Consultant Psychiatrist (Perinatal) - Watford

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Watford is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist for their Perinatal Team. The role involves assessment and management of perinatal mental health disorders, providing outpatient treatment, and collaborating with various healthcare professionals. Candidates must possess a medical qualification and relevant psychiatric credentials. This is an opportunity to contribute to a vital mental health service, ensuring women receive comprehensive care during and post-pregnancy.

Qualifications

• Fully registered with the GMC with a license to practice at the time of appointment.
• CCT in General Adult Psychiatry OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register.

Responsibilities

• Assessment, diagnosis and formulation of management plans for service users.
• Provide telephone advice and liaison to GPs and Obstetricians.
• Maintain high clinical standards and develop the skills of the team.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Excellent clinical skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Able to manage clinical complexity

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

MRCPsych or equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Job description

We are seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist for our Perinatal Team.

The Hertfordshire Community Perinatal Team is a specialist multi‑disciplinary team that supports women who are experiencing, or are at high risk of experiencing, moderate to severe mental health difficulties when they are pregnant and after having their baby.

Our aim is to help women stay as well as possible in the perinatal period and provide support and information to partners and families of women under the care of the service, as well as other professionals involved in their care.

Hertfordshire has a population of over 1.2 million, with an annual birth rate of around 14,000 live births. The expected access rate is 10% of births, around 1,400 per year.

The majority of women experiencing a perinatal mental illness in Hertfordshire will be treated in a community setting with an average of 30 women a year from Hertfordshire being admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit or other inpatient setting during the perinatal period.

Please note: The Job Description is with the Royal College for approval.

Main duties of the job

Assessment, diagnosis and formulation of management plans for service users in the perinatal period; risk assessment of women in the perinatal period; pre‑conception counselling assessments for high‑risk service users.

Provide both routine and emergency assessments. Outpatient and community treatment for women experiencing a wide range of perinatal mental health disorders.

Make decisions in consultation with team members, colleagues and service users and carers, including drawing up pre‑birth plans, and working alongside other psychiatric services as necessary e.g. CRHTT and the Wellbeing Team. Provide specialist advice about prescribing in pregnancy and breastfeeding to GPs, Obstetricians and other mental health professionals and teams. At times the post holder will be expected to provide consultant cover to Thumbswood Mother and Baby Unit.

About us

In 12 years, the Trust has been successful in acquiring the tender for the provision of specialist learning disability services in Norfolk, North Essex and Buckinghamshire. The Trust covers a mix of rural and urban areas, including the City of St Albans, the large towns of Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, and the smaller towns of Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Hertford, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Hitchin and Letchworth.

Hertfordshire Social Services have divided the county into four areas. The county has three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). West Hertfordshire is served by Herts Valleys CCG and Dacorum and East and North Hertfordshire is served by East and North Herts CCG.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Regular or ad hoc supervision on clinical matters with members of the team.

Provide telephone advice and liaison to GPs, Obstetricians and psychiatrist colleagues about management of perinatal mental health disorders.

Maintain high clinical standards and develop the skills of the team. Lead a culture of high quality clinical care.

Explore new innovations in delivering care. Provide clinical leadership to the team as part of the perinatal quality network.

Maintain good working relationships with colleagues in other HPFT psychiatric services and with colleagues in primary and secondary care colleagues, including obstetric and midwifery services, health visitors, children’s services and third‑sector agencies. Communicate clearly and responsively about patient care with all of the above.

Promote good physical health and engagement with antenatal and primary care physical health services. Ensure screening and interventions for metabolic complications related to medication, lithium monitoring, and adherence to the clozapine protocols.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD, PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications.

ELIGIBILITY

Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• CCT in General Adult Psychiatry Psychiatry OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry OR within six months of achieving CCT/CESR at the time of interview.

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
• Section 12/Approved clinician approval.
• Perinatal Experience.

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.
• 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.

ACADEMIC SKILLS LIFELONG LEARNING

Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Participated in continuous professional development.
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit.
• Holds a full valid driving license and access to a car (Unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).

Desirable

• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post.
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken.
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change.
• Experience of organising and overseeing psychotherapy training program for psychiatry trainees.

367-HPFT-MEDICAL-521