Speciality Doctor - Inpatients (Harbour Ward)

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust; Duston; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialty Doctor inpatients for Harbour Ward, a 12-bed acute unit at Berrywood Hospital. The post focuses on delivering recovery-focused, individualised care to adults aged 18–65, supported by a multidisciplinary team.

You will be backed by junior doctors and will regularly interact with consultant psychiatrists across other wards. A commitment to teaching, CPD and safe, least-restrictive practice is essential.

Qualifications

• GMC registration in good standing.
• Understanding of MHA and MCA.
• Experience in acute psychiatric inpatient care is desirable.
• Willingness to undertake CPD and in-house training.
• Ability to work within a MDT and contribute to teaching.

Responsibilities

• Develop proactive, recovery-focused, individualised treatment plans for each patient.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the acute phase is managed safely.
• Contribute to teaching and training activities for junior medical staff.
• Engage with inpatient and outpatient colleagues and act within the trust governance framework.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

MDT teamwork

Teaching and training

Autonomy

Research and service evaluation

Work under pressure

Motivating junior staff

Job description

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Speciality Doctor - Inpatients (Harbour Ward)

The closing date is 15 November 2026

Harbour ward is a 12-bed acute unisex inpatient unit based within the Berrywood Hospital. Harbour ward provides psychiatric care for patients, aged 18-65, with acute mental health problems. Patients can come from all trust areas and occasionally from other areas if the home area does not have capacity to admit their own. You will be supported in this role by range of junior doctors (FY2 and GPVTS), and it is expected you will have regular dialogue with the Consultant psychiatrists on other two adult inpatient wards onsite. Berrywood Hospital is a modern stand-alone 6 ward psychiatric inpatient unit and is staffed by a MDT including nursing staff, occupational therapists and psychologists. Cross cover will be provided by both inpatient and outpatient consultant colleagues on a rotational basis as is the system currently.

Main duties of the job

The Specialty Doctor will play a pivotal role in ensuring proactive, recovery-focused, individualised treatment plans are in place and being followed for each patient. They will be supported with a team of professionals who have been recruited specifically for this unit. Our intention is to have a short length of stay to manage only the acute phase of illness and support care in the least restrictive manner.

About us

NHFT is an NHS Community and Mental Health Foundation Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in hospital settings and in the community. We provide over 200 services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. We work together with our partners to ensure that everyone who comes through our doors receives compassionate, person-centred care, regardless of their background or circumstances.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning, to improve the care and safety of our patients and colleagues. We have achieved our 'outstanding' rating by encouraging opportunity, innovation, development and growth across our workforce.

At NHFT we believe that work should be rewarded in every sense which is why we are proud to an accredited living wage employer.

We aim to support financial wellbeing and create an environment where are people feel valued and able to thrive.

Job responsibilities

For further information regarding this role please see attached job description or contact the team

This vacancy may close early due to large application numbers

Knowledge and Experience

• In good standing with the GMC with respect to warnings and conditions on practice
• Understanding of the political and financial framework within which services operate.
• Understanding of the use of security in the treatment of psychiatric patients.
• Understanding of the dynamics of working with damaged and disturbed patients.
• Awareness of the national agenda for secure psychiatric care and criminal justice.
• Able to meet duties and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act (MHA) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA).
• Willingness to undertake training and CPD appropriate to the post.
• Willingness to participate in in-house training.

Behaviours and Values

• Demonstrates commitment to shared leadership and collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with peers and colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Demonstrates the ability to motivate, support and develop junior medical staff and other MDT members.
• Shows initiative and is able to work in a self-directed manner.
• Able to balance individual requirements with the wider needs and priorities of the Directorate and Trust.
• oAble to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels.
• Ability to present complex information clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, including courts and tribunals.
• Ability to work autonomously and use initiative appropriately.
• Ability to contribute effectively within an MDT and wider organisational structure.
• Ability to motivate and support the development of junior medical staff and other MDT members.
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation
• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service

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.

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust