Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities - Carmarthen

Join Hywel Dda University Health Board and play a key role in delivering and developing specialist Learning Disability Psychiatry services within one of the most picturesque regions of the UK, combining a rewarding clinical career with an exceptional quality of life. Working within a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team, you will have the opportunity to provide expert clinical leadership, drive service improvement and make a meaningful difference to the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and their families.

Based in the heart of West Wales, this role offers the opportunity to combine a rewarding and varied clinical career with an exceptional quality of life. Hywel Dda serves the beautiful counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, an area renowned for its stunning coastline, rolling countryside and welcoming communities. With award-winning beaches, national parks and excellent opportunities for outdoor activities, the region provides an enviable work-life balance for individuals and families alike.

The successful candidate will contribute to the future development of Learning Disability services, helping to shape innovative models of care, influence service delivery and support the Health Board's commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred care. The role offers the opportunity to engage in service improvement, education, leadership and multidisciplinary collaboration, while maintaining a fulfilling clinical practice.

Main duties of the job

• Communicate effectively with patients, families and carers, ensuring they remain central to all aspects of care and decision-making.
• Manage patients with complex clinical presentations and provide specialist psychiatric expertise.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.
• Liaise effectively with multidisciplinary teams and partner agencies to ensure coordinated care and positive patient outcomes.
• Promote and apply evidence-based practice in all aspects of clinical work.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Contribute to postgraduate education, teaching programmes, research activity and the supervision of trainees and other healthcare professionals.
• Participate in departmental, professional and organisational meetings at local, regional and national level as required.
• Work collaboratively with clinical and managerial colleagues to support the efficient and effective operation of services.
• Contribute to the responsible use of resources in line with the principles of prudent healthcare.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties. We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services. We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

The successful candidate will lead the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with learning disabilities and associated mental health needs. They will take continuing clinical responsibility for patients under their care, participate in the consultant on-call rota and provide senior clinical support both in and out of hours as required. They will contribute to the ongoing development and transformation of Learning Disability services, support partnership working across health, social care and third-sector organisations, and provide specialist expertise and advice to colleagues, carers, families and partner agencies.

The successful candidate will undertake comprehensive psychiatric assessments and provide expert clinical management for individuals with learning disabilities and complex mental health presentations. They will be responsible for formulating and implementing treatment plans, monitoring patient progress and ensuring safe, effective and person-centred care.

Person Specification

• Qualifications and Knowledge
• Full registration and a License to Practice with the General Medical Council.
• On the GMC Specialist Register (including via Portfolio Pathway (CESR)/European Community Rights) or will have CCT due within six months of interview date.
• Valid Certified Advanced Life Support.
• Where a sub-specialty interest is required, sub-specialty training should be to a level appropriate for UK consultant sub-specialist practice - fellowship or equivalent level experience.
• Section 12 Approval.
• Clinical Experience
• Broad based experience within the specialty area.
• Able to demonstrate core competencies and clinical skills relevant to the post.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Clinical Governance
• Understanding of the role of Clinical Governance.
• Participation in clinical audit (or quality improvement project) and understanding role of audit in improving medical practice.
• Knowledge of annual job planning/appraisal review process.
• Teaching
• Ability to critically assess learning requirements for self and others.
• Evidence of organising programmes and teaching all staff groups.
• Willingness to teach all grades of professional multidisciplinary staff.
• Research and Scholarship
• Demonstrates knowledge of current research and best practice in the specialty area.
• Evidence of keeping up to date with current research and best practice.
• Evidence of locating and using clinical guidelines appropriately.
• Evidence of communicating and interpreting research evidence in a meaningful way.
• Safeguarding
• Demonstrates knowledge of safeguarding requirements and takes appropriate responsibility.
• Evidence of applying appropriate equality and diversity legislation.
• Skills and Attributes
• Ability to work autonomously and be responsible for actions.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to remain calm whilst working under pressure.
• Undertake responsibility for leading and supervising a team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team-working skills.