Specialty Doctor – First Response Service in Milton Keynes

The Trust is seeking to recruit a full-time Specialty doctor for First Response Service across Mid Mersey. We are looking for an enthusiastic, proactive colleague to provide dynamic leadership to the service and the Trust as a whole. This is a new full-time post based in Hollins Park Hospital.

The post holder will work collaboratively with our Operational Manager, Clinical Service Manager and FRS Specialty doctor based in Clock View to provide leadership and clinical expertise to the First Response Service and ensure we deliver an excellent, responsive, and high-quality service. The post holder will also be supported, where appropriate, to develop a special interest in a clinical area that meets the Trust objectives.

The post holder will be responsible for the overall assessment and management of patients presented to FRS in Mid Mersey by working closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team including clinical service manager, advanced clinical practitioner, clinical lead, Operational Managers (Band 8A), dual diagnosis practitioners, mental health practitioners, assistant practitioners, assistant clinical psychologist, clinical psychologist, social workers and support workers. You will enjoy working as part of a highly skilled and motivated team to deliver excellent care.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will be expected to conduct urgent reviews for the patients and to chair management planning meetings involving families, community and social care services.
• For Medic Assessments within the team, there are appointments available within office hours Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00. They are first triaged by the clinical leads. Registered practitioners can speak to the medic on site or by phone to discuss acceptance of service users.
• Urgent Assessments are facilitated by the medic directly and via secretary on 0151 330 7204.
• If an MHAA is required, this should be discussed with the clinical lead. Every opportunity should be actioned to support contact with the service user. This includes telephone contacts, home visits, discussion with family or carers, prior to application to careline, in order to gain as much clinical or collateral information as possible.
• Responsibility for FRS across Mid Mersey.
• Carry out comprehensive psychiatric assessments and provide treatment for patients referred to FRS as in outpatient and community assessment.
• Support FRS staff to manage psychiatric emergencies.
• Conduct patient reviews, mental health act assessments, and attend multi-professional meetings.
• Maintain a high standard of clinical work when carrying out assessments.
• Ensure compliance with our clinical governance framework, motivate colleagues, champion service user safety and dignity, and drive continuous improvement.

About us:

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Details:

• Date posted: 31 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
• Grade: Specialty Doctor
• Salary: £63,696 to £102,689 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 350-MED8030249-B
• Job locations: Hollins Park Hospital, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8WA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities:

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details and requirements of the role.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications:
• Essential: MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• Desirable: Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management. MRCPsych CCT or CESR in General Adult or Old Age Psychiatry. Additional clinical qualifications.
• Eligibility:
• Essential: Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment. Minimum 4 years experience in psychiatry. Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment.
• Desirable: In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
• Transport:
• Essential: Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.
• Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
• Essential: Excellent knowledge in specialty. Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty. Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others. Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.
• Desirable: Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning:
• Essential: Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training. Ability to work in and lead a team. Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement. Participated in continuous professional development. Participated in research or service evaluation. Able to use and appraise clinical evidence. Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes.
• Desirable: Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post. Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken. Experienced in clinical research and/or service evaluation. Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications. Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship:

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.

Employer details:

Employer name: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Hollins Park Hospital, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8WA, United Kingdom