to the post of Consultant.
• Section 12 Approval and Approved Clinician Status.
• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• On the Specialist Register with qualifications Older Adult/General Adult/Dual trainee.
• Postgraduate degree in psychiatry MRC Psych or equivalent.
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practice at the time of appointment.
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.

Clinical skills, knowledge and experience

• 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.

Transport

• Oholds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust