Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age: Community & Memory Clinic

Overview

We are currently seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our community team and run local memory clinic. Although the administrative base will be at the Seward Lodge, Hertford, the clinics may also run from Rosanne House, Welwyn Garden City (about 8 miles from Seward Lodge).

The post holder will provide consultant input to the community team and run local memory clinic. The clinical work may be at other Trust locations, or other community destinations such as patient's home or residential or nursing homes. The post holder may be required to attend team meetings at a location determined by the manager of the Team.

The postholder will run two clinics for early memory diagnostic and support service (EMDASS). In each memory clinic, the consultant will be supported by a memory nurse who will take history and do cognitive tests and later write a detailed report. The memory nurse will discuss new patients with the consultant who will make diagnoses and start treatment after seeing the patient. The consultant is expected to write a short letter to the GP highlighting the diagnosis and treatment plan. One stop memory clinic gives the consultant time to do two follow up assessments while the memory nurse is assessing the new patient.

The closing date is 05 October 2025

Main duties of the job

To manage, appraise and give professional supervision to junior medical staff as agreed by consultant colleagues and the medical director and in accordance with the Trust's personnel policies and procedures. This may include assessing competences under the Modernising Medical Careers framework.

To ensure that junior medical staff working with the post holder operate within the parameters of the New Deal and are Working Time Directive compliant.

To undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.

To record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively and submit this promptly to the Information Department.

To participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.

To participate in annual appraisal for consultants.

To attend and participate in the academic programme of the Trust and the team including lectures and seminars as part of the internal CPD programme.

This list is not exhaustive, please see the Job Description for a full list of duties

About us

This is a hugely exciting time for the Trust having recently achieved an OUTSTANDING CQC RATING and being one of just five mental health and learning disabilities NHS trusts in England to hold an outstanding rating.

We are driven by our values. If you believe in Respect, Kindness and a Positive outlook then you'll be right at home.

Here's what we have to offer you

• Mentoring support for new Consultants
• Dedicated support to help become a future NHS Leader
• Access to Leadership, Teaching, Education and Research opportunities
• A strong ethos on Learning and Development
• Access to a state-of-the-art Simulation Training Facility including opportunities to join the Multidisciplinary Simulation Faculty
• Access to a large peer group of enthusiastic and high-calibre Consultants
• Study leave of 30 days over 3 years
• Study leave budget of £800 per person per annum
• Innovative patient electronic record system (PARIS)/ Admin and IT equipment/ software to improve work experience (4G enabled laptops provided upon starting)
• Health and wellbeing support
• Flexible APAs to seek development opportunities in service development/ management / Simulation Training /working with Community Transformation Projects
• Dedicated SPA time in Job Plan
• Generous relocation package up to £7.5K (subject to terms & conditions)

Job responsibilities

It is envisaged that the post holder will work 10 programmed activities over 5 days. Following appointment there will be a meeting at no later than three months with the clinical manager to review and revise the job plan and objectives of the post holder. The overall split of the programmed activities is 7.5 to be devoted to direct clinical care and 2.5 to supporting professional activities (as per the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommendation). The timetable is indicative only. A formal job plan will be agreed between the post holder and associate medical director or clinical manager three months after commencing the post and at least annually thereafter.

• To maintain professional registration with the General Medical Council, Mental Health Act Section 12(2) approval, and to abide by professional codes of conduct.

To participate annually in a job plan review with the clinical manager, which will include consultation with a relevant manager in order to ensure that the post is developed to take into account changes in service configuration and delivery associated with modernisation. To work with local managers and professional colleagues in ensuring the efficient running of services and share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.

To comply with the Trusts agreed policies, procedures, standing orders and financial instructions, and to take an active role in the financial management of the service and support the medical director and other managers in preparing plans for services.

All staff should comply with the Trusts Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

This list is not exhaustive, please see the Job Description for a full list of duties

Person Specification Qualifications

• oMB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• oMRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• oQualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• oRelevant higher degree, e.g. MD, PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications
• oFully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• oCCT in Psychiatry; OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry; OR within six months of achieving CCT/CESR at the time of interview
• oIn good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
• oSection 12/Approved clinician approval

Clinical skills, Knowledge & Experience

• oExperience of the full range of clinical responsibilities expected of a consultant in old age psychiatry.
• oExperience of close collaborative working with social care and other agencies.
• oExperience of working with service users who have complex needs within old age psychiatry.
• oExcellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• oExcellent oral and written communication skills.
• oAble to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• oMakes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• oWide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• oExcellent degree of medical knowledge in relation to older people and frailty.

Academic skills & Lifelong Learning

• oAble to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• oParticipated in continuous professional development
• oParticipated in research or service evaluation.
• oAble to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• oHas actively participated in clinical audit.
• oHas a full valid driving license and access to a car (Unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).
• oAble to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post.
• oReflected on purpose of CPD undertaken.
• oExperienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• oEvidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• oHas led clinical audits leading to service change.
• oExperience of organising and overseeing psychotherapy training program for psychiatry trainees.

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust