Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry-Inpatient Services in Cheltenham

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Consultant Psychiatrist to Applewood Ward, a well-established and high-performing acute inpatient service. This post arises following the retirement of the current post holder after many years of dedicated service. Applewood Ward is a well-run unit with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, recovery-focused care. The successful candidate will join a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team, with excellent junior medical support including a Specialty Doctor, Core Psychiatry Trainee, Foundation Year doctors, and a Trust Grade doctor.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic consultant to provide clinical leadership, contribute to service development, and help shape the future direction of the service. The role offers a collaborative working environment with strong links to community services, psychology, and allied health professionals, supporting continuity of care across the patient pathway.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide clinical leadership to Applewood Ward and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Act as Responsible Clinician for patients, including those detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Undertake comprehensive psychiatric assessments, including diagnostic assessments, risk assessments, and formulation.
• Lead ward rounds and ensure regular senior clinical review of all inpatients.
• Develop and oversee individualised, recovery-oriented treatment and care plans.
• Ensure safe, effective, and timely discharge planning in collaboration with community teams.
• Provide support and clinical guidance to junior medical staff to ensure safe and effective patient care.
• Work closely with relevant services, including the Intensive Service, community teams, inpatient rehabilitation teams, and the bed management team to support patient flow and continuity of care.
• Liaise effectively with families, carers, and external agencies, including social care, housing, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) services.
• Contribute to the management of physical health needs of psychiatric inpatients.
• Attend and contribute to Mental Health Act tribunals and Managers' hearings and prepare medico-legal reports.
• Facilitate appropriate transfers to higher levels of care (e.g. PICU) where required.

About us:

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset. Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Essential MB BS or equivalent medical qualification. Desirable Relevant Higher Degree e.g. MD, PHD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• Eligibility: Essential Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment. Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months of gaining CCT. Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment. Approved under S12 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment. Desirable CCT in General Adult Psychiatry.
• Experience: Essential Experience of assessing and treating patients in an inpatient/community setting.
• Personal Skills: Essential To possess leadership skills and be able to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team. Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work. Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, in order to effectively work with patients, carers and staff. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Clinical Skills: Essential Ability to assess and treat psychiatric problems in Adults of working age and to deal with crisis situations.
• Knowledge: Essential Understanding of the management skills required to function successfully as a Consultant.
• Teaching: Essential Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching. Understand principles of teaching.
• Research and Audit: Essential Experience or involvement in a research project and publication. Experience of carrying out an audit project.
• Management: Essential Evidence of management/leadership skills training.

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.