Consultant Psychiatrist - Inpatient Older People’s Mental Health

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in the UK is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist for its Older People’s Mental Health inpatient team. The role offers leadership opportunities and the chance to pursue clinical interests with support for professional growth. Benefits include flexible working options, generous pension schemes, and various wellbeing services. Candidates should be on the Specialist Register of the GMC and demonstrate excellence in mental health practice.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Discounts at popular retailers

Free parking

Qualifications

• Candidates must be on the Specialist Register of the GMC.
• Demonstrable excellence in Older People’s Mental Health clinical practice.
• Proven leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership to the ward multidisciplinary team.
• Take clinical responsibility for assessment and ongoing management of patients.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and patient reviews.
• Ensure timely completion of clinical records and discharge summaries.
• Act as an Approved Clinician under the Mental Health Act.

Skills

Older People’s Mental Health clinical practice

MDT leadership

Communication

Education

Specialist Register of the GMC

Job description

Job Summary

A Vacancy at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Are you looking for a Consultant Psychiatrist role with excellent opportunities to lead, shape services, and pursue your clinical interests?

Join our Older People’s Mental Health inpatient team at Prospect Park Hospital, part of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

We are a CQC Outstanding Trust, Global Digital Exemplar, and ranked third nationally among Mental Health and Community Trusts in the NHS league tables.

The role offers 11 PAs, including up to 2 PAs to pursue a special interest in developing leadership, research, teaching or clinical skills that are aligned with the Trust objectives and support individual’s professional growth.

£15,000 Recruitment and Retention premium is available for external applicants and £8,000 Relocation allowance where applicable.

You will be the consultant psychiatrist for Orchid Ward (20 bed functional conditions ward) at Prospect Park Hospital. You will work alongside 1.5 SAS doctors, 3 resident doctors and a nurse consultant, providing excellent medical and nursing support to enable you to discharge your duties as a senior medical leader.

Berkshire Healthcare consistently tops NHS staff survey scores and is ranked among the best NHS trusts to work for, with high engagement and strong focus on staff health and wellbeing.

Based in Reading, enjoy a diverse and vibrant town with excellent schools, countryside, culture, and transport links.

Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership to the ward multidisciplinary team, collaborating to deliver a high standard of care.
• Take clinical responsibility for assessment and ongoing management of patients, including psychiatric and physical health needs.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, ward rounds, and patient reviews.
• Liaise with other professionals, Trust departments, social services, GPs, ICB, and voluntary agencies to ensure smooth transitions to care after discharge.
• Liaise with families to provide information, guidance, and support.
• Ensure timely completion of clinical records, discharge summaries, and reports on RIO.
• Act as an Approved Clinician and take on statutory responsibilities under the Mental Health Act, MCA, and DoLS legislation.
• Contribute to out-of-hours on-call rota for General Adult/Older People services.
• Provide clinical and educational supervision to junior medical staff and trainees.
• Participate in service evaluation, local/national audits, and quality improvement projects.
• Attend relevant Trust meetings, including Medical Staff Committee, to support governance, planning, and development.

Qualifications

We welcome applications from candidates who are:

• On the Specialist Register of the GMC
• Demonstrable excellence in Older People’s Mental Health clinical practice
• Proven MDT leadership and communication

Values

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work‑life balance
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust site

EEO Statement

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

Contact

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact Rose Hombo, Service Director Inpatient Service, on 01189605000 or [e-mail] Nav Sodhi, Deputy Medical Director, on 01189605000 [e-mail]

Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

This advert closes on Sunday 1 Mar 2026.