Specialty Doctor

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West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialistservices that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

This is an opportunity to work as a permanent, substantive SAS (Specialty Doctor) in psychiatry within the new Hammersmith & Fulham Assertive Outreach Team, part of West London NHS Trust community mental health services. The post supports the tri-borough mobilisation of the Assertive Outreach (AO) function mandated by NHS England, and the post holder will work specifically within the AO arm of the team. The post is available at 0.8–1.0 WTE (8–10 PAs). The final timetable, including the balance of Direct Clinical Care and Supporting Professional Activities, will be agreed with the successful candidate.

The post is suitable for a Specialty Doctor in the early stages of their SAS career, including doctors with approximately 0–4 years’ SAS experience, who have the required postgraduate and psychiatric experience for appointment to the grade and wishes to develop specialist expertise in assertive outreach and complex psychosis. The role centres on assertive engagement and community/home-based delivery for a small caseload of patients with severe psychosis who have found it difficult to engage with mainstream services, alongside participation in MDT and referral meetings within a new, evolving multidisciplinary team model.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake psychiatric assessment and ongoing follow-up of adults with severe, complex psychosis referred to or managed by the Assertive Outreach Team’s cohort, appropriate to grade and level of supervision.
• Hold a small, low-caseload of patients within the AO cohort, providing intensive, proactive and flexible clinical input including regular clinic and community-based review appointments, in line with the AO model’s emphasis on frequent, assertive contact.
• Participate in urgent reviews, referral discussions, Assertive Outreach Team MDT meetings and other routine clinical/governance meetings relevant to the AO pathway.
• Undertake regular domiciliary and other community-based visits – including joint visits with care co-ordinators and outreach workers – as a core, routine part of assertive engagement with patients who have difficulty engaging with services, tailoring the frequency and intensity of contact to individual need.
• Prescribe and review psychotropic medication within competence, liaising closely with the team’s consultant psychiatrist/Responsible Clinician, with senior medical staff always available for advice and discussion.
• Contribute to biopsychosocial formulation, risk assessment, relapse prevention and care/risk management planning for the AO cohort, and liaise closely with carers, primary care, CRS, MINT, EIP, inpatient and third-sector partners to support joined-up care across the pathway

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Qualification or higher degree in clinical research or management
• Additional clinical qualifications
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practice at the time of appointment
• Ability to take up post within a reasonable notice period.
• Good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
• Meets the eligibility criteria for appointment to the Specialty Doctor grade under the terms and conditions of service for the Specialty Doctor and Specialist (SAS) grades (2021 contract), including a minimum of four years’ postgraduate training (or equivalent experience/competencies), of which at least two years will have been in psychiatry.
• Approval under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Clinical knowledge

• Ability to assess and manage adult mental health presentations appropriate to grade under supervision, including severe and Assertive Outreach in patients who are difficult to engage, in a community and domiciliary setting.
• Ability to prescribe safely within competence and seek senior advice appropriately.
• Good communication and teamworking skills.

Academic skills and lifelong learning

• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary community mental health setting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
• Participated in research or service evaluation
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage applicants to personalise their recruitment applications to fully showcase their unique skills, experiences, and achievements. While technology can be a helpful tool, we do not encourage the use of AI-generated content in applications. Relying on AI to generate responses rather than highlighting your own strengths and experiences may negatively impact the success of your application. Please note that all applications will be carefully assessed based on the essential and desirable criteria for the role, and it is crucial that your application and supporting information clearly demonstrate how you meet these requirements

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

At West London NHS Trust, we want you to support you to build a career you can be proud of and this starts before your first day with us. Our people live our values every day as they deliver, manage and work to improve our services to patients, carers, families and other professionals.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process clear and efficient. It’s in everyone’s interest that we get the very best people on board as soon as we can.

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