This 8PA consultant psychiatrist post in Old Age Psychiatry become available as the current post holder has had to move to another Trust. It is based within older adult community services providing mental health care to the older adult population in Tower Hamlets. The post holder will work alongside two full time Older Adults Consultant Psychiatrists in the MHCOP team based at the Robinson Centre, Mile End Hospital, in Tower Hamlets Adult Directorate of the Trust. The post includes working with the CMHT for Older Adults, the Integrated Care Mental Health Liaison Team (ICT) including plans to support the future post-diagnostic pathway for dementia, and the Tower Hamlets Rapid Response Service (THRRS). The post was developed after increased investment and reorganisation of services as part of community mental health transformation and the implementation of new services via the Ageing Well strategy for Tower Hamlets.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing specialist mental health services to older adults living in Tower Hamlets including those with complex mental and physical health needs. The post holder will have a mixed patient population of both functional and organic illness. The post-holder will assume full consultant responsibilities for a proportion of service users under the care of the MHCOP (a caseload of approximately 60 patients), limited to Bow (E3) and Isle of Dogs (E14) areas, in addition they will provide 1PA consultant input into the Integrated Care Mental Health Liaison Team (ICT), and provide 1 PA of psychiatric consultation to the Rapid Response Service (THRRS).

Job responsibilities

This 8PA (0.8 wte) job plan was developed to meet the needs of the service and includes 5.5 PAs for direct clinical care and 2.5 PAs for supporting programmed activities. The main duties of the post consist of providing consultant input to the teams, assessing patients, devising management plans and providing clinical leadership. There is a specific role in consultant assessment and liaison with external agencies for possible referrals. There are regular outpatient clinics at MHCOP. Home visits and emergency reviews are a key part of the role where needed either at home or at Care Homes/Nursing Homes. The consultant also takes a role in teaching and training locally and there are medical students attached to the team each year.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Medical degree, MBBS or equivalent
• Fully registered with the General Medical Council and holding license to practice.
• Eligible for inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register for Psychiatry (or Specialist Registrar within 6 months of gaining CCT). If appropriate GMC registration duly revalidated and holding license to practice.
• Approved Clinician as approved by a Regional Panel
• Higher Degree
• Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Eligible for inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register for Old Age Psychiatry (or Specialist Registrar within 6 months of gaining CCT)

Knowledge and Experience

• Good experience of working in old age psychiatry and community psychiatry services, especially in the care and assessment of complex physical co-morbidity
• Experience and knowledge of psychopharmacology in older people.
• Excellent working knowledge and experience of the Mental Health Act
• Comprehensive risk assessment and management in the community and inpatient setting.
• Excellent Clinical Leadership skills
• Confident in working with frail older adults
• Experience of service development or change management in mental health
• Experience of working with psychotherapy models of care
• Experience of leading projects to improve quality of care

Academic Achievement and Teaching

• Able and willing to teach undergraduate medical students, promote an environment of continuous learning within the multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding of continuous improvement methodology (Quality Improvement).
• Published research
• Qualification or experience in medical education.

Clinical and professional Skills

• Ability to train and supervise junior medical staff / medical students / staff from other disciplines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Commitment to/skills in multidisciplinary working.
• Commitment to working with patients and carers in ongoing services development
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Management, performance and leadership courses or training
• Management and leadership experience

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.

£105,504 to £139,882 a yearper annum pro-rata