Consultant Psychiatrist, Older Adult Inpatient Hastings (enhanced RRP)

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

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist for its Older Adult Inpatient Service in St Leonards. This full-time position offers a salary range of £109,725 to £145,478 per annum, along with a Recruitment and Retention payment of £45,000 structured over three years. The role requires significant experience in managing severe mental illness and participation in a multi-disciplinary team to drive service improvements. Flexible working options and generous benefits are available.

Benefits

Excellent pension contributions of 23.7%

30 days of study leave over a three-year period

Flexible working opportunities

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Monthly Medical Advisory Committees for peer support

Qualifications

• Candidates must hold a Basic Medical Training.
• Full GMC registration is essential.
• MRC Psych or equivalent qualifications required.

Responsibilities

• Provide quality mental health care for patients with severe mental illness.
• Work with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Drive service development and transformation.

Skills

Broad based training in psychiatry

Experience & training in management of severe mental illness

Basic Medical Training

Full GMC / UK Registration

MRC Psych or equivalent

Section 12 approval and AC approval

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our Older adult inpatient service in Hastings, based at the Conquest Hospital site, Hastings. You will be joining a mutually supportive, friendly and enthusiastic team with a real passion for what we do.

We have two older adult inpatient wards and a dementia ward within East Sussex, alongside 4 adult wards, crisis and liaison teams. We are a teaching Trust with strong links with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). If eligible and approved by the GMC as clinical/educational supervisor, the successful candidate can apply to supervise a trainee. Our Trust recently expanded the offer of training posts for KSS deanery, and that includes GPVTs, FY, CT and HST level.

Recruitment and Retention payment of £45,000 structured over a three‑year period as follows:

• £15,000 payable upon successful recruitment
• £10,000 payable at 12 months' service
• £10,000 payable at 24 months' service
• £10,000 payable at 36 months' service

The Recruitment and Retention payment is pro‑rata for part‑time employees. If you would like further information, or to know the full terms of the Recruitment and Retention Payment and/or the Relocation Allowance, then please do not hesitate to contact our Medical HR Team via [e-mail].

Main duties of the job

Psychiatrists are integral for driving change and influencing service development. As a Trust we welcome positive transformation and using each other's experiences to shape this. The Trust has ambitious aims to continuously improve for the good of our patients and we welcome clinical and non‑clinical views in order to achieve this together.

You will work with a highly specialist multi‑disciplinary team to provide in‑patient care consisting of a Specialty Doctor, Clinical Psychologists, Nurses, Support Workers and an Occupational Therapist.

You will be based in a friendly team environment and have your own office space with access to a locker, and a dedicated administrator.

The Consultants will provide quality mental health care and treatment for patients with severe and enduring mental illness. It is expected that the post holder will embrace New Ways of Working in their clinical practice.

About us

Not only will you be working in a county with areas of outstanding beauty such as the South Downs, and the 137 miles of coastline, along with exciting cities such as Brighton, the Trust also offers:

• Excellent pension contributions of 23.7%
• Flexible working opportunities
• Bespoke, flexible job plans
• 30 days of study leave over a 3‑year period supported by a study leave allowance each year
• Opportunities to become a medical appraiser
• Opportunities to become a clinical/educational supervisor
• Monthly Medical Advisory Committees (MACs) which offer further peer support
• Responsibility allowances for specific roles and responsibilities
• A variety of wellbeing support and tools, such as an Employee Assistance Programme, financial wellbeing, Occupational Health etc.
• 8 Staff Networks such as ethnic minority, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, women's network, to name a few.

Details Date posted

11 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, Flexible working

Reference number

354‑AE‑20319‑AAC

Job locations

St Annes Centre, Conquest Hospital, The Ridge, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7PT

Job responsibilities

Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for all age groups across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

Our values are to be compassionate, accountable and optimistic. The Trust has built our future focus 2025‑2030 which outlines our vision, purpose, ambitions and objectives that incorporate these values and behaviours.

East Sussex is situated in the south east of England between the sea and the South Downs with a population of around 549,000. The county offers good access to London and is in close proximity to Gatwick Airport.

We encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health‑related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, homeworking, part‑time hours, flexible start/finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Living and working in Sussex brings with it many benefits, such as:

• Stunning countryside and coastlines which are easily accessible throughout the county
• Enjoy a lifestyle with renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park
• Transport links which provide easy access to London, and all of its main airports
• Vibrant cities that offer an array of restaurants and bars for social events

We would welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you and even arrange a visit! Please contact Dr Richard Hoile, Professional Lead Psychiatrist for Acute by calling 03003040293 or emailing [e-mail].

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Basic Medical Training
• Full GMC / UK Registration
• MRC Psych or equivalent
• CST and entry onto the GMC Specialist Register expected within 6 months
• Section 12 approval and AC approval

Experience Essential

• Broad based training in psychiatry
• Experience & training in management of severe mental illness especially in older people

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

St Annes Centre, Conquest Hospital, The Ridge, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7PT

Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)