General Adult Inpatient Locum Consultant Psychiatrist

EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the City of Westminster is seeking a Locum Consultant Psychiatrist for a fixed-term position to cover paternity leave. The role involves providing clinical leadership in an acute psychiatric unit, working closely with community mental health teams, and ensuring compliance with mental health regulations. Benefits include flexible working options and a relocation scheme. Ideal candidates should have a solid background in psychiatric care and relevant experience in leadership roles.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Relocation scheme up to £10,000

Qualifications

• Experience in acute psychiatric care.
• Familiarity with Mental Health Act and CQC requirements.
• Ability to perform detailed psychiatric assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultant input to inpatient wards.
• Assume Responsible Clinician status for detained patients.
• Deliver evidence-based treatments in a recovery-oriented approach.

Job description

General Adult Inpatient Locum Consultant Psychiatrist at Tower Hamlets Centre for Mental Health

This is a 10 PAs position. 12 Fixed Term Contact to cover paternity leave for one year. The post is within a well‑established acute psychiatric unit spread over two acute gender‑specific wards. It is primarily aimed at offering inpatient care for residents of the Isle of Dogs geographical area (in Tower Hamlets) or for patients supported by the Isle of Dogs neighbourhood mental health team (IoD NMHT). The appointed consultant will provide clinical leadership as Responsible Clinician (RC) for patients and will work with colleagues serving the Stepney and Wapping area, the NMHT and the Tower Hamlets Early Intervention for Psychosis Services (THEIS). These three services share the two acute inpatient wards, each with a capacity of 19 beds: Roman Ward for females and Lea Ward for males.

The current model separating clinical responsibilities for the community and inpatients was only adopted relatively recently during the pandemic. The post aims to maintain strong links with the community team (IoD NMHT) and currently offers two sessions of clinical care in the community.

The 1.0 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) job plan will be developed to meet service needs and is envisaged to include 7.5 PAs for direct clinical care (DCC) and 2.5 PAs for supporting programmed activities (SPA).

Responsibilities

• Providing consultant input to the inpatient wards and Neighbourhood mental health team, including assessing and reviewing patients, devising management plans and providing clinical leadership.
• Assuming Responsible Clinician status for detained patients on leave and for patients subject to Community Treatment Orders.
• Taking lead on compliance with the Mental Health Act and CQC requirements.
• Participating, directly and indirectly, in the assessment of patients referred to the service and drawing up care plans addressing psychiatric, physical and social needs.
• Carrying out detailed psychiatric assessments to allow accurate diagnoses and devising treatment plans, including pharmacological management of psychotropic medication.
• Delivering evidence‑based treatments within a recovery‑oriented approach that places the service user at the centre of planning and decision‑making.
• Maintaining effective communication with the patient’s care coordinator, GP and carer, and engaging them in care plan reviews.

Benefits and Flexibility

• Flexible working arrangements (job share, part time or other patterns) are welcomed.
• Relocation scheme providing up to £10,000 for removal and associated expenses (subject to terms and conditions).