Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Adults (Watford)

We are seeking a Consultant in Older Adult Psychiatry.

Watford General Hospital is a 650-bedded district general hospital, mainly serving the needs of the Hertfordshire population, although patients can also come from North West London, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It has a busy Accident and Emergency Department as it is the only A&E in West Hertfordshire.

As a Consultant Older Adult Liaison Psychiatrist working alongside a Consultant General Adult Liaison Psychiatrist, the post holder will provide clinical leadership to a well-established multidisciplinary Liaison Psychiatry Team.

The Watford Mental Health Liaison team is a multidisciplinary team. The team is commissioned to operate as a 24/7 service. The service receives referrals for any patients 18 and over presenting with mental health difficulties who have been admitted to Watford General Hospital or who are attending the Emergency Department at Watford General Hospital. The team currently receives an average of 275 individual referrals per month, with the majority (70 %) of referrals coming from the Emergency Department (ED) and the remainder (30 %) coming from the inpatient wards. The referrals include service users of both Working Age and also Older Adults.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.

Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD, PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications.

ELIGIBILITY

Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• CCT in Old Age Psychiatry; OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry; OR within six months of achieving CCT/CESR at the time of interview.

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
• Section 12/Approved clinician approval.
• Liaison Endorsement

CLINICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of the full range of clinical responsibilities expected of a consultant in Older Adults Liaison psychiatry.
• Experience of close collaborative working with social care and other agencies.
• Experience of working with service users who have complex needs within Liaison and Older Adult psychiatry.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.

Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Excellent degree of medical knowledge in relation to Older adult population

ACADEMIC SKILLS LIFELONG LEARNING

Essential

• 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.

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.

Experience of organising and overseeing psychotherapy training program for psychiatry trainees.

Holds a full valid driving license and access to a car (Unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).

About the employer

In 12 years, the Trust has been successful in acquiring the tender for the provision of specialist Learning disability services in Norfolk, North Essex and Buckinghamshire. The Trust covers a mix of rural and urban areas, including the City of St Albans, the large towns of Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, and the smaller towns of Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Hertford, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Hitchin and Letchworth.

Hertfordshire Social Services have divided the county into four areas. The county has three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). West Hertfordshire is served by Herts Valleys CCG and Dacorum and East and North Hertfordshire is served by East and North Herts CCG.

The Trust collaborates closely with Hertfordshire County Council and other NHS organisations to promote and support mental health in the community. The Trust clinical services moved from Strategic Business Units (SBUs) into four divisions on the 1st of April 2024, providing clinical services to;

o Adult Community Services, including local teams for mental healtho Adult Acute and Urgent Services, including rehabilitation, inpatient services and crisis team

o Specialist Services such as mental health services for older people, eating disorders, and our mother and baby unit

oLearning Disability and Forensic Services