Consultant Psychiatrist in Adult Mental Health Community in Ripon

Harrogate is a vibrant, picturesque and interesting spa town that provides the backdrop for a healthy, safe and satisfying working environment. It has excellent housing stock, sought-after state and independent schools, and was officially voted the happiest place to live in the UK. It is within easy reach of motorways, main-line rail services and within close proximity to Leeds Bradford Airport. Ripon is a cathedral city in the borough of Harrogate. Population (2021) is 16,263. There is variability to the mental health needs of both areas, as there are pockets of affluence with independent schools, as well as areas of deprivation and unemployment.

This post was vacated by the previous substantive consultant moving. The Harrogate locality is covered by two community mental health teams: The Harrogate Integrated Community team (HICT) and Ripon Integrated Community Team (RICT). These teams include workers with assertive outreach and primary care functions, hence the term Integrated. They are both based at Valley Gardens Resource Centre in central Harrogate. There is a Crisis and Resolution Team based here as well. The acute hospital liaison service is based at Harrogate District Hospital. The postholder will be working with the Ripon Integrated Community team. Another consultant also provides input into this team with 5 PAs. The team covers the areas of Ripon, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

Main duties of the job:

• The expectations of the clinical work are that you will provide consultant input in line with the principles of New Ways of Working.
• The core clinical work will involve outpatient clinics, formulation, review and leadership meetings and Mental Health Act-related work.
• The direct clinical workload centres on clinic-based meetings.
• You will not act as a care coordinator. You will act as a lead professional for those patients not subject to CPA.
• You will conduct up to 2 new assessments per week, following the initial assessments by the care coordinator.
• You will conduct 10 follow-ups per week. Review will occur on a regular basis to manage the caseload within acceptable numbers.
• Cover arrangements and supervision of junior medical staff will be shared with the other post holder who works 5 PAs in this team.

About us:

We are one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disabilities trusts in the country, with an annual income of £320m and a workforce of some 6,700 staff operating from around 100 sites in Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York and Selby. We provide a range of inpatient and community services to 2m people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale, Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire. We also provide additional specialist services to other parts of Northern England. We deliver our services by working in partnership with eight local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, a wide range of voluntary organisations, as well as service users, their carers and the public. Psychiatrists are essential contributors to our mental health teams. Service users expect and are justified to expect collaborative relationships with dedicated psychiatrists who work consistently as part of effective services.

Job responsibilities:

Please see the attached job description for further information on this post. The job description has been approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Person Specification:

• Leadership: Reflects on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback. Able to influence and persuade to improve services. Able to take on leadership role in multidisciplinary team. Knowledge of structure and management of the NHS and the Trust. Shows commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology OR able to achieve within one year of appointment. Able to adapt to and lead service change. Understanding of NHS & wider health economy and its implications for the work of the Trust. Trained to standard equivalent to level 2 in TEWV Trust Quality improvement system.
• Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning: Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training. Participated in continuous professional development. Participated in research or service evaluation. Able to use and appraise clinical evidence. Has actively participated in clinical audit. 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.
• Qualifications: MB BS or equivalent medical qualification. Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment. Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management. MRCPsych or equivalent postgraduate qualification. Approved Clinician Status and Section 12 Status OR be able to achieve within 3 months.
• Clinical Knowledge & Skills: 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. Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Experience: Describe your clinical experience relevant to this job role. Any other experience that may be applicable.

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.